Competition is first 24-hour race in series
LEO CARRILLO BEACH — More than 150 thrill-seekers will be paddling, peddling and scrambling this weekend right in the city’s backyard.
Competitors in the first 24- Hour Santa Monica Adventure Race will meet at the north end of Leo Carrillo Beach at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning and begin a wilderness gauntlet that will take them through 11 check points covering more than 75 miles of terrain within a 12-hour period.
The trek will include 11 miles of ocean kayaking, 50 miles of mountain biking, and 15 miles of hiking and running through the Santa Monica Mountains.
Todd Jackson, president of Seventh Wave Productions — a for-profit company based out of Lake Tahoe that is coor-dinating the event — said the Santa Monica vicinity was chosen due to the concentration of residents known to pursue an active lifestyle.
“The Santa Monica Mountains have a long history of adventure racing, and we thought it would be fun to put on the event in a classic venue,” Jackson said.
Racers may compete in teams of two, three or four, which are all male, all female, or coed, as well as participate individually. Participation is not free, with fees set at $200 per person.
The Santa Monica competition is the first 24-hour race offered in the Big Blue Adventure series. The series was built on six to 12-hour formats. The 24-hour courses are designed to have teams finish between 12 and 30 hours, with the first teams on Saturday expected to finish around 10 p.m., and the last on Sunday morning.
Jackson said the Big Blue Adventure has been in existence for 14 years, with the adventure race series starting in Kings Beach, Lake Tahoe, in 2002.
Participants are automatically entered into a raffle giving them a chance to win a variety of prizes that include ski passes to Lake Tahoe, a kayak, backpacks, shoes and beer mugs. Teams also compete to divvy up $10,000 in championship money distributed at the end of the year.
Although there is a competitive aspect to the races, Jackson said the emphasis remains on teamwork and having fun.
“Ninety-five percent of the people who come out are doing it for fun,” Jackson said. “Taking part in this event is something you will never forget, and it’s pretty rewarding.
“It also gives people a chance to use their toys.”
Jackson said his company will evaluate a candidate’s skills and help them find the right race. At the same time, he cautioned competitors must be in shape.
“This is not something you do off the couch,” Jackson said. “There are teams that have solid athletes and most have experience adventure racing.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 11, 2005. Read the original PDF.