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Will Newcomer's love for all things outdoors drew him to adventure racing. And, once he started dabbling in the multi-
discipline, several-hour races, it didn't take him long to create his own race series.
Newcomer's brainchild — the Adventure Xstream race circuit — is making a stop in Glenwood Springs for the first time on Saturday.
Competitors will face a 50-mile course that incorporates a wide range of disciplines. Mountain biking, kayaking, trail running, rappelling, caving and river boarding await the 150-plus athletes already signed up as solo entrants or as part of a two- or four-person team.
Newcomer, who founded Gravity Play Sports, dreamed up this adventure race circuit nearly a decade ago.
“I was kind of an avid outdoor enthusiast, doing all the activities,” he said. “I had done several adventure races myself, and I was anxious to try the production side of it.
“I love doing all the outdoor sports, but I was never a good swimmer. Triathlons were never a good thing for me. Being able to kayak instead of swim, that's kind of the biggest draw for me.”
Newcomer's shift to the production side of things has proven to be a fruitful venture. Gravity Play Sports is in the midst of its 10th year and its race series features stops in the company's hometown of Durango, Glenwood, Buena Vista and Moab, Utah.
Glenwood Adventure Company owner Ken Murphy got the wheels turning on bringing the Adventure Xstream series to Glenwood.
“He originally approached us,” Newcomer said. “He had done races with us before and asked us to see if we could put together a course there. We started working with the city and it all came together.”
Saturday's race begins at Two Rivers Park at 6:30 a.m. Aside from the disciplines competitors will tackle, course details are kept confidential until race day.
Newcomer says the average weekend warrior will complete the race in eight to 10 hours. Elite athletes will finish in six to seven hours.
The series draws a blend of both types of competitors.
“We certainly get a handful of elite athletes,” he said. “I'd say most people, your average weekend warriors, are out there to have fun and challenge themselves.”
And, Newcomer says, Glenwood will surely present its share of challenges to Saturday's competitors.
“The Glenwood race is probably the race that incorporates more of all the opportunities — river boarding, caving and rappelling,” he said. “It should be a really exciting and adventurous course.”
jcaspersen@postindependent.com
discipline, several-hour races, it didn't take him long to create his own race series.
Newcomer's brainchild — the Adventure Xstream race circuit — is making a stop in Glenwood Springs for the first time on Saturday.
Competitors will face a 50-mile course that incorporates a wide range of disciplines. Mountain biking, kayaking, trail running, rappelling, caving and river boarding await the 150-plus athletes already signed up as solo entrants or as part of a two- or four-person team.
Newcomer, who founded Gravity Play Sports, dreamed up this adventure race circuit nearly a decade ago.
“I was kind of an avid outdoor enthusiast, doing all the activities,” he said. “I had done several adventure races myself, and I was anxious to try the production side of it.
“I love doing all the outdoor sports, but I was never a good swimmer. Triathlons were never a good thing for me. Being able to kayak instead of swim, that's kind of the biggest draw for me.”
Newcomer's shift to the production side of things has proven to be a fruitful venture. Gravity Play Sports is in the midst of its 10th year and its race series features stops in the company's hometown of Durango, Glenwood, Buena Vista and Moab, Utah.
Glenwood Adventure Company owner Ken Murphy got the wheels turning on bringing the Adventure Xstream series to Glenwood.
“He originally approached us,” Newcomer said. “He had done races with us before and asked us to see if we could put together a course there. We started working with the city and it all came together.”
Saturday's race begins at Two Rivers Park at 6:30 a.m. Aside from the disciplines competitors will tackle, course details are kept confidential until race day.
Newcomer says the average weekend warrior will complete the race in eight to 10 hours. Elite athletes will finish in six to seven hours.
The series draws a blend of both types of competitors.
“We certainly get a handful of elite athletes,” he said. “I'd say most people, your average weekend warriors, are out there to have fun and challenge themselves.”
And, Newcomer says, Glenwood will surely present its share of challenges to Saturday's competitors.
“The Glenwood race is probably the race that incorporates more of all the opportunities — river boarding, caving and rappelling,” he said. “It should be a really exciting and adventurous course.”
jcaspersen@postindependent.com
