First ARWS Junior World Championship kicks off in Quebec

The inaugural ARWS Junior Adventure Racing World Championship runs July 23-26 in Témiscamingue, Quebec, with 38 teams from 10 countries competing in Under-18 and Under-25 divisions. The event is designed to create a youth pipeline for adventure racing and broaden the sport’s global reach.

Why it matters: - The first ARWS Junior Adventure Racing World Championship is designed to bring younger athletes into a sport that has traditionally skewed older. - The event gives national federations a clear international target for youth development. - The championship could help build the next generation of racers, coaches and event leaders.

What happened: - The inaugural championship takes place July 23-26 in Témiscamingue, Quebec, Canada. - Thirty-eight junior teams from 10 countries are competing in pairs across Under-18 and Under-25 categories. - The countries represented are Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Uruguay and the United States. - France sent eight pairs, covering 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. - Teams will compete in trail running, mountain biking, canoeing, swimming and rope challenges. - Thursday, July 23 includes registration and the opening ceremony. - Friday, July 24 features the Desjardins Youth Raid Prologue, a 10-20 km stage with international athletes racing alongside 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 coverage. - ARWS social channels and @raidtemiscamingue will post news, video and photo updates. - More information and the full team list are available at the official event website.

Between the lines: - Adventure racing has often attracted participants who discover the sport in their 30s or 40s. - The junior championship is meant to lower the sport’s average age over time. - The format also aims to encourage more countries to create youth pipelines that can feed elite racing later. - ARWS CEO Heidi Muller said launching a junior world championship had been a long-term goal and that finding partners, funding and affordable travel were major hurdles. - Muller said Temiscamingue and Endurance Aventure provided the right event partners and setting. - The recently established International Adventure Racing Association helped coordinate team selection through member national associations. - Daniel Poirier, founder of Endurance Aventure and organizer of Raid Témiscamingue, said the event is supported by regional authorities and reflects a long-standing commitment to youth and outdoor activity. - Endurance Aventure has included a youth prologue in each of the previous three editions of Raid Témiscamingue. - The opening ceremony will include local Indigenous culture.

What's next: - Teams are now arriving in Quebec for Raid Temiscamingue. - The championship will conclude on Sunday, July 26, after the second race day and closing ceremony. - The event’s results and visibility could shape whether the junior championship becomes a recurring fixture in the ARWS calendar.

The bottom line: - The Junior World Championship is more than a one-off race. It is an attempt to build a durable youth pathway for adventure racing.