Checkpoint Zero, recently announced the launch of Checkpoint Tracker, an innovative, new concept for competitive adventure racing 

in the United States. A long desired streamlining to the sport which will provide a standardized system for Sprint and Pro rankings, an entirely new Web 2.0 social networking website, and a National Championship race offering a $10,000 cash prize purse. That’s right, a $10,000 cash purse. 

  

Since its inception in 2007 Checkpoint Tracker has been growing at a rapid clip. When it started it had only a handful of promoters backing the grassroots, yet foundation building initiative. This year Checkpoint Tracker had 26 events as part of the series and next year it will nearly double, featuring 50+ events nationwide. 

  

The observations from their (Checkpoint Zero’s) early Checkpoint Tracker experiments provided insights into developing a sustainable base from which to grow the sport of adventure racing. That sustainable base would be a fair ranking system that could account for variations in adventure racing events across the US and would be able to determine, in a meaningful way, a National Champion. 

  

"Checkpoint Tracker represents the evolution of competitive adventure racing in the United States. It's a fresh start...a break from a status quo," said Paul Angell, President of Checkpoint Zero. The status quo Angell is referring to is the existing model for competitive racing offered by the United States Adventure Racing System. In his view, their system is flawed in that it is cumulative. Each team's season points totals is derived by simply adding up all the points they earn at every event they attend, making the final rankings more a measure of which teams raced the most rather than which are in fact the better racers. Checkpoint Tracker allows teams to compete in as many events as the like, but combines only their 5 best results to determine their final season ranking. 

  

Beyond offering what he sees as more credible ranking system, Angell hopes that Checkpoint Tracker can once and for all establish adventure racing as a legitimate sport that will in turn lead to increasing participation. 

  

"Adventure racing has yet to fully realize its potential to capture the imagination of adventure seeking outdoor enthusiasts. It remains a balkanized, niche sport. High profile events like Eco Challenge and Primal Quest have succeeded in vaulting the sport into the limelight, but they failed to deliver a sustainable foundation on which to grow the sport at the grassroots and amateur level. Checkpoint Tracker provides a framework for doing exactly that. I'm very excited about what 2010 holds for the sport of adventure racing." 

  

Checkpoint Tracker includes Sprint length (up to 12 hours), Sport length (12 to 18 hours), Adventure length (18 to 48 hours), and Expedition length races, which will see competitors racing non-stop for more than two full days. After the last regular season event, Checkpoint Tracker will host a National Championship race that will bring together the top 60 teams by points in the Pro rankings and the top 15 teams by points in the Sprint rankings. The best adventure racing teams in the country will face an all new Adventure length course designed by Bonk Hard Racing. The National Championship will be worth twice as many points as regular season Adventure length races and will offer a $10,000 cash prize purse. 

  

For additional information about Checkpoint Tracker visit 

 

 

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