The reviews are in and the word is out – O2X Summit Challenge Series is the most exciting new event of the season. A three-peak route that takes racers through prehistoric caves highlights the series’ third installment, coming to New Hampshire’s Loon Mountain, October 17-18.

In addition to a spectacular course and celebratory event atmosphere, all racers receive Kill Cliff recovery drink, lululemon shorts, O2X high-performance soft racer shirts, O2X canteens, a Juti Organics energy bar and a Sam Adams Octoberfest beer post-race.

“O2X courses seek out the most demanding terrain the mountain has to offer, creating exciting, challenging routes that engage every aspect of physical fitness,” said O2X co-founder Gabriel Gomez. “Expect climbing, crawling, scrambling … as well as the unexpected.”

To register for the O2X Summit Challenge at Loon Mountain, go to http://o2x.com/pages/loon-mountain-challenge.

Taking trail running off the trail and adding a festival atmosphere, O2X Summit Challenge courses are designed to suit all types of athletes – runners, hikers or nature lovers. The Loon Mountain Single Diamond course (4.03 miles with 1,739 feet net elevation gain) is designed for runners with 5K and 10K experience, while the Double Diamond course (5.27 miles with 2,039 feet net elevation gain) will challenge hard-core runners and avid skiers getting ready for the upcoming season. After the summit finish, racers get a scenic lift ride down to BaseCamp for post-race festivities and kids races.

In addition to the sheer vertical challenge of climbing three peaks, racers at Loon will navigate a craggy maze of glacial caves – zigzagging between these tightly woven boulders will be a test to enervated racers’ mental awareness as well as their agility.

“The Loon Mountain is invigorating, challenging and ends with the best finishing view of any of our races,” said O2X co-founder Paul McCullough.

Loon Mountain’s Octagon Lodge will be home to a vibrant weekend-long “BaseCamp,” offering a variety of local foods and beverages. There will also be on-site camping, training-and-performance exhibits, slack lines and bouldering walls. Come Friday for dinner around a blazing bonfire and pitch a tent. Breakfast will be served the morning of the race and food and drinks during the rest of the day.

Boston band Element 78 will headline the post-race celebration, as cash and prizes are awarded to category winners, including the “O2X Rise Higher Award” which recognizes the most inspiring racer story, as nominated by fellow participants and spectators prior to the event.

As environmental leadership is a stated goal of the O2X Summit Challenge series, zero impact waste management will be spearheaded by REVERB, a company that also “greens” concert events. The REVERB Eco-Village will host activities with local partners including eco-trivia Jenga, shoe recycling, chair massage, an eco-pledge photo booth and a waste-free hydration station.

O2X organizers are committed to working with local suppliers to reduce shipping impact, avoiding single-serve packages and donating salvageable foods in the local area after the event. All O2X courses are built to U.S. Forest Service guidelines, and organizers are committed to a first-of-its kind Remediation Pledge to leave the mountain in better shape than they found it.

Contact

Chris Hrenko
Pale Morning Media
chris@palemorning.com
(802) 496-6092

Logo courtesy O2X Summit Challenge Series