With a passion for endurance races, respected French journalist Gerard Fusil began the Raid Gauloises -- "The Challenge of the Warriors" in 1989 to celebrate athletic agility and skill. The competition evolved into today's Elf Authentic Adventure, the longest adventure race in history.

About risk, writer Helen Keller once observed, "Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."

For what Fusil described as "a new kind of athlete, participating in a new kind of sport," the International sports-in-nature competitions set new standards of excellence for adventure racing, with teams of seven participating in kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, abseiling (rappelling), trekking, and ocean sailing.

The annual endurance race is held in a different country and combines expedition with fitness. The 1999 edition was set in The Philippines; 2000 in Brazil.

Calling the course "an experience, an encounter" Fusil explained, "Sure, it is about sport, and very difficult sport indeed. They (the athletes) must have endurance, they must have courage, but they will also discover the country."

Do what you love, in the deepest part of you.