Delivering on Sarawak Tourism’s tagline ‘Where Adventure Lives’, the inaugural Sarawak Adventure Challenge gives local and international athletes a chance to live the adventure. It will be held in Bau, Sarawak on Saturday, 14 October 2017.

This exciting international multi-sport adventure event will be held in the Bau region near Kuching and will include a combination of mountain biking, trail running as well as a cave run. Evoking images of Indiana Jones, the Lost Mines theme is a reference to the area’s colourful mining history and the fact that the race will incorporate some of these features.

Sarawak is renown for its rainforest, rivers and scenery and the race route will take competitors through some spectacular landscape. Bau is popular for its two beautiful limestone caves and is also a prime rock climbing destination of Kuching.

Over the course of the event competitors will cover about 40 km mountain biking, about 14 km trail running as well as a caving section. Set as a one-day team event, teams of two will be required to complete all stages and finish together.

The reward for navigating single track trails, old mining trails through jungle, streams, local roads, villages and plantations: an exhilarating rainforest experience and a total prize purse of over RM 33,000 (about USD 7,700). There will be two entry categories; a men’s open team and a mixed team with RM 6,000 (about USD 1,400) for the first prize in each category. Cash prizes will also be awarded for each of the top 14 placing in all categories.

This international event has already attracted the attention of a number of top ranked regional teams and approximately 150 participants are expected for the first year. The goal is for this number to increase to at least 200 by year two and reach 300 by year three. The target markets will be the nationals and resident expatriates living in Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, West Malaysia, China as well as international racers from European countries. As one of the aims of the event is to promote local participation, local teams are also encouraged to join.

The event is supported by the Sarawak State Government through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth & Sports, the Sarawak Tourism Board, the State Constituencies of Tasik Biru (N2) and Serembu (N18), the Bau District Council, and endorsed by Tourism Malaysia. Other event sponsors include MCC Overseas Malaysia, Compressport Malaysia, The Marian Boutique Lodging House, The Granary Kitchen + Bar, and Giant Bicycles.

The event organizer is Draco Action Sports, a joint venture between Borneo Adventure and Paradesa, two travel industry and outdoor sports veterans.

Registration is now open at www.sarawakchallenge.com.

Article and photos contributed by JC Chua of Paradesa Borneo.