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2008 Land Rover G4 Challenge: The Nevada Passage Adventure Competition
At times it was hot and dry and others it was cool and moist. Sleeping accommodations consisted of tents and bathroom breaks were always outdoors. It was time to let go of civilization as we know it and become one with nature because life in the desert is no joke. Welcome to the Nevada Passage!
First launched in 2005, the Nevada Passage is literally a right of passage for twenty athletes (10 male and female teams) competing in a cadre of week-long adventure sports and activities including trail-running, climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, navigating and off-roading in Land Rover LR3s. In association with the Nevada Commission on Tourism, the Nevada Passage is the gateway for the national selection of the Land Rover G4 Challenge for 2008/2009. Two lucky teams on top of their game then move on to the international competition where they will further compete to be the sole representative for the US at the finale in Asia. The ten US teams were selected from a pool of athletes from adventure states like Utah, Arizona, Colorado and of course Nevada. “When we launched the Nevada Passage in 2005, our goal was to further establish Nevada as an outdoor hotspot,” said Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki, Nevada Commission on Tourism chair. “Land Rover, a brand renowned for outdoors and adventure, has selected Nevada as the nation’s lone location for this prolific, global competition, further establishing this premier destination for adventurers, explorers and outdoor enthusiasts.”
 To get the festivities started, Land Rover set up a man made off-road course outside of the Ritz-Carlton in Henderson, Nevada where we stayed the first night. It would be our last taste of luxury. The course would be an appetizer to showcase the 2008 LR3’s true abilities. Especially since we would ultimately drive six hours off-road to get to our campsite. That’s right, six hours of dirt, rocks, trails, wild horses, cows, endangered turtles and lots of snacks! Already haven driven the full Land Rover line-up, it didn’t take long for the British truck maker to convince me that their LR3 is one of the most prolific tri-athletes to ever dominate the sport of SUVs. Its “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” off-road techniques allowed the journalists and the athletes to navigate over boulders and through muddy pools, narrow bridges, steep dips, and uphill battles. So of course there was no turning back once we got started. No problemo! Under the LR3’s skin is an advanced AWD drive system and 3-tier air suspension which clears 10”. And, the LR3 has the ability to swim with the fish in 24” of water. Hill Descent Control, Electric Brakeforce Distribution, Emergency Brake Assist, and Dynamic Stability Control round out on its performance enhancers. Using five electronically controlled systems that can be set for optimal responsiveness, the LR3’s Terrain Response system is like cleats for soccer players or spikes for sprinters. It can be manually adjusted to handle slippery, sandy, wet, muddy or rocky situations.
So we arrived at camp after sunset and thus set up the campgrounds. It reminded me of my Boy Scout days when insects substituted for music and camp fire was your conventional oven. The next morning we were at it again. We jumped in the LR3s and headed to some of the most mountainous valleys in the country. To further assist the athletes, Land Rover outfitted the LR3s with an electric winch, winch accessory kit, lights, rear lamp guards, expedition roof rack, weatherproof seat covers, a roof ladder, and much more. All in all, I think everyone from the athletes to the sponsors were secure with their positions with the G4 Challenge. “Land Rover’s brand is synonymous with history and adventure, so it’s truly fitting for us to participate in the challenge,” said Chris Marchand, executive vice president of marketing and sales for Land Rover North America. “We saw the Nevada Passage and Nevada’s array of adventure sports activities and driving terrains as the most desirable location for this exciting landmark competition.”
My only gripe was that I didn’t get a chance to participate in the festivities. As a former collegiate athlete, I would have welcomed the opportunity to challenge professional athletes!
For more information on the competition, please visit www.landroverG4challenge.com
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