Winnipeg Showdown!

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!

Family Adventure Race a Success Despite Nasty Weather

Ground UP adventures third family adventure race took place last weekend despite high temperatures around 40 degrees, 20 mph winds, and constant rain.  12 family teams and 4 youth teams braved the weather to tackle the challenging and very muddy terrain.  It was good "adventure racing weather" according to organizers, who also commented -  "if families can play outside together in this weather, they can play outside in anything!"  WDAZ covered the event as part of their weekly GR8 outdoors feature.  You can see the broadcast HERE. A

Youth team to tackle 24 hour adventure race

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).

Boat House Gets Legs!

I just received word that out of 31 applications for the State of North Dakota Tourism Expansion Grant, the Red River Boat House Project was number 1!  What that means is that we've now got 24K of committed funding for the project.  That's enough to buy two containers and pay for the modification of one of them, and possibly do some site development.  Add to that a potential fundraiser by Cabelas for the dock and hopefull involvement from a few other awesome local businesses and we're finally getting somewhere!!!  So excited!

Little Beasts

It is absolutely empowering to watch some of our GUP kids these days.  In particular I'm thinking of my recent experience watching three young women (aged 11-13) participate in the Dewey Duathlon in Grand Forks, ND, last saturday.  The conditions were so grim for the race (rain, unseasonably cold temps, and brutal winds) that nearly 1/4 of the registered participants decided to stay in bed.  But the girls showed.  They had to get special permission to even enter the race (the organizers hadn't thought anyone so young would even imagine doing the whole thing...

From the Pond to the Ocean

The Ground UP climbing team travelled from the pond to the ocean this past weekend as they headed to Minneapolis to participate in one of the largest climbing competitions in the midwest, Vertical Endeavors "Jug or Not" event.  All 11 team members, 4 of the coaches, and one team parent ended up challenging themselves against the massive 60+ foot walls and extraordinarily deep field of competitors.  The kids all did fabulously well and exemplified our team rules - they had fun, climbed hard enough to fall, and were supportive of each other.

Coalition for a Healthy Greater Grand Forks Grant

A big thanks to the Coalition for a Healthy Greater Grand Forks for providing $500 of assistance this spring for Ground UP adventures adventure programming!  The funds will be used to help pay for goodies that will be enjoyed by participants of the Family Adventure Race, and to help offset costs and provide supplies for the Adventure Racing Camp slated for mid June.  We can't thank them enough for their support of our endeavors!  

Team END-FAST off to a great start!

The Extreme North Dakota Future of Adventure Sports Team, END-FAST, has had a busy February.  Elizabeth Carr, aged 15, competed in the Grand Forks winter series.  She placed second in the 5K frozen feat and second in the beginners category at Bikecicle, both held on February 16th.  She went on to place third overall in the Yetiess (solo) category at ENDracing's Iceman Triathlon on Saturday, Feb. 23rd.  Her efforts led her to the top spot in the series overall.

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