While reporting on some of the top endurance races in the world, like the Whitbred, the Marathon De Sables and the Paris-Dakar Rally, Fusil dreamed of a sport where mixed sex teams of endurance athletes traveled through remote areas and cultures by multiple human disciplines. The Raid Gauloises and adventure racing were born. The success of the Raid spawned other races like the Southern Traverse and the Beast of the East. The success of the expedition length adventure race has led to many smaller multi-day and sprint races. Last year, in the Hi-Tec sprint series alone, thousands of Americans got a taste of adventure racing.
New races continue to pop up all over the world.
Adventure racing appeals to a broad spectrum of competitors from other sports like mountain bikers, runners and triathletes, but the largest appeal is among the passionate watchers with adventurous spirits who enjoy marvelling at the spectacle of televised expedition competitions from the comfort of their homes. Ten years ago when Fusil gathered a handful of crazy endurance athletes in New Zealand to attempt the first Raid Gauloises, prize money wasn't a thought. Racers raced to race, to test limits, to experience other cultures and to push the human envelope. And the sport continues to grow by leaps and bounds. .