FEAR Youth (NZ) has emerged victorious in the grueling LA ROUTA Adventure Race 2023, held in the island paradise of Biliran. 

The team, composed of New Zealand’s top young adventure racers, battled it against tough competition in Asia, showcasing their exceptional skills in navigation, trekking, mountain biking, paddling, ocean swimming, rappelling, and other special categories.

The race took place over five days, from November 20 to 24, and tested the racers’ physical and mental endurance to the limits. Participants faced torrential rains during the challenge, but this didn’t stop FEAR Youth from crossing the finish line at 10 AM on the 24th.

What is LA ROUTA Adventure Race?

The LA ROUTA Adventure Race is an iconic event in Eastern Visayas and is the longest-running adventure race in the Philippines.

Originally, the race only had participants from Eastern Visayas and nearby Philippine regions. 

However, becoming an affiliate of the Adventure Racing World Series (ARWS) – a global adventure racing organization – now attracts many international teams across Asia, including those from Malaysia, India, Thailand, and Nepal.

The winner of LA ROUTA 2023 will be given free entry to the ARWS World Championship to be held in Ecuador in 2024.

How was the race conducted?

LA ROUTA Adventure Race encompasses a blend of land and water-based challenges during the span of 4 days and covering 350 kilometers. 

Each gender-mixed team of 4 persons will embark on this quest with their gear in tow, navigating the terrain to reach sequential control points. They must hike, bike, rappel, and swim their way from start to finish.

But it’s not just about speed. To further test the racers’ resilience, LA ROUTA incorporates special sections where participants must tackle specific tasks before advancing to the next location. It’s a true test of endurance, skill, and teamwork.

One distinctive feature of LA ROUTA is the use of a GIS-generated map with a non-standard map scale, adding an extra layer of complexity to the navigational aspect of the race. It’s not just about following a predefined path; it’s about decoding the map’s intricacies to find the most efficient route.

Team Participants

A total of 14 teams participated in the event from 4 different countries. Here is a list of them.

• Skomad ADV – Malaysia
• KBS Adventure Race Team – Malaysia
• Nonstop Adventure – Poland
• SkyRunners – India
• FEAR Youth – New Zealand
• Aplot – Tacloban, Philippines
• Shershah Ampere – India
• Dirt Adventure Racing – Tacloban, Philippines
• Old’s Cool – Tacloban, Philippines
• Chomolungma – Japan
• Altra Subida – Cebu, Philippines
• Tres Islas – Cebu, Philippines
• Negrense Adventure Team – Negros, Philippines
• Kamikaze Adventure Racing – Malaysia

Why Biliran?

Biliran Island has the ideal terrain for adventure racing, making it the perfect environment for staging such competitions.

The island has a variety of landscapes, including mountains, forests, beaches, and rivers. This makes it an ideal place for racers to test their skills in various disciplines mentioned above.

Being surrounded by water provides a natural boundary, facilitating effective event management and ensuring the safety and security of the participants.

Biliran also has the necessary accommodation, transport, food, and other tourism-related services to support large events. Traveling to the island is also accessible as soon as you land in Tacloban or Ormoc City.

And finally, LA ROUTA aligns perfectly with Biliran Tourism’s goals of highlighting sustainable tourism, community growth, and economic progress. The race showcases the island’s biodiversity to the world, and we seldom have such worldwide hosted here.

Mandatory Equipment

While organizers provided a GPS tracker for live tracking, each team provided their own mandatory equipment listed below.

To be carried at all times

• Backpack
• Team Uniform
• Official Race Bib
• Whistle
• Light source
• Rain jacket
• Water bottle
• First Aid Kit
• Fire starting device
• Knife
• Emergency shelter
• Cell phone
• GPS tracker
• Magnetic compass
• Official race papers
• Food and sustenance 

For Mountain Biking

• Mountain Bike
• Helmet
• Mountain bike headlight
• Blinkers

For Swimming or Paddling

• Personal Floatation Device 
• Whistle
• Illumination (Provided by the Organizers)

For Rope Works and High Elements

• Seat harness
• Cows tail
• Descender

Optional but Highly Recommended

• Cooking equipment
• Electronic calculator
• Swim fins
• Cell phone (Fully charged with load/credit turned off and sealed for emergency use only.)

The LA ROUTA Adventure Race 2023 was a resounding success and will surely become one of Asia’s premier adventure racing events. 

The race showcased the beautiful scenery of Biliran Island and the incredible talent of the participating teams.

It was also an excellent opportunity for the local community to come together and celebrate the sport of adventure racing and show our warm hospitality.