Coverage of the 2002 Action Asia National
Geographic Challenge Adventure Race at Taiwan's Sun Moon Lake |
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Adventure racing has steadily
grown in popularity since the first races began. The media has become
heavily involved, with the Discovery Channel multi-day races being
among the most famous of its kind in the world. Though Taiwan has
not yet hosted a race of that stature, it has played host to some
major players in the Asian Adventure Race scene.
In April 2002, central Taiwan's Sun Moon Lake, in Nantou County,
was the scene for the Action Asia National Geographic Challenge.
Action Asia is Asia's top English-language multi-sport magazine,
and are the key organizers for the event, though the world famous
National Geographic (Channel) also serve as major sponsors for the
event. The diversity of the natural surroundings near the artificial
(human-made) Sun Moon Lake was the major drawing card for the event
organizers.
The event began with an exciting array of truly Taiwanese performances,
including Aboriginal music and dancing, plus the nationally famous
"Tai Ji Men QiGong" combative Tai-Chi group. Media from
around Asia were there to cover the start, though few made it onto
or around the course, with the exception of Formosan Fat Tire Association/Action
Asia photographer Patrick O'Leary. After the performances, teams
began their run around the grounds of the Formosan Aboriginal Culture
Village (a large amusement park) before heading up and then down
a steep mountain covered with bamboo trees.
Additional Race Coverage |
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