2009 Primal Quest to Stay Domestic

Written By Craig Stein

By now, most hard-core adven- terview, had just returned from the
ture racing enthusiasts know the Furnace Creek 508 in Death Valley
location of the next Primal Quest, to her home in San Diego, Califor-
“The World’s Most Challenging nia. She finished the non-stop bike
Human Endurance Competition.” race in 33 hours: 10 minutes. “This
The 600+ mile, ten day expedition was actually my first bike race,
Team Merrell/Zanfell during a biking
length, multi discipline race will believe it or not.” Robyn revealed, leg of Primal Quest Montana 2008.
be held August 15th - 24th, 2009 “Interestingly, all of the girls on
in the Badlands and Black Hills of the podium were in the 40-plus age - presented by SPOT. “We expect
South Dakota, USA. Don Mann group. Nice to be reminded that we even more media coverage and
Productions and the South Dakota ultra types are actually just hitting exposure than we had in Montana.
Department of Tourism announced our stride in our early 40s! Defi- With more than nine months before
the dates and location of the 6th nitely not a race for the youngsters.” race day we already have the entire
edition of this legendary adventure In the Summer of 2008 South course planned and expect to have
Friday, September 26th on location Dakota representatives contacted nearly 90% of this layout un-
at Custer State Park. Primal Quest and invited the or- changed by the time permitting is
After the extremely successful ganization to check out what the finalized.” Don and Chris have al-
return of Primal Quest Montana in state had to offer. “After several ready been on most of the 603 mile
the Summer of 2008 the organiza- follow-up conversations, a scout- tentative race course. “In South
tion was focusing on taking the ing trip was planned,” said Chris Dakota, unlike other previous
race to several international loca- Caul. “From spending time on the Primal Quest venues, bushwhack-
tions, but that was to change. “We ground, seeing the terrain, we knew ing is OK unless otherwise posted.”
have always enjoyed producing we had our next race course!” Caul This means teams will be able to
this event in the U.S.,” expressed expounded, “We are excited about pick their own route between check
Race Director Chris Caul. “We had the vast and trailless areas South points along the course.” Don
a lot of racer feedback saying they Dakota holds. I have never seen Mann’s optimism is bolstered by
wanted the race to stay domestic.” a location that has such variable the warm reception South Dakota
Veteran adventure racer Robyn terrain. The different landscapes
Benincasa, captain of Team Mer- of the area will be an unbelievable
rell/Zanfell, agrees that the Bad- experience for the racers.” “Just getting to the finish
lands venue is a positive deci- “Most people have never expe- line of the Primal Quest and
sion. “I love racing in the United rienced the beauty of South Da- feeling like you had a
States... I’m so used to packing up kota. The scenery of the Badlands great race is
everything for airline weight specs is like another planet,” Don Mann, a victory
and paying way too much in excess Primal Quest Producer, enthusiasti- for most
baggage fees that driving to a race cally conveyed. teams.
is a rare treat.” As the most prolific adventure
That’s
Robyn, at the time of this in- sport event producer in the world,
Don Mann has been instrumental worth
in reviving the Primal Quest brand. far
He is moving it forward, with a more
fraction of the initial budget, re- than any
gaining the image it once had when prize
backed by seriously large capital. money.”
Mann is very optimistic about the
success of Primal Quest Badlands Robyn Benincasa
 South Dakota, we don’t want it on!” exclaims Robyn Benincasa.
people to just look at the natural “That will probably draw at least
beauty of our rugged terrain, wide a few more international teams
open prairies and beautiful Black to the party.” Robyn continued,
Hills, we want them to use the “I’ve never raced for the money,
trails, streams and rivers. We just so its not a factor for me. Just a
ask folks to leave these areas just nice bonus when it happens! If I
as they found them.” Commenting were in AR for a living, I’d defi-
on the organization’s ecological nitely be living on the streets of
standards the Governor said, “The the course. “I’m a big fan of sup- San Diego in a Geo Metro by now.
