Being brought up in Russia and Canada, I was heavily involved in sports - everything from figure skating to swimming, but as I entered the work world I got really comfortable sitting behind a desk. Fortunately a friend of mine dragged me out and introduced me to the world of adventure racing. This was 1998 and I have not been able to look back. Since that time I have been very fortunate to experience over 40 races in amazing areas all over North America.

Some of the highlights have been Raid the North Extreme in Newfoundland and Prince Rupert, 4 Winds Supreme in Utah, Primal Quest Utah and Montana, Adventure Extreme Moab and Baja Travesia 2007 and 2008, the Coastal Challenge in 2009 and the Endorphin Fix.

What I love most about adventure racing is the ability to learn so much about all of my weaknesses (and sometimes a strength or two) and have an opportunity to grow as a person. My team mates are incredible people and I am blessed to be able to experience these amazing adventures with such great friends. Although my husband Rob no longer races with me he is the best training buddy a girl could have! Stephen, our 20 year old son thinks that I am absolutely crazy, but he understands how deep my passion for adventure racing is and supports me in my endeavors. At work, I head up HR for a biotechnology company - so building teams is something that I really enjoy.

Mark Lattanzi
I started my life as a runner and hiker in high school. I did my first marathon in 1981 and my first triathlon in 1982. I bought a mountain bike in 2000 and did my first adventure race (12 hour) at the Nantahela Outdoor Center that Fall. I was hooked.

In 2003, I learned to navigate by doing a bunch of orienteering races from short O- meets to 24 hour rogaines. Since then, I've done countless races of all kinds. I love them: adventure races, trail runs, mountain bike races, rogaines, even the odd road 5K or marathon. I typically do 15-20 races a year including a couple longer expedition adventure races.

I love racing in new places, with new people, and in other countries. To date, I've raced all over the US (20 states and counting), Austria, Australia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, England, Germany, Italy, Guadelupe (an island in the Caribbean), Scotland, Sweden, and Switzerland. I've had countless teammates to help get un-lost along the way and they've all been great in their own way.

I've also organized a few races and am looking forward to doing more of that in the future (as I get older and slower). You can read a bit more about me at my (increasingly out of date website) www.marklattanzi.com.

Tim got off the couch a little over two years ago to try out adventure racing. Try out is possibly an understatement as he has competed in over 20 races and 5 orienteering meets since he started. Connecting with members from local Adventure groups Team Aquan Sports, BAARBD, and Racing with Giants, Tim found a vibrant community of outdoor adventure enthusiasts who provided solid support and mentoring.

Prior to adventure racing, Tim competed nationally in Paragliding competitions and was 1st in serial class in the 2007 US Nationals. Tim owns and operates a paragliding school based in the San Francisco Bay Area and also does IT consulting.

Nick has been mountain bike and adventure racing for a number of years now, both in his home country of Australia as well as the US where he currently lives. His passion for climbing and adventure has taken him to 7 continents and has also led to him adventure racing. He has completed in a number of 24 and 48 hours races as well as XPD Australia in 2006, Endorphin Fix in 2008, Primal Quest 2008 and now is getting ready for Coast to Coast Costa Rica.

Nick is our co- navigator and gear junkie. If there is an ounce that can be shaved off of some gear, Nick is the guy to go to! The team is always looking forward to Nick's many strengths to help us get across the finish line.

Eric Ervin
I got into adventure racing in 2005 after a friend gave me an article about a 24 hour Balance Bar race. I knew from the moment I read the article that this was for me. Being the geek that I am, I immediately started reading everything I could get my hands on about the sport. I signed up for an adventure racing camp (E-camp) shortly thereafter, bought a paddle, a bike, and a pair of trail shoes, and started training. The E-camp proved to be a confirmation that I had found my passion. That year I completed a few more 24 hour races, one 12 hour race and finally, an expedition race (AdventureXtream Moab.)

In 2006 it was off to 10 days of Primal Quest Utah. 2007 started off great with a 5th place finish in the Baja Travesia, now we are off for Raid the North Extreme in Canada (I can't wait.) I absolutely love adventure racing. The two most important characteristics of a great race are adventure and camaraderie. The crazier the adventure the bigger I smile. I have done solo races before, they are fun and hard, but nothing beats traipsing through the bush with a group of people who share your love of adventure.

Outside of racing my wife and I are lucky parents of two awesome kids who share our love of rock climbing, long hikes, camping, kayaking, travel, great food and culture.

Bill Schwaab
I have been racing since 2001 when I saw an ad for the Balance Bar 24 hour AR in Santa Monica and thought it sounded like a great challenge. Not long before this, I had done a hard, car-to-car, climb on the Grand Teton and thought that this type of race would deliver an experience similar to the hard pushes seen in mountaineering, but in a multi-sport environment. I wasn’t disappointed! It was a great course, and together with a couple of other rookie racers (and some ridiculously heavy packs) we finished with some of the biggest smiles on our faces that you will ever see.

I was hooked, and since 2001 I have balanced my time between family (my beautiful and understanding wife Cindy and our 4 kids), work and racing. Until this year all of my races have been in the 24 hour range with a few 12s thrown in for good measure. Since joining the Dancing Pandas two years ago, I have had the chance to race at a higher level and in longer multi-day races with a fantastic, fun-loving group of teammates!

Primal Quest represents the next exciting challenge. The anticipation I feel is a bit like back in 2001 leading up to Balance Bar when I was diving into the (new to me) world of Adventure Racing. See you in Montana!

Tom Turley
Tom grew up in the NYC suburbs and has been active for the majority of his life. He has participated in the Pamplona Bull Run for the past 20 yrs (it is a good thing that he can speak Spanish!) Currently Tom lives in Denver CO and enjoys photography, tele skiing as well as good food.

Tom is also a great humanitarian and has predominantly worked in the international relief field for a non-profit group. Here are some of the great races that Tom has competed in: Primal Quest 2003, 2004, 2006. Various Gravity Play races in CO. 24 hour Balance Bar races. He has completed the Leadville 100 mtn bike 3 times and the Ultra 100 mtn bike races 4 times. NYC Marathon in 2003.

Melissa Griffiths
Melissa will be joining the Pandas for the Costa Rica Coast to Coast Challenge. She has been addicted to racing since 2001 when a friend randomly signed her up for a race; by some miracle they won and she hasn't looked back. She has competed in many expedition races including Baja Travesia, Raid the North Extreme and Moab Xtreme.

She lives in Northern California and competes all over the country. Originally from England, she is used to the rain so Costa Rica should feel just like home. Melissa is married to a very understanding husband who is bemused and confused how he ended up with someone who disappears for days at a time with random men in the woods.