It's with significant
frustration that I have to announce the cancellation of
the 2004 Raid the North Canadian Championship. Due to many
factors, primarily very low registrations, I have no option
but to bring this race to a halt at this late date.
As some of you know from
our conversations and emails recently, the FAR staff and
many of our suppliers went over and above to volunteer their
services and find other ways to make this event happen.
However, with a total of 12 teams registered, and several
not paid up and committed, it is both financially and
logistically impossible to hold a four day expedition event.
My apologies to those teams
I've communicated with recently who are committed to and
enthused about this race. We were equally anticipating a
fun and unique course crafted by Bob Miller, and a
supportive and enthusiastic host site at Calabogie Peaks.
We are hoping to be able to bring both of these with us into
next year.
Last year, I heard from
several teams that they'd like to see a race length between
the 2.5 day champs and the 6 day Extreme. We polled all
competitors in the year-end survey about the concept of a
four-day race, and the response was extremely positive.
Just over 80 teams replied with interest in such an event.
Based on that, we moved forward with this race length,
anticipating the long-term development of a new race length
for the FAR schedule. It turns out the support was not
actually there, despite all of our best efforts (I know many
of you have been working to encourage other teams to join us
at this race).
I want to assure you that
you will not lose any value from this. All teams who have
paid will receive a full refund. Teams using their
Championship entry prizing from the season will have their
entry value honored during the 2005 season. Stay tuned for
how we will address that, I will be in contact with team
captains shortly.
The
Salomon Adventure
Challenge: Canadian Championship, a 14-hour race on the same weekend
at Calabogie Peaks, will be going ahead with much better
registration levels. I invite all of you to join us for
that race instead. You're all ready to race; why not come
enjoy a different pace of race, in the brilliant fall colors
of the area?
Again, my apologies, but I hope you understand
the reality of the situation given the disappointingly low
support.
Yours in AR,
Geoff Langford
President
About Calabogie Peaks Resort:
Situated in the beautiful
Ottawa Valley, and so close for Ontario and Quebec competitors,
Calabogie Peaks Resort offers up world class accommodation,
spectacular hospitality and facilities, and access to a magnificent
adventure playground. The stage is set for an unforgettable 2004
Raid the North Canadian Championship!
Four days will not be enough
to truly explore the wilderness surrounding Calabogie Peaks. With
Algonquin to the north, the Ottawa River Valley to the east, and the
Madawaska Highlands all around, our course options are endless. This
is a beautiful,
mountainous
region with extensive Crown land areas, hardwood forests, and
hundreds of lakes. The landscape of pristine waterways, rolling
woodlands and dramatic landforms beckon people out-of-doors.
Renowned for canoeing, kayaking and whitewater rafting
opportunities, the Calabogie region is a favorite scenic area.
In the heart of maple country, nature's display of colours in the
fall will provide a brilliant backdrop for this event. We'll journey
through gentle, rolling hills that give way to vast hardwood forests
set amidst the rugged beauty of the Canadian Shield. Maybe challenge
the mighty Ottawa and Madawaska rivers - considered the best
whitewater east of the Rockies - or dip our paddles along scores of
canoeing and kayaking routes. Bike past rustic barns, old stone
fences and ghost towns on groomed snowmobile trails along the
Opeongo Line. Even with a four day expedition, we'll be stretching
it to experience all this area has to offer.
