Don Mann Productions and the South Dakota Department of Tourism and State Development announced today that next summer the state will host Primal Quest Badlands presented by SPOT. South Dakota's unique environments will offer competitors in the "World's Most Challenging Human Endurance Competition" stunning new landscapes to explore and daunting athletic challenges to face.

"This is the 6th edition of the Primal Quest 10-day expedition adventure race, and at 600 miles - the longest," said Don Mann, Director of Primal Quest. "We believe next year's race in South Dakota is going to be a historic event, which will offer the world's most talented adventure athletes a premier course unlike any other in the sport. We're especially excited to have teams experience the Badlands, as there is truly no place like this in the world."

Next summer, just after the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, co-ed teams of four will race, without support crews, through the Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota from August 15th - 24th. The traditional adventure racing disciplines of trekking, mountain biking, orienteering, swimming, and paddling will be well represented, but competitors can expect new challenges as well.

Athletes will spelunk in cave systems deep beneath the Black Hills, and will test their climbing abilities while ascending and rappelling from majestic towering spires. Navigation will play a much larger role than in previous Primal Quests and racers will traverse many miles of single track in the mountain biking sections. Teams will run with herds of buffalo and share the trail with deer, prairie dogs, turkeys, elk and big horn sheep. They will pass abandoned gold mines and historic western forts, while bald eagles soar overhead.

"South Dakota is proud to be the location chosen by Don Mann and Primal Quest for their race next summer," said Richard Benda, Secretary of the Department of Tourism and State Development. "We have so much to offer for an event like this and we will make this a great experience for the racers, their families and for the communities of the Black Hills region."

The Rapid City Convention and Visitors Bureau along with its partners have been instrumental in seeking out Primal Quest and bringing them into South Dakota. Primal Quest Badlands presented by SPOT will showcase Rapid City and the surrounding communities to a worldwide audience. It will also show the drama and intensity of expedition racing at its finest with all the action being broadcasted in the fall of 2009 on Rush HD. With the majority of teams from 2008 committed to returning in 2009, and even more teams expected to join them, the field will be as deep and competitive as ever.

Primal Quest is excited to welcome back our amazing partners from 2008. MyTopo.com, TATE, Mind Quest, along with Peak Assurance. Each of them has played an integral role in the success of the race, and we are proud to have them as sponsors for Primal Quest Badlands.

One of three Western States. That's the location of the 2009 Primal Quest expedition race. But which one? For those who like to speculate, I have some helpful clues.

Dawn Taylor Mann told me the race will not be in a state that has already hosted a Primal Quest. So cross off Colorado, Washington, Utah and Montana. The Tahoe race, was that in California or Nevada? She wasn't sure. So maybe we keep those two in.

PQ Course Director Chris Caul said the 2009 Primal Quest will be in a state that has not yet hosted an expedition length adventure race. I don't have enough beta on that to know which states to rule out...

So why the switch from wanting to take Primal Quest international in 2009? Caul said it's because states saw what Montana got out of the 2008 Primal Quest, and they want some of that action. In fact, Caul said, at least one state has offered to assemble a team to guide PQ through the application and permitting processes. It's a whole new world!