FYI:
----- Forwarded by Chris Case/TEPPCO on 02/26/2001 03:51 PM -----

"Phillip
Abbott" To: <ccase@...>
<abbottsmail@ cc:
ev1.net> Subject: THE SUBARU/NOC MERCILESS
MOUNTAIN MELEE

02/26/2001
03:44 PM





NEWS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Nicole Haller
February 20, 2001 Public Relations Coordinator/NOC
(828) 488-2176 X186
nocmedia@...
www.noc.com



NANTAHALA OUTDOOR CENTER ANNOUNCES
MAJOR INTERNATIONAL EVENT :
THE SUBARU/NOC MERCILESS MOUNTAIN MELEE


(Wesser, NC) -- The Nantahala Outdoor Center in Wesser, North Carolina
is proud to announce that its new four-day adventure race will be part
of Discovery Channel's search for the world's supreme adventure racing
team. The Subaru/NOC Merciless Mountain Mjlie, to be held in the
mountains of Western North Carolina May 7-11 is a member of the
Adventure Racing World Series and is a qualifying race for the Discovery
Channel World Championship Adventure Race. The news of the Mountain
Mjlie's inclusion to this international event confirms the Nantahala
Outdoor Center's status as one of the most recognized adventure racing
centers in the world.

"We are very excited to have this opportunity, " said Norm Greenberg and
Tracyn Thayer, adventure race directors at NOC. "It will elevate
adventure racing in the Southeast to a level of international quality."
The NOC race will consist of three to four days of non-stop
hiking/running, mountain biking, paddling (flatwater and/or whitewater),
rappelling, and navigating with map and compass. The winner of this
event earns a free entry into the Inaugural Discovery Channel World
Championship and $5,000. All finishing teams will receive either cash or
gear prizes. The NOC race field is limited to 60 three-person co-ed
team, costs $1785 per team and registration by phone (800-232-7238) or
Fax (828-488-0301) for the race begins on Monday, February 26 at 9 am
EST. No e-mail entries will be accepted and entry forms will be posted
on www.noc.com under Events and Festivals.

The Subaru/NOC Merciless Mountain Mjlie is one of only three adventure
races in North America recognized as World Series Events ? an elite
international circuit of premier adventure races representing seven
countries, creating a 12-month calendar of professional events around
the World. Other AR World Series races include The Beast of the East,
Virginia (April 10-16), Raid the North, Canada (June 18-22) the Corsica
Raid, Corsica (May 19-26), Adrenaline Rush, Ireland (May) Hi-Tec
Adventure Quest Zirk Botha, South Africa (July 29-Aug 4), Expedicao Mata
Atlantica, Brazil (Nov 23-Dec 1) and the Southern Traverse (Nov 23-Dec
1). Discovery Channel will be the exclusive media sponsor of the series.
Each winning team from the respective AR World Series races will gain
automatic, paid entry into the Discovery Channel World Championship
Adventure Race, and a $5,000 (U.S.) cash prize from Discovery Channel.
In addition, invitations to the Championship will be extended to
second-place teams in the AR World Series, and to winners of other
recognized worldwide adventure races. To complete a full field of 50
four-person teams, registration will also be open to experienced teams
who meet specified qualifying criteria.

The Discovery Channel World Championship Adventure Race will be held in
September 2001 in Europe (exact location to be announced March 1).
Striving to provide the very pinnacle of adventure racing experience in
the world, the race will run continuously for 6 days and will include
disciplines such as rafting, mountain biking, abseiling and glacier
trekking. The prize purse for the World Championships will be $100,000
(U.S.), with the races winners claiming the title of the Discovery
Channel World Champion Adventure Racing team.

Leading adventure racers around the world have reacted with enthusiasm
for the new initiative. Ian Adamson, winner of the Southern Traverse,
Raid Gauloises, Eco-Challenge, and many
others, believes the push to organize the Discovery Channel World
Championship Adventure Race and the international adventure racing
circuit comes at an important time in the evolution of the sport.

Said Adamson, "The current sorry state of affairs on the international
racing circuit has five major events taking place within a month of each
other, a situation that reflects poorly on race directors and the sport
in general. The impetus to bring the major international events to an
agreement and to provide structure to the calendar of events will
alleviate this problem, enhance the appeal of adventure racing, allow
athletes to attend races at their discretion, and give credence to a
bona fide World Championship."

Discovery Channel is one of the world's largest cable television
networks, serving more than 185 million subscribers in 152 countries
across the globe with the finest in informative entertainment.
Constantly redefining the boundaries of real-world entertainment with
groundbreaking expeditions, global programming events and innovative
storytelling from the world's most talented filmmakers, the Discovery
Channel presents the highest quality programming spanning science and
technology, nature, history, human adventure and world culture genres.

For more information regarding race NOC race registration, contact NOC
Programs 800-232-7238 ext 600.


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