HISTORY AND CONCEPT

Primal Quest, LLC was founded in 2001 with the goal of bringing a world-class, multi-sport expedition race to North America. The concept of Primal Quest ® included the fusion of premier television coverage for the event, substantial prize money for the winning teams, and responsible use of back country lands to promote a positive environmental message.

OVERVIEW

Primal Quest® is an environmentally friendly, ecologically aware wilderness Expedition Adventure Race. Teams of experienced back country adventure athletes journey across expansive terrain using only a map, a compass and combined skills. Successfully finishing requires much more than stamina and mental fortitude. It requires selfless teamwork, spirit and absolute determination. Only co-ed teams of four are permitted to race. Team members are required to travel together at all times and must finish together in order to be officially ranked. Over $100,000 in Cash and Prizes will be awarded to the top finishing teams.

ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHY

Primal Quest is in full accordance with the United States Adventure Racing Association publication entitled “Adventure Racing Ecological Standards” and incorporates these standards in all phases of the planning, race management and post race activities. Adventurers competing in Primal Quest are required to practice responsible back country travel at all times. Teams only travel where permitted; do not build campfires; and strictly adhere to pack it in, pack it out rules. Learn more about our Environmental Ethos.

EXPEDITION ADVENTURE RACES

Origins of adventure racing date back to the 1980’s and New Zealand. In the mid 1990’s the concept became popularized by such events as the Raid Gauloises, Eco-Challenge and the BEAST of the East.In 2002, Primal Quest was introduced and quickly earned worldwide recognition as the sport’s premier event. By 2003, Primal Quest became the first Expedition Adventure Race to be shown on network television (CBS). The events have been professionally filmed to document the drama and excitement of traveling 400+ miles, non-stop, day and night, through beautiful and unforgiving terrain using only non-motorized transportation. Racing against the clock, other teams, and the forces of nature, teams must trek, climb, kayak, raft, mountain bike, to successfully reach the finish line.

The first Primal Quest was held in 2002 in the Telluride, Colorado region. 62 teams from 8 countries participated in the inaugural event. The winning team, SoBe/SmartWool was comprised of three Americans Mike Kloser, Michael Tobin, and Danelle Ballangee and New Zealander Steve Gurney. They completed the course in a little over 3 days (Kloser and Tobin would go on to be part of the winning team for the next three Primal Quest races).The 2003 edition of Primal Quest brought together 80 teams from around the world to the Lake Tahoe area in the Sierras. 457 miles and 4 days, 17 hours, 43 minutes later the winning team members of Nike ACG/Balance Bar crossed Lake Tahoe to reach the finish.In the 2004 Primal Quest Expedition Adventure Race, held in the San Juan Islands and Cascade Mountain Range of Washington, Team Seagate (NZ) and Team Nike ACG/Balance Bar (USA) tied for first place, finishing just over 5 days of racing. At Primal Quest Utah in 2006 Team Nike/Powerblast was once again the first team across the finish line.