Page 54 - MIN VOS 22 FEB 2016

A16
LOCALMonday 22 February 2016
Caribbean Calling for Challenge Family!
ORANJESTAD - Challenge
Family announced re-
cently its newest addition
to the global series of long
distance triathlons on the
spectacular Caribbean is-
land of Aruba.
Set over the half distance,
CHALLENGEARUBA will
take place on 23 October
on the ‘Happy Island’ of
Aruba with its crystal clear
blue waters, pearly white
beaches and balmy Carib-
bean climate – the perfect
combination for a race in
paradise!
The CHALLENGEARUBA
course stands out not just
for its beauty but for its
speed, variety and quality.
The 1.9km swim is a single
lap course in the clear
warm Caribbean sea in
front of the famous Palm
Beach. The undulating
90km bike course is over
four laps along the coast-
line, passing through some
of the island’s most popular
beaches before heading
to the famous lighthouse of
Aruba.
The run-course is entirely
along the white beaches
of Aruba. Three laps which
alternate between the
boulevard (The Strip) and
the path on the beach in
front of the exclusive hotels
of Aruba that join the Palm
Beach Area. The finish line
will be situated on the bou-
levard at The Hyatt Regen-
cy Resort.
A sprint distance race will
also be available for ath-
letes who would rather
keep it short and sweet.
The sprint consists of a 750m Our commitment is to pro-
swim, followed by a 22,5km
cycle and finally a 7km run.
Otmar E Oduber, Minister of
Tourism said he was looking
forward to welcoming ath-
letes to the island. “As the to provide participants and
Minister of Tourism, and on
behalf of our One Happy
Island,
I would like to welcome you
to Aruba for the inaugural
race of Challenge Aruba.
vide you with safety, beau-
tiful scenery, and warm
support in a unique and
breathtaking atmosphere.
I look forward to cheer you
on as you make your way
to becoming one of the first
ever finishers of what prom-
ises to be a beautiful race!”
Marcus Altmann, global
operations for CHALLENGE-
FAMILY, said CHALLENGEA-
RUBA was a great addition
to the series, especially for
North American athletes.
“Racing in paradise is al-
ways a hard opportunity to
turn down,” he said. “The
convenience of getting
to Aruba from the North
American mainland makes
this a perfect race to es-
cape the autumn weather
and get some sun before
winter hits. A great way to
close out the season.”
Operating under the mot-
to “Your Challenge is Our
Challenge” the CHAL-
LENGEARUBA team aims
their families with a com-
plete holiday that goes
beyond hosting the best
triathlon event. As well as
the half and sprint distance
races, there is an extensive
and varied program of ad-
ditional activities to ensure
that triathletes and their
companions get the most
out of their stay.
Festivities will kick-off in the natural bridges. Shop ‘til
best way Aruba knows, an
exotic beach party! Enjoy
an extensive buffet with
a variety of dishes while
listening to a local-band
adding a Caribbean flair
on the moonlit beach.
Sticking with the beach-
theme, post-race will be
a lavish beach and pool
award party at the presti-
gious Hyatt Resort.
And in the build-up to
CHALLENGEARUBA athletes
can benefit from a number
of clinics and seminars from
triathlon icons Marc Herre-
mans and Tim DeBoom as
ambassadors of the race.
There’s plenty to do pre
and post-race as well,
making CHALLENGEARUBA
the perfect ‘race-cation’
destination. For total relax-
ation, alabaster beaches
and gentle seas are good
for the soul. Or rock your
world with wet ‘n wild ad-
ventures, deep sea div-
ing, windsurfing, kitesurf-
ing, even parasailing and
sky diving! Tee off on a
championship golf course,
saddle up on horseback,
take a tour, or hike through
Arikok National Park and
discover the island’s fas-
cinating natural wonders,
from rock formations to
you drop, enjoy glittering
nightlife and fabulous res-
taurants. Broaden your cul-
tural horizons with visits to
museums and art galleries,
and don’t miss the weekly
Bon Bini and Caribbean
festivals.
The inaugural CHAL-
LENGEARUBA will take
place on 23 October 2016.
For entries and further in-
formation, visit www.chal-
lenge-aruba.com.q