Bringing the sport of adventure racing to urban landscapes nationwide for the seventh consecutive year, the Merrell Oyster Racing Series will kick off its 2010 schedule in Denver, Colorado on August 21. Subsequent races will take place in:
- Seattle, Washington on August 28
- Portland, Oregon on September 18
- San Francisco, California on September 25
- Austin, Texas on October 16 and
- Nashville, Tennessee on October 23.
Billed as the "Ultimate Urban Adventure Race" for its uncanny ability to combine pure athleticism with thought-provoking strategy, the race requires each team to run, bike, paddle, climb, and perform other crazy athletic stunts while racing around the city, answering clues and completing tasks. The majority of the races will benefit the Make a Wish Foundation granting wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions to enrich their hope, strength and joy.
For the first time this year, the Merrell Oyster Racing Series will also go off-road in Glenwood Springs, Colorado on May 22. The Merrell Oyster Off-Road challenges teams of two to push the limits in one of nature's pristine playgrounds.
"The Merrell Oyster Racing Series began in the pearl city of Denver in 2003 and the name originated from Rocky Mountain Oysters, a novelty dish in the West that includes a 'special' part of the bull," said Jason Ornstein, vice president of adventure for the Merrell Oyster Racing Series. "This ball busting, all-day fun event was so well received it grew to other cities across the U.S., and today we celebrate the race's seventh anniversary.
The Merrell Oyster Racing Series allows devoted outdoor athletes to combine athletic ability with smarts as their teams circumnavigate host cities, using a variety of modes of transportation and visiting area attractions and landmarks. Everyone crosses the finish line with a sweaty smile."
The 2010 Merrell Oyster Racing Series will include three divisions this year--Traditional, Oyster Relay and the new Half Oyster. The Traditional division includes men's, women's and coed teams, each made up of three people. The teams complete all legs of the race together.
The Oyster Relay division is ideal for friends and corporate groups looking for team building activities. The Oyster Relay course is the same as the Traditional division's full course, but teams consist of at least four, but no more than six, individuals. The teams can be made up of members of any gender, and each team member will complete as many or few of the legs of the course as they like, but a mandatory minimum of three team members must be on the course for each leg of the race. This division provides the opportunity for members to strategically compete in legs where they are strongest and allows other team members to catch their breath.
New this year is the Half Oyster division, a scaled down version of the full Oyster course at about half the length. The Half Oyster includes men's, women's and coed teams, each made up of three people.
The exact course is kept a tightly guarded secret until race day. Past legs in Denver, for example, have included "Under the Sea," in which contestants made their way to Denver Aquarium's Reservoir exhibit where a team member donned a wet suit and mask and dove to find a card required for the team to progress to the next leg of the course, and Up, Down, Up Down, in which contestants had to sit in every seat in a particular section at Coors Field.
For more information, visit www.oysterracingseries.com.
Merrell is a brand within the Outdoor Group, a division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc. that also includes Patagonia Footwear. Wolverine World Wide, Inc. is headquartered in Rockford, Michigan. The company's portfolio of highly-recognized brands includes: Bates, Chaco, Hush Puppies, Merrell, Sebago and Wolverine. The Company is also the exclusive footwear licensee of the following popular brands: CAT, Harley-Davidson and Patagonia. The Company's products are carried by leading retailers in the U.S. and globally in nearly 200 countries and territories. Merrell, Phone: (800) 789-8586; Fax: (888) 746-3329.