The GUP climbing team headed up to Winnipeg's Vertical Adventures climbing gym last weekend to take part in their annual climbing competition.  Despite super challenging routes and the biggest youth field in the competition's history, the GUP girls managed to place 1, 2 and 3!  The GUP boys didn't manage to reach the top spots but in fairness there were only two of them, they are 10, and their competition half a dozen teenagers twice their size!  More important than the results though is the teamwork and determination that they displayed, and the personal challenges they all faced and overcame (self-doubt, uncertainty, frustration, etc).  We are so proud of our team! Pictures from the event can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/endracing/sets/72157637557627883/.

Members of Ground UP adventures youth racing team, END-FAST, led by Canadian Reid Nelson (age 17) are set to challenge ENDracing's END-AR24, the midwest regional championship race in the North American Adventure Race Series on August 24th and 25th.  The event marks the first time a youth team will attempt to compete in such a challenging race, unassisted by adults.  Other members of the team include Rosa Grijalva (age 15) and Elizabeth Carr (age 16).  The race is made possilbe by a generous donation by Delorme, who is providing the team with an inReach 2 way satellite communication device that will allow the team to send text messages about their position and condition to race organizers (and more importantly their parents!) from deep in the Pembina Gorge, an area that  encompasses the largest uninterrupted block of woodlands in North Dakota, and the longest segment of unaltered river valley in the state.  And it's a good thing because although there is no reliable cell service in the region, there is plenty of potential danger - steep and difficult terrain, a swift rivers, and 'large' wildlife including moose, cougars, and bears.  You will be able to follow the team live on ENDracing's Facebook page or on Twitter at http://bit.ly/endar24.