"Land Rover G4 Challenge in Nevada" Strategies for Smart Car Buyers

Land Rover G4 Challenge in Nevada

photo by Land Rover USA

“There is a planned strategy here,” said Bob Burns, 3D Experience Events Manager for Land Rover North America.
“
"What’s that?”" I questioned, expecting an extremely technical explanation to ensue. His answer; “"Get stuck!”"

This was the wrap-up of four days and 1,000 miles at the Land Rover G4 Challenge/ Nevada Passage adventure competition in the wilds of Nevada.

We were watching the first of ten two-person co-ed teams drive a Land Rover LR3 up the Nellis sand dunes in the Nevada desert. The object of the exercise was to get stuck and winch the last 200 feet of steep sandy hill.

In this case, winching was the art of using the 100-feet of coiled steel braided cable (mounted on the front the Land Rover) to prevent the vehicles from getting buried in the deep, soft sand. Pulling a fully loaded 6,000 pound vehicle with a kayak and two bikes strapped to the roof straight up a sand dune is a skill that demands lots of concentration, strategy, muscle power and endurance.

This last challenge was the last of a stunning round of gruelling athletic endeavours that included mountain biking, kayaking, rock-climbing, trail-running, orienteering, off-road driving and navigation.

To back up a minute, the Land Rover G4 Challenge is a global off-road driving and adventure event held every two years with national selection events taking place in 18 countries around the world. 2008 marks only the second time the United States has participated in the global competition since the inaugural event in 2003.

The top two 2-person teams from this competition will attend the international selection event in early 2009, where one team will be selected to represent the United States in the final challenge in Asia.

The Nevada Passage, created by the Nevada Commission on Tourism in 2005, was designed to highlight the outdoor excursions, adventure and activities in Nevada. In addition, the Nevada Passage is a made-for-television adventure competition that has been viewed by more than 2 million television viewers across the country.

I was there as an observer, not a participant. But I spent a memorable set of days camping out with the athletes and cheering them on. I was struck by their dedication and positive enthusiasm. Even as they were coming out of an event which would seemingly have flattened their energy, they were asking for another.

To sum it up. After pulling the 80 or so pound winch line up that ankle deep soft sand mountain, enthusiastic contestant Rachel Cieslewicz, a muscled wisp of a woman, exclaimed, “When can we winch again!”