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Muddy and Memorable

The New York Hi-Tec Adventure Race provided adventure for all

LOS ANGELES (May 23, 2002)- They came, they saw, they rolled in the mud.
The New York Hi-Tec Adventure Race kicked off the 2002 Hi-Tec Adventure
Racing Series, Sunday, May 19, 2002, at Orchard Beach. Almost 800
competitors convened at Orchard Beach for the first event of the
eight-city 2002 Hi-Tec Adventure Racing Series. Competitors, in teams of
three, were challenged to a 10-mile mountain bike ride, a 2.2-mile kayak,
a 5-mile run and seven "special tests", including the popular mud pit.

Racers anxiously approached the starting line knowing the bike would be
the first leg, followed by the kayak, with the trail run as the final leg.
Racers could have never possibly anticipated what special tests were
planned for them in-between those sections of the event. Moments before
the start, team captains were handed a racer guidebook containing
instructions competitors would need to complete the "special tests"
throughout the course. Racers placed their instructions in their mandatory
waterproof carrying case to make sure the instructions remained dry even
if they didn' t. With the sound of the cannon, competitors raced down the
beach in a grand prix style-start towards the transition area to retrieve
their bikes and start the mountain bike section of the event.

Teams racing out of the transition area, after retrieving their bikes,
were brought to a quick halt and were presented with Special Test #1 Tire
Tube Exchange. Special Test #1 required teams to choose one of the three
bikes and exchange the back tube to the front tube and the front to the
back. After completing Special Test #1 competitors were off on the
mountain bike course.

The mountain bike course provided competitors with some fast terrain and
wide open trails as well as technical switchbacks and single track. In
addition to riding the course, at the end of the mountain bike section
competitors had to carry bikes on soft sand to return to the transition
area.

Competitors dropped off their bikes and were presented with Special Test
#2 The Knot Tie. Each team member was instructed to hold on to a rope with
one hand. While keeping their hands always secured to the rope, they had
to tie the rope into the same knot a picture showed. Special Test #3, The
Human Sacrifice, was immediately after Special Test #2. The instructions
for Special Test #3 stated that only two of the three-team members were
allowed to touch the ground for a designated distance. Teams piggy backed
each other and continued to the kayak portion of the event.

The kayak section of the event started racers on one side of Hunter's
Island and the course had them paddle to the opposite side of the island
where they then had to remove their kayaks from the water and carry the
boats back to the transition area.

Upon their return from the kayak, racers were presented with Special Test
#4 The Lilly Pad. The Lilly Pad had competitors, with wrists tied
together, moving as a team from pedestal to pedestal set in the mud. A
slip from the pedestal would lead teams back to the start. Communication
was key for a team's success. Getting muddy was inevitable in Special Test
#5 The Monkey Roll.

The Monkey Roll instructed all team members to assume a push up position
at all times unless traveling across teammates without being on their
knees or using their feet. Many teams used the steamroller strategy while
others just tucked close to team members and rolled as one. The mud pit
was 2 feet deep of muddy water ensuring all competitors were covered in
mud at the end of the test. After their muddy experience teams were sent
on the last leg of the race, the trail run. The trail run was another
scenic experience taking competitors into the heart of nature. Upon
returning from the run competitors were faced with Special Test #6 The
Bullseye.

The Bullseye special test designated one team member to be blindfolded,
one as a communicator and the last one holding the bullseye. The blind
folded member of the team and the communicator were placed 10 feet from
the one holding the bull's-eye. The communicator had to direct the
blindfolded member, without touching them, to the direction and the
distance the sponge had to be thrown to hit the target. Communication and
listening skills were essential successfully in completing this special
test. Once the target had been hit teams were on to their last special
test, The Wall.

Special Test #7, The Wall, is a tradition of the Hi-Tec Adventure Racing
Series as the last obstacle before the finish line. Teams must hoist the
first team member up to top before using the rope to get the remaining
two-team members over the wall. Teams are elated to come upon the 12ft.
wall because they know the finish line is close.

The race was close for elite teams with Team Hi-Tec and Team Balance Bar
exchanging the lead a few times throughout the course of the race. Team
Balance Bar pulled into and remained in the lead during the kayak section
of the event. Team Balance Bar will continue to wear the signature Paul
Mitchell leaders jersey going to Detroit, MI on Sunday, June 9th, 2002.

The second stop of the 2002 Hi-Tec Adventure Racing Series will be in
Detroit, MI June 9th, 2002. The Hi-Tec Adventure Racing Series will
continue to Atlanta, GA (June 23rd), Dallas, TX (July 13th), Sacramento,
CA (August 18th), Hartford, CT (September 8th), Richmond, VA (September
29th) with the Series final in Los Angeles, CA (October 19th).

Images from the event as well as results with team names are posted on the
web site at www.hitec-ars.com. Please tune in to see the New York
Adventure Race scheduled to air on the Outdoor Life Network Wednesday,
June 19th, 10:00 pm Eastern Standard Time.