Primal Quest team’s goal is to be port crews, so that aspect about the Prize money is a nice-to-have, but
environmentally friendly and we 2009 edition is a bit of a bummer with four people and so much gear
will hold them to it.” Primal Quest for me,” racer Robyn Benincasa re- and equipment, you can’t count on
could mean millions of extra dol- plies. “I think support crews allow lands will have more single track Utah, endlessly beautiful,” Don it! Just getting to the finish line of
has shown the Primal Quest or- lars in visitor spending from the family and friends to be involved at mountain biking than any previ- Mann expressed. The entire Primal the Primal Quest and feeling like
ganization. “We have around 75 exposure the race will bring the a deeper level and to really be part ous Primal Quest,” proclaimed Quest production team believes you had a great race is a victory for
local and state officials backing State. The Tourism Department is of the team, not to mention the ever Don. The planning team is excited that the South Dakota event will most teams. That’s worth far more
this event 100%. We should have already a partner in bringing Primal important emotional support they about the number of terrain options be, “The benchmark that all future than any prize money.”
less issues with permitting than any Quest to South Dakota. “We have can offer.” Robyn Continues, “On course designer Rick Emerson has Primal Quest races will be judged
previous race,” Don proclaimed. substantial time and money invest- the other hand, a non-supported presented to them. “We have a very against!”
“We have a saying here in ed in it’s success. That commitment race definitely levels the playing knowledgeable course designer Team and Volunteer registra-
South Dakota, we roll out the red will continue until the last team field a bit. For example, in the 2008 who truly knows every inch of tion is now open at www.ecopri-
carpet, not the red tape,” stated finishes the race and beyond.” The primal quest, the timing of the sec- the course,” said race malquest.com. Primal
South Dakota Governor Mike Governor’s office feels strongly tions worked out perfectly for team director Chris Caul. Quest Badlands 2009
Rounds. “That doesn’t mean we’ll that South Dakotans will embrace Nike to run the race like a stage “He has found us will cost each team
cut corners; what we will do, is this event and want to be involved race and sleep comfortably in their more climb sites $11,500. The
give an up or down answer very with it. motor home every night. That was and caves than we price is $1000
quickly.” This approach to such a The Primal Quest media team a huge factor in their speed and can ever use. We less than it was for
large expedition type event should will showcase the wonders of ultimate success, since they had are working the Montana 2008
help speed along the permitting South Dakota to the world through warm food and a bed every night closely with race. This should
process, at least at the state level. it’s television agreement with Rush versus a bag of cheetos and a pup- the local spe- help to encourage
Governor Rounds continued, “In HD and other standard definition ply pile of teammates on the freez- lunking groups, more teams to enter
networks. Print media magazines ing ground like most other teams. as well as the land the event. While the cost
and newspapers will publish ar- Good for them for using their crew managers, to select our has dropped, the prize
ticles before during and after the to their benefit and working hard to best options,” purse has increased
race. The public will also follow get back to them every night.” Chris from $100,000
the race online through the Primal There are other major differ- contin- to $175,000
Quest web site and the near real ences the South Dakota environ- ued. “The in cash and
time tracking of each four person ment will pose. 580 of the total 600 climb sites prizes for
coed team through GPS devices, mile course will be comprised of are truly the top
provided by presenting partner SPOT. off-road travel. Orienteering and unlimited, finishing
Unlike the 2008 Montana route finding will be required dur- and much teams.
version of Primal Quest, the Bad- ing each leg of the race. According like “Bring
lands event will be an unsupported to producer Don Mann; one-third
race. This means no plush RV’s of the race duration will be spent
and multi-person support crews to on the water, one-third will be
pamper the racers at each transition on mountain bikes, and one-third
Robyn Benincasa, Team Merrell/ area. Race team’s will be responsi- will be comprised of the trekking/
Zanfell captain, is just one of the elite
ble for carrying their own food and climbing/spelunking. “The race
adventure racer’s planning to race in
Primal Quest Badlands 2009. vital equipment during each leg of through the South Dakota Bad-