Exclusive interview !

Pascal Bahuaud: “A go to nature! world championship”

Pascal Bahuaud is preparing a 2012 intense and magical edition of his, now well known Raid In France. Presenting… the world final of Adventure Races!

What makes the 2012 Raid In France edition so special?

Raid In France was nominated by the Adventure Racing World Series to organize the World championship of adventure races, from September 15 to 22, 2012. An international sports event that will gather an incredible set of runners from the ARWS races, which brings together the world’s ‘long distance’ adventure races. Coming from about thirty different countries, 65 high level teams will face each other during 6 to 7 days of non-stop competition, in full autonomy, on a route going through the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, from l’Argentière-La-Bessée (Hautes-Alpes region) to the Mediterranean sea.

For exceptional events, exceptional sensations?

As usual, the chosen disciplines will be those necessary to a logical progression, in perfect harmony with the settings the race goes through. That’s what I’ve been striving for since the beginning! Whether it is a world final or not, there are no disciplines selected just for the fun of it; each one of them has to answer to the needs of the progression. Runners will go through high mountain sections with roped up, crampon walking on a glacier. The will go from rope paths, to mountain bike (on different types of trails), trek, Class 4 and 4+ (no outer steersman) raft, canoe (on river and sea), caving, canyoning and orienting with 1:25 and 1:50 000 scale maps. With Raid in France, the autonomy concept is strong and it will remain like so for this 2012 World Championship.

What has been Raid In France specialty for the past five years?

Discovery, sharing, environment protection, self-transcendence, effort, humility, courage, generosity and… high level sports: so many key words to qualify Raid In France. Since 2007, Raid In France has been integrated into the Adventure Racing World Series (ARWS), which is a federative race of several adventure races in the world; Raid In France is a unique expedition combining sports, adventure, unforgettable human experience and an invitation to dive into the wild.

It’s an authentic race: runners are in as much autonomy as possible, no GPS, base maps on which no beacons and touristic points appear… and an always crucial respect of nature! Runners go through settings that are so beautiful that they say: “wow, let’s preserve it!”. To give a sense of awareness and responsibility is a token of respect much more efficient than a mere access restriction. It seems to me that a monitored and rational use of the areas is more appropriate and, in the end, more effective. This ongoing concern about Nature proved to be at the heart of the race; we stay particularly vigilant about the number of runners that go through a given spot at the same time, in order to reduce their environmental impact.

How is team assistance organized this year?

Logistics for team’s equipment will be, on the whole pretty similar to what we’ve seen at the 2011 ARWC in Tasmania. During our visit, we liked the way they have the hang of logistics after years of practice for their race without assistance. Raid In France 2011 lived its baptism of fire as a race without assistance, and we’ve learned a lot from this experience. Even if it went smoothly for the runners, it was extremely heavy for our volunteers… in every sense of the word. This year, each team member will be given a rigid box of defined dimensions to carry on his/her mountain bike, two containers given by the organization, a hermetic bag for white waters and a mountain strong box.

What’s in your mind less than ten months before this great adventure?

Surprisingly, I feel calm… I am not the only organizer and having an expert team around me is reassuring. I’d like to precise that, except high mountain guides and technical service providers, everyone is volunteer in Raid in France. The core team of friends, created since the 2007 Raid in France race, is a professional group who knows very well the demanding character of this kind of events, is used to hazards of the race and, overall, is highly… motivated. We often experience stress but always linked to the pleasure of organizing. I think that this is, actually, what gives this particular atmosphere that everyone lends to Raid in France.

We also enjoy a group of loyal and involved partners whom I thank, every day, for their ability of listening. This year, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region is our main partner but, around this event, we have the chance to have other historical partners like Ertips, Maurin, Lethiguel, Intersport, ATC groups… who are, one year after another, more and more involved. The race wouldn’t exist without them ; I thank them all very much.