2008 Woodie Awards
Adventure race to remember UA student
Alex Lanis
Issue date: 10/8/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
A cyclist and former Outdoor Connection Center staff member, Josh Lantz, loved the outdoors. That's why the OCC is organizing the Josh Lantz Memorial Adventure Race in his honor.
For two days this month, participants will be able to test their abilities in four events: Rock climbing, canoeing, mountain biking and trail-running.
Josh Lantz was a UA civil engineering student until last December, when he died in a canoeing accident near Poteau, Okla.
Several of his friends and acquaintances said he had a passion for the outdoors, religion and other people.
"His reason for going to college was to get a degree, so he could go to Africa and build wells," said Leighton Wood, a member of the fraternity, Brothers Under Christ, and friend of Lantz. "It didn't matter [to Josh] who you are, where you're from, he just loved people."
"Not everyone may have known him by name," said Camille Risch, a staff member for the OCC. "But they knew him just because he always had a smile on his face."
In the creation of this year's adventure race, the OCC said they hope to share Lantz's enthusiasm for the outdoors by getting the community more involved in outdoor sports.
"It's totally for fun. It's not like it is a big competition," Risch said. "People say, 'I'm not a good biker, I can't do it,' but you don't have to have experience."
While there are some trophies, door prizes will be given to everyone who signed up. People who sign up for a two-person team for $30 dollars will receive a swag bag filled with a T-shirt and local goodies and a Friday night meal.
The events will start Friday, Oct. 19 and continue through Saturday, Oct. 20. Male, female and coed divisions will begin Friday evening with speed climbing on the rock wall in the HPER. The events will move to Lake Fayetteville Saturday for the 8.5-mile canoeing, biking and trail-running events. Two-member teams can split up to create a relay and the 5.5 mile bike trail has a shorter route.
The event is open to everyone in the community. Those who are interested or have questions can address them to the OCC, located in HPER 102. For those who plan to attend or want to know more about the race, there is also a Facebook group.
The deadline to register is Oct. 13. There are a few bikes available for those who don't have one and register early. The first teams to register need to pay only a $15 entry fee because of a donation from Josh Lantz's father.
For two days this month, participants will be able to test their abilities in four events: Rock climbing, canoeing, mountain biking and trail-running.
Josh Lantz was a UA civil engineering student until last December, when he died in a canoeing accident near Poteau, Okla.
Several of his friends and acquaintances said he had a passion for the outdoors, religion and other people.
"His reason for going to college was to get a degree, so he could go to Africa and build wells," said Leighton Wood, a member of the fraternity, Brothers Under Christ, and friend of Lantz. "It didn't matter [to Josh] who you are, where you're from, he just loved people."
"Not everyone may have known him by name," said Camille Risch, a staff member for the OCC. "But they knew him just because he always had a smile on his face."
In the creation of this year's adventure race, the OCC said they hope to share Lantz's enthusiasm for the outdoors by getting the community more involved in outdoor sports.
"It's totally for fun. It's not like it is a big competition," Risch said. "People say, 'I'm not a good biker, I can't do it,' but you don't have to have experience."
While there are some trophies, door prizes will be given to everyone who signed up. People who sign up for a two-person team for $30 dollars will receive a swag bag filled with a T-shirt and local goodies and a Friday night meal.
The events will start Friday, Oct. 19 and continue through Saturday, Oct. 20. Male, female and coed divisions will begin Friday evening with speed climbing on the rock wall in the HPER. The events will move to Lake Fayetteville Saturday for the 8.5-mile canoeing, biking and trail-running events. Two-member teams can split up to create a relay and the 5.5 mile bike trail has a shorter route.
The event is open to everyone in the community. Those who are interested or have questions can address them to the OCC, located in HPER 102. For those who plan to attend or want to know more about the race, there is also a Facebook group.
The deadline to register is Oct. 13. There are a few bikes available for those who don't have one and register early. The first teams to register need to pay only a $15 entry fee because of a donation from Josh Lantz's father.
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