Announcing the 2003 Subaru Primal Quest

SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 2, 2002; After weeks of anticipation, the Subaru Primal Quest today announced that its second-annual race will take place in the South Lake Tahoe region of California and Nevada beginning September 5th, 2003 and lasting for seven to ten days of continuous, arduous and non-stop competition.

The celebrated race, the largest and most-eagerly awaited in the United States, will be an expedition-length competition featuring trekking, orienteering, flat water and white water paddling, mountain biking, caving and ropes work.

Race director Dan Barger said, "The Lake Tahoe region offers some of the world's most beautiful -- and challenging -- natural terrain. We know the area well, and look forward to producing an adventure race that will challenge adventurers physically, mentally, and emotionally."

In its first year of competition in 2002, the Subaru Primal Quest quickly established itself as one of the most difficult and high profile endurance competitions in the world. The cash prize purse of $250,000 US attracted the strongest competitive field ever, and the winners, Team SoBe SmartWool, pocketed a winner's purse of $100,000 US.

Registration for the event opens February 5th, 2003 for both racers and volunteers, and as was the case last year for its inaugural edition, the 75 available competitive spots will be filled in a matter of minutes. An additional 25 competitive spots are reserved for the sport's elite teams, including those that finished in the top-5 of this year's Subaru Primal Quest or in the top two at the Raid Gauloises, the Eco-Challenge and the Southern Traverse. Additionally, co-race director Maria Burton said that a small number of the reserved entries will be assigned to those athletes who serve on the Racer Advisory Panel, "Our Advisory Panel is enormously important to insuring that this remains a 'racer's race.' That includes athletes who may not necessarily be elite racers, but those who can give us a valuable insight into the needs of the entire field."

Barger expressed his appreciation to the ongoing support of Subaru USA for their title sponsorship. "Subaru's commitment to the outdoors is well-known, and aligns closely with our own Leave No Trace philosophy," said Barger.