MOROCCO TIME:

What kinds of sports disciplines are involved?
Each Eco-Challenge offers a variety of disciplines depending on the country and environment, such as canoeing, horseback riding, mountain biking, climbing using fixed ropes, white water rafting, mountaineering, glacier travel and ocean kayaking.

In Morocco competitors must sea kayak, trek, mountain bike, canyoneer, climb, ride horseback, and for the first time ever in the history of the event, camel ride.

Who is on an Eco-Challenge team?
Each team is made up of four athletes, with at least one member of the opposite sex. Competitors must be at least 18 years old.

How does Eco-Challenge decide how many teams participate?
Interest from all over the world has grown, and race management tries to invite as many teams as possible from the widening global demographic of applicants and the number of home turf team applicants, depending on location of the race.

Race management also considers the number of teams that the course and logistics can accommodate for the best expedition conditions, as well its "leave no trace" environmental impact philosophy.

For Morocco, thousands applied. Fifty-eight teams were selected to compete, representing 33 countries. Four teams later dropped out.

How do teams qualify for Eco-Challenge?
Teams competing in Discovery Channel Eco-Challenge are among the world's top adventure racers.

Each team must submit an application outlining their high-level skills and experience on expedition-style racing, multi-sport disciplines and expeditions, as well as their motivations and team philosophy.

A Discovery Channel Eco-Challenge committee evaluates applications and teams are extended invitations based on those evaluations.

Are there guidelines for teams applying?
The only guidelines regarding teams are:
Team members must be at least 18 years old.
Team members must submit one application for each team, which must be accompanied by, for each team member, a list of athletic accomplishments or experience in the disciplines, and statement of team motivation and philosophy.
Each team must have four members.
Each team must have at least one member of the opposite sex.

Are there qualifying races?
Due to the overwhelming number of applications and competitive nature of team selection, Eco-Challenge is evaluating plans to hold regional qualifiers. Currently, Eco-Challenge competitors qualify by submitting an application to race management.

Does the Eco-Challenge race management help adventure racers train?
Racers tend to have broad multi-sport race experience or outdoor skills and each team must conduct their own training regimens to build up on the skills they already have.

Race management educates competitors in detailed newsletters specific to the year's event on the skills, training, and equipment preparations needed to compete. Race management suggests that applicants be mature, responsible adults who can evaluate risks and proceed with caution. Race management is available for other counsel or referral along the way as necessary.

How does Eco-Challenge choose the competition dates each year?
Each year, Eco-Challenge considers many factors, including weather (water levels, avalanche danger, ocean currents, climate temperatures, and winds), production practicality issues, as well the observance of religious holidays. In Morocco, an October 6 start was chosen as the dates best meeting the above factors.

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(The above information was provided by Discovery Channel Eco-Challenge.)