First Junior Adventure Racing World Championship opens in Quebec

The inaugural ARWS Junior Adventure Racing World Championship runs July 23-26 in Témiscamingue, Quebec, with 38 junior teams from 10 countries. The new event aims to build the sport’s pipeline by giving young racers an international championship path.

Why it matters: - The first ARWS Junior Adventure Racing World Championship is designed to bring younger athletes into a sport that has traditionally skewed toward adults who start racing in their 30s or 40s. - The championship gives national federations and youth programs a clearer development path. - The event is meant to help produce the sport’s future elite athletes, coaches and leaders.

What happened: - The inaugural championship takes place July 23-26 in the Témiscamingue region of Quebec, Canada. - Thirty-eight junior teams from 10 countries are competing in pairs in Under-18 and Under-25 divisions. - The countries represented are Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Uruguay and the United States. - France is sending eight pairs across every age group and division. - Canada and the United States also have strong representation.

The details: - The championship is part of the Adventure Racing World Series. - The race tests teams in trail running, mountain biking, canoeing, swimming and rope challenges. - The schedule includes registration and opening ceremony on Thursday, July 23. - The Desjardins Youth Raid Prologue runs Friday, July 24, over 10-20 km and pairs international athletes with local schoolchildren. - World Championship Race Day 1 runs Saturday, July 25, over 50-60 km. - World Championship Race Day 2 runs Sunday, July 26, over 40-50 km, followed by the closing ceremony. - Live tracking is available at live tracking. - Event updates will appear on ARWS social channels and on @raidtemiscamingue. - More information and the full team list are available on the official event website.

Between the lines: - ARWS CEO Heidi Muller said the junior championship had been a long-term goal and that launching it required event partners, funding, team recruitment and travel support. - Muller said Temiscamingue and Endurance Aventure were the right location and event partners for the debut. - The recently formed International Adventure Racing Association helped coordinate team selection through member national associations. - National associations selected, trained and fundraised for the athletes attending the championship. - Daniel Poirier, founder of Endurance Aventure and organizer of Raid Témiscamingue, said regional authorities backed the event and its focus on youth and outdoor activity. - Poirier said the previous three editions of Raid Témiscamingue included a youth prologue linking local schoolchildren with international athletes. - The opening ceremony will include local indigenous culture.

What's next: - Fans and families can follow the race in real time through live tracking and social media updates. - The event is expected to serve as a template for future junior development in adventure racing. - ARWS and its partners will likely use the championship to expand youth participation and strengthen the sport’s international pipeline.