The Maya Mountain Adventure Challenge (MMAC) 2016 – An expedition race in Belize, Central America – has joined the Adventure Racing (AR) World Series, the premier circuit of endurance races held annually across the planet.
AR World Series Director Craig Bycroft said, “The Maya Mountain Adventure Challenge is joining the ARWS and their next race is scheduled early in 2016, providing an incredible new destination on the international race calendar.”
MMAC Race Director Doug Crytzer said “Not since the collapse of the Mayan civilization have many of these checkpoints been visited by human kind. Come be the 1st to see newly designated World Heritage Sites and help Friends for Conservation Development (FCD) to create and manage the new, Chiquibul National Park. Rarely in our sports great history do our competitors have a chance to make history and support such a great organization.”
The MMAC is scheduled from 19 – 25 Feb 2016 and will be the opening race of the 2016 ARWS season. The race of approximately 400km will include mountain biking, trail running, river kayaking and caving. Winners are estimated to complete the course in 3+ days and the course will be open for 4 days.
Entries to the MMAC are limited to 100 athletes and open on 1st June. The event supports the Friends for Conservation and Development which aims to put more park rangers on the ground to help protect this unique and amazing part of the world.
The Adventure Racing (AR) World Series unites in competition the world’s best endurance athletes at premiere Qualifier events around the globe. The top two teams at each of these races gain a coveted position on the start line of the annual pinnacle of the sport, the AR World Championship.
Adventure Racing is the ultimate race of human endurance. Teams of four athletes race nonstop, day and night, through courses up to 700km in length. Each course is a unique journey, including legs of mountain biking, trail running, kayaking and rope work. Teams must navigate using map and compass through remote wilderness checkpoints. They battle not only other teams, but also extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation and unpredictable weather. If one team member quits, the entire team is unclassified. Often just reaching the finish line is a victory.
For details of the race see http://www.mayamountainadventurechallenge.com
For more information on the AR World Series, please visit www.arworldseries.com
Photos by Mike Sero.