Last year, the all-femaile adventure racing team of Ducati Bicycle Rideaway made history when they not only competed in, but completed the AR World Championship in France. That was a first for a team consisting entirely of women. This year, the girls are back and aiming to do it all over again in the ARWC to be held in Costa Rica this November.

The team, which now goes by the name of AdventureOfSweden.com, consists of Jeanette Aviander, Carolina Andre, Kristina Carling and Linnéa Grahn, is the only all-girl team competing in Europe and is one of the few in the world. Traditionally in the sport of adventure racing, the coed teams consist of three men and a single woman. Occasionally those numbers shift to two men and two ladies and rarely do teams have a single male racer with three females. A squad entirely made up of women is practically unheard of.

Despite this gender discrepancy however, these four women simply love racing with one another and are looking forward to competing at the ARWC again this year. When they do go to Costa Rica to compete, they'll be followed by adventure filmmaker Randy Ericksen who will document their race from start to finish. That should definitely prove to be an interesting film.

Good luck girls!

Mammoth Media is a company that specializes in making beautiful short films, often about the places and activities that we love so much. Last week they released the video below showing off some of their skills, while simultaneously giving us a glimpse at some fairly spectacular settings. The clips were shot on location in places like Costa Rica, Switzerland, Alaska, Africa and more. The reel is suppose to serve as an online resume of sorts, but it is also a great inspiration for adventure. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

MAMMOTH Reel 2013 from MAMMOTH on Vimeo.

 

Mention Costa Rica and people think paradise. The country’s Disneylike cast of creatures – ranging from howler monkeys to toucans – are populous and relatively easy to spot. The waves are prime, the beauty is staggering and the sluggish pace seductive. A peaceful oasis in a tumultuous region, this tiny nation draws 1.5 million visitors every year.

What’s on tap? The question is what isn’t? Active travelers can surf, hike, snorkel and spot wildlife for starters. The incredibly varied topography means you can cruise the cloud forest one day, visit an active volcano the next, and finish relaxing on a hot sandy beach. Adrenaline junkies have a myriad ways to make mothers worry – among them zipping through canopy lines hundreds of meters long and riding the rough surf of the Pacific. Choice and variety name the game.

Of course, the frenzy to snatch up a piece of Shangri-la has its consequences. Since the boom, tourism is more chic and less cheap. Classic destinations are now crowded destinations and local culture is often lost or cast aside. Lucky for Costa Rica that its do-gooder fans, ranging from ecologists to proud Ticos (Costa Ricans), are vocal and vigilant. Nature here suffers its blows, like everywhere, but at least it is taken seriously. Show in Lonely Planet

Ready to go? Our recommended tours make it easy:

• Cycle Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama
• Whitewater Raft on the Corobici River
• Go on a daytrip to the Palo Verde National Park

Want more? Browse all our recommended Costa Rica tours

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