ROSEAU, Dominica – (May 2013) – Dominica (pronounced Dom-in-EEK-a, and not to be confused with the Dominican Republic), is set to host adventure racers from the Caribbean and the United States later this month during the island’s first-ever Nature Island Challenge.
Scheduled for May 20-24, the competition will pit teams against each other in a series of challenges including grueling trail hikes, cultural immersion activities and photographic documentation of key milestones. Teams from the United States and the Caribbean will compete in the four-day event. Four-person teams comprised of endurance athletes, hiking enthusiasts and adventure travelers will compete by traversing sections of the Waitukubuli National Trail, performing a series of athletic and cultural challenges along the way, in hopes of winning prizes and bragging rights for the inaugural event.
“The Nature Island Challenge shows off Dominica’s magnificent beauty as well as our vast adventure activities,” said Colin Piper, Dominica’s director of tourism. “This innovative event will introduce Dominica to adventure travel fans the world over, encourage fan participation from near and far via social media and offer the experience of a lifetime for the lucky few competitors who have been selected to participate!”
Dominica is the only Caribbean destination with a hiking trail that extends the entire length of the island. The Waitukubuli National Trail – named after the Carib Indian name for Dominica – is 115 miles long and is divided into 14 contiguous segments that can take an experienced hiker nearly two weeks to complete in its entirety. The trail leads visitors into the heart of local communities while passing through mountainous landscapes and rainforests, and past rivers and waterfalls.
Competitive events include a marine challenge featuring a snorkeling and paddleboard competition at Scotts Head, one of the island’s most popular diving sites. Another stage calls for a cultural challenge where participants learn a traditional dance where they will be judged on their performance and authentic cultural interpretation.
Teams will be required to capture the thrill of the competition in still photos and video which will be posted on social media outlets. Fans from near and far can follow the excitement on Twitter at @NIChallenge, on Facebook at Facebook.com/NatureIslandChallenge or at the official blog
Dominica’s Nature Island Challenge is scheduled to air on NBC’s popular World of Adventure Sports on June 8.
