Competitors navigate by day and night a rugged 300-mile (480 km) course of mountain biking, whitewater rafting, sea kayaking, horseback riding, mountaineering and trekking with little sleep, food and water in order to finish within 7 to 11 days. The disciplines offered by each DCEC event depend on the country and environment.

Race management tries to invite as many teams as possible from the widening global demographic pool of applicants. In 1998, more than 175 teams applied to race in Discovery Channel Eco-Challenge: 58 teams were selected to compete, representing 33 countries. Four teams later dropped out.

Every DCEC course is designed to have minimum impact on the land and encourages a strict environmental 'use and not abuse' guidelines, which applies not only to competitors but to all event staff, camera crews and media.

The four-member teams competing in Eco-Challenge are among the world's top adventure racers.

Race History
• 1992: Mark Burnett creates Eco-Challenge Lifestyles, Inc. to introduce North America to the multi-discipline, adventure racing which has been popular in New Zealand for years.
• 1995: What started out as a concept became a reality on April 25, 1995 when North America's first expedition competition was held in southeastern Utah. Seven days, sixteen hours and twelve minutes after the start, Team Hewlett Packard was the first to complete the 370-mile course. Fifty teams participated: 40 US teams and 10 international teams.
• 1996: Seventy-one teams from nine countries travel to British Columbia to race more than 300 miles, night and day. Top competitors call the British Columbia competition the toughest yet. Even though Team Eco-Internet crosses the finish line in 6 days, 17 hours and 44 minutes, only thirteen other teams officially finish behind them.
• 1997: Eco-Challenge reaches a new level of global participation as 48 teams from 16 countries battled against each other and the elements over 300 miles of the Australian outback, rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef. For a second year in a row, Team Eco-Internet claims victory, and its share of the $75,000 in prize money, in 5 days, 19 hours and 46 minutes.
• 1998: The race follows the trail of the casbah through Morocco in North Africa. The secret course across the High Atlas Mountains will be revealed to the 54 teams, representing 27 countries, just prior to the start of the non-stop 300-mile adventure race.

Click to learn more about:
Eco's Environmental Impact
Race Background: How to Qualify for Eco