First ARWS Junior World Championship opens in Quebec

The inaugural ARWS Junior Adventure Racing World Championship begins July 23 in Témiscamingue, Quebec, with 38 teams from 10 countries. The event is designed to build the next generation of adventure racers and create a clearer pathway into the sport.

Why it matters: - The first ARWS Junior Adventure Racing World Championship gives the sport a formal global pipeline for athletes under 18 and under 25. - The event is meant to widen youth participation and help national federations build development programs. - Organizers see the championship as a way to lower the sport’s average participant age over time. - The field includes 38 junior teams from 10 countries, signaling broad international interest in youth adventure racing.

What happened: - The inaugural championship runs from July 23 to 26 in Témiscamingue, Quebec, Canada. - Teams will compete in pairs in Under-18 and Under-25 categories. - The 10 participating countries 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 race is part of the Adventure Racing World Series Championship structure. - The course will test teams in trail running, mountain biking, canoeing, swimming, and rope challenges. - Thursday, July 23 is set for registration and the opening ceremony. - Friday, July 24 features the Desjardins Youth Raid Prologue, a 10–20 km stage that pairs international athletes with local schoolchildren. - Saturday, July 25 is World Championship Race Day 1, covering 50–60 km. - Sunday, July 26 is World Championship Race Day 2, covering 40–50 km, followed by the closing ceremony. - Fans can follow live tracking at live race tracking. - Updates will also appear on ARWS social channels and on @raidtemiscamingue. - More information and the full team list are available at the official event website.

Between the lines: - ARWS CEO Heidi Muller said building the championship was a long-running goal and a priority after she became CEO in 2023. - Muller said the biggest challenges were finding event partners, funding the race, recruiting junior teams, and making travel affordable. - Muller said Temiscamingue and Endurance Aventure provided the right location and event partnership. - The recently established International Adventure Racing Association helped coordinate team selection through national member associations. - National associations selected, trained, and fundraised to bring their top young racers to Quebec. - Daniel Poirier, founder of Endurance Aventure and organizer of Raid Témiscamingue, said the project reflects support for youth and outdoor activity. - Poirier said the previous three editions of Raid Témiscamingue included a youth prologue that pairs local schoolchildren with international athletes. - Poirier said this year’s opening ceremony will include local Indigenous culture. - Poirier said the course will use Témiscamingue’s forests and lakes.

What's next: - Teams arrive in Quebec for Raid Temiscamingue ahead of the opening ceremony. - Race results and live coverage will unfold across the four-day event. - Organizers expect the championship to inspire school and junior racers and build a larger pipeline into elite adventure racing.

The bottom line: - The new junior world championship is not just a race. It is an attempt to reset the age profile and future talent base of adventure racing.