A no-frills battle for cold, classic adventure racing bragging rights returns to North Georgia. The classic 30 hour North Georgia Adventure Race returns this January 2010.  

 

“The NGAR is historically one of the toughest, most well attended single day adventure races in the country. 

In the SE it is looked at as the epic race – the benchmark for toughness. Except for the very top teams it matches the team’s ability to persevere against what can be brutal elements. Completing the NGAR is more about of a team’s resolve to finish and digging deep inside than actually racing. Finishing the NGAR is a badge honor that not many can claim,” explains Tony Berwald, race director for the NGAR.

 

Berwald got his start into adventure racing early, racing whenever possible. Later he and his wife Beth developed the NGAR. “A fraternity brother of mine told me about Adventure Racing at a football game in 1999 or 2000. I was training for ironman at the time. We did Norm Greenburg and Tracyn Thayer’s NOC 30 hour race (www.noc.com) and I was hooked.”

 

 

Berwald affirm that the NGAR is a truly classical style adventure race. “We focus mostly on the course and actual race experience than the ancillary stuff – we’re the granola race promoters,” he explains. “We make sure the racers are taken care of and all of the critical stuff is addressed - CPs are in the right spot, directions are clear,” adds Berwald.

 

 

This year’s course will be approximately 90 miles through some of the most scenic, challenging, and historic terrain in north Georgia - roughly 20 miles paddling, 25 miles hiking and 45 miles biking through the frigid North of Georgia and the picturesque Fort Mountain State Park. When asked to make a prediction as to how much snow would fall on course this year, Berwald jokingly mentioned, “35 feet, bring snowshoes.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Berwald maintains that the toughest part of this race will be, “getting through it.” He admits no differing level of difficulty throughout the race, leaving the imagination to conjecture that the NGAR is akin to 30 hours of steady suffering, peppered with adrenalized sections, strategically placed to ensure that teams will finish. That’s not to mention that it won’t have its share of racer frustration. As Berwald puts it, the most frustrating part of this year’s NGAR will be “getting from point to point, particularly on the hike sections this year. There are a million old forest roads and trails out there that are not on the map. Conversely, there are trails on the map that do not exist.”

 

As far as which teams are in contention to win Berwald is finding it to be a tough prediction. “In 2005 we had a ton of teams drop and the team that won was a complete surprise. It could happen this year. There are a few obvious choices though – nuun/feed the machine (2008 USARA National Champions), Tecnu Extreme/StaphAseptic claims they are planning to win, Checkpoint Zero will have local racers that have won in big events, Outspoken/Enduraventure will also be strong.” 

 

With each NGAR, Tony and Beth Berwald  give 100% of the profits to charity, this edition is no different. This year the race beneficiary is Eagle Ranch Christian Children’s Home. “In the four years we’ve had the race, we’ve given over $10,000 to various organizations and schools,” mentions Berwald. 

 

The NGAR is taking place this January 15-17 and is part of the Checkpoint Tracker series. 

 

www.oegear.com/ngar/ 

 

 

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