Between 16 – 18 September 2011, Adventure Race Montenegro is hosting the second ARMex 48 hour endurance race in Northern Montenegro.
ARMex is a 250km plus, Expedition Challenge which includes Orienteering, Rafting, Mountain Biking, High Ropes, Kayaking and Running stages. The race crosses some of the most spectacular terrain in Europe, the BioGradska National Park, Mount Durmitor and the Tara, Europe’s deepest canyon.
Europe’s newest 48 hour Adventure Race is one of the toughest. In 2010 only one team managed to complete the course without seeking assistance. The race is already attracting the interest of international adventure racers. Entry into the 2011 ARMex Race was one of the prizes awarded to the 2010 US Adventure Race (USARA) League Champions.
ARMex is open to mixed or same sex teams of 2 or 4. Registrations have just opened for competitors at MontenegroExpeditionChallenge.com. Already teams have registered interest from the US, UK, Greece, Poland, Germany, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, Serbia and of course Montenegro.
ARMex is a non profit event which races money for a conservation project to study the large mammal species in Montenegro. You can find out more at the facebook fan site – adventure race montenegro: Facebook.com Fun Site.
Photo gallery (ARMex 2010):
Additional information:
Adventure Racing is the world’s fastest growing outdoor participation sport. In 2009 781,000 individuals in the USA took part in some form or Adventure Race, a 39% increase year on year.
Adventure racing is a hybrid sport that is the offspring of triathlons, backpacking, exploration and adventure travel.
While its roots go back centuries, modern adventure racing evolved from endurance tests such as the Iron Man triathlon and gained popularity through events such as Raid Gauloises, the Eco- Challenge and Primal Quest. Distances and endurance levels vary, from sprints lasting six hours or less to expedition races spanning days.
Basically, teams navigate from a starting line through various checkpoints in a wilderness setting to a finish line. Teams must stay together, and there are no timeouts to rest.
Coed teams play a large role, so the sport has a sizable female following.
Trail running, mountain biking, paddling and orienteering with a map and compass are common requirements. Some courses require ropes skills, others white-water or ocean navigation. Bushwhacking (covering ground without trails) and trekking (carrying a backpack or other equipment) also are elements.
Some races are broken into stages, and the winning team has the lowest combined time through the various elements. Some simply measure start to finish times. A “Rogaine” event measures points that teams accumulate by reaching various checkpoints, in any sequence, in a set period.
The sport rewards teamwork, fitness, a love of the outdoors and a quirky pleasure taken from overcoming–or enduring–adversity.
Adventure Race Montenegro is an NVO established to promote conservation and sustainable tourism through high profile outdoor sporting events.. Adventure Race Montenegro organize 2 annual outdoor Adventure/Sports Events. ARM Coastal Challenge – one day race and ARMex 48 hour Endurance Race. The events promote outdoor sporting activities and bring together tourism, local businesses and non-profit organizations in a sustainable model.
Tourism: There are several ways for tourists to experience these events. Tourists can watch the events or compete in the competitions as registered race participants. For tourists traveling to Montenegro during other times of the year, they can re-create the experience with an Official Tour Packages, giving them the opportunity to ride, drive or race through Montenegro’s beautiful countryside.
Conservation: Adventure Race Montenegro is launching the Balkans Large Mammal Conservation program in partnership with Euronatur, Montenegrin National Parks Service and the Montenegrin Society for the Protection and Preservation of Wildlife. The project will conduct a scientific survey of species numbers and distribution (the first in more than 30 years) and will fund an ongoing conservation program.
Local Businesses: Because Montenegro is an emerging destination, developing sustainable business is incredibly important. The Adventure Race Montenegro NVO is organized to benefit three groups of local, Montenegrin businesses: Event Organizers, Tour Operators and Small Businesses.
Non-Profit Organizations: Protecting Montenegro’s natural landscape is equally as important as developing local businesses. Therefore the Montenegro Adventures Series will help promote sustainable tourism through best practice environmental standards (when working with local businesses) and by supporting the official Charitable Partner for the Series: Montenegro Race Directors Federation organizers of Montenegro Adventure Series. Each year the event supports local charities, including Forum MNE a nationwide youth training scheme, Leave No Trace seminar program.
ARMex 48 Hour Endurance Race
The ARMex Race was launched in 2010. An international field of experienced racers from Montenegro, Serbia, Greece, Poland and the United Kingdom competed over a grueling 240 km route through Montenegro’s Northern Mountains. The race included; Kayak, Mountain Bike, High Ropes, Rafting and Orienteering sections. The race route included; 2 national parks, some of Europe’s last Old Growth Forest, Mount Durmitor, The Sinjajevina Plateau, the highest town in the Balkans and Europe’s deepest Canyon.
It is the organizers intention that ARMex quickly gains the reputation as Europe’s toughest and most spectacular 48 Adventure Race. In 2010 only one team was able to complete the race without seeking outside assistance, for that reason the event has already gained some notoriety among Adventure Racers.
Comments from 2010 ARMex competitors:
- “Montenegro is an incredible location for Adventure Racing, the best we have seen” Team 360 – Poland.
- “ARMex 48 Hour Challenge is a very professionally organised Adventure Race” Team Xamos – Greece.
- “ARMex is amazing value for money, better than any other race we have taken part in…how do you do it?” Team ATG Greece
- “In the world’s toughest races, like the ARMex, only a third of entrants complete, this is the hardest race we have seen and will attract many racers in future years” Team SAT –Serbia
- “Adventure Racers in the UK are asking why they have not heard of this race before and how can they join in 2011, this is going to be a big race in the calendar” Team Toyi Toyi – UK
In 2011 ARMex will cross through a similar area, (the route is always a closely guarded secret), but will include new and more spectacular challenges for competitors. Following an association with the US Adventure Race Association (USARA), ARMex will host the US national Champions, already some very well known Adventure Race teams have registered.
Black Mountain Events
Black Mountain Events is a full-service event marketing company and is responsible for all event management, marketing, and sponsorship. Black Mountain Events is a wholly owned subsidiary of Black Mountain Montenegro, Ltd. Black Mountain Events is providing significant promotion and advertising for the ARMex, and is reaching thousands of International Adventure Sports Enthusiasts, Montenegrin Consumers and International Tourists.
With courtesy of NVO Black Mountain
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