March 07 2016, 17.23 PM IST || Pocket News Alert
~ Obstacle Course and Off-road racing among adrenaline packed events at the Chakravyuh Challenge ~
India, March, 2016: Gear up to drive faster, run longer, jump higher, crawl deeper, climb skyward and leave smiling wider as you overpower your fears and outsmart your way through South India’s biggest adventure carnival.
The first of its kind event in Kerala, the Chakravyuh Challenge is an adventure carnival with an obstacle course race and 4x4 off-road racing competition at its core. Named after the near-invincible battle formation in Indian mythology, the Chrakravyuh aims to test the competitors' agility, bravery and problem solving capability by pitting them against specially designed obstacles comprised of slush, water, ropes, inclined slopes, team building exercises, fun mazes and more. Providing a fresh break from the boring old fitness routines, the event promises to help participants rediscover the free, uninhibited and excitable spirit of their childhood.
The maiden edition of the Chakravyuh Challenge would be held on the 30th of April and 1st of May 2016, along Kerala’s pristine backwaters near Vyttila in Kochi. The race is open to both men and women. Since registrations began early in February this year, over 700 participants have signed up for the event. Apart from local participants, corporates from Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad form a key part of this demographic.
“My first obstacle course race experience was in Bangalore in 2014, since then, I have been hooked onto the sport.”, says actor and adventure enthusiast Abith Nassar. “Your first race will be daunting and challenging, but once you get through that, it is a life-changing experience. The fun of testing your endurance along with friends and others who share that passion as well as the pride of accomplishment you're surrounded by when you finish, is a memory you would want to revisit over and over again.”
The obstacle course / mud run would be held in three variations, namely the Individual Competitive Category, the Team Challenge Category and the Fun Run. The Individual Competitive Category is an endurance test for fitness freaks with a grand prize for the athlete who completes the challenge in the fastest time. The Team Challenge Category on the other hand, is for teams comprised of five members each, representing clubs or organizations. The teams undertake challenges that require the collaboration of their physical and mental abilities with a grand prize awarded to the team that finishes first. While the third, 'Fun Run' category, is intended for those looking for a good time and competition rules do not apply for the same. The total price pool for all event categories is 5 lakh rupees.
The event is expected to gather over 2000 participants across all categories. The age restriction for the competitive race categories is 18 years while the fun run is open to those 13 and above.
“If you're looking to push yourself to the limits, find what you are capable of and unleash the determined soldier within, then the Chakravyuh Challenge is for you.”, promises Retd. Lt. Commander Mithun Aravind, the Taskmaster for the event, who has modelled several of the challenges on actual obstacle courses undertaken by special-forces commandos.
The venue will also bear witness to the Chakravyuh 4*4 Challenge. Conducted in collaboration with the Kerala Adventure Sports Club, the niche motorsports event will see expert off-road racing teams from across the country, race against each other on specially designed tracks laid with sand, gravel, mud and other hurdles, as they showcase their driving prowess in modified off-road machines. An amateurs' off-road track has also been prepared for first-timers who wish to put their SUVs and Jeeps to the test.
Other additional games and adventure activities such as jet-skiing, kayak, slush volleyball, paintball, cross fit sessions and self-defence classes for women have also been organized at the event, keeping participants engaged for the whole day.
“People in Kerala have a penchant for adventure. However the lack of sufficient opportunities in our state pushes them to follow this passion elsewhere. We aim to change this scenario by conducting niche events that provide an avenue for thrills and excitement right here in Kerala.”, commented Niranjan Kumar, one of the founders of the Chakravyuh Challenge.
“The Chakravyuh Challenge would be the realization of our dream to encourage a culture of fitness, while also providing an opportunity to promote tourism and develop local communities by shining a light on their culture, heritage and way of life”, he adds.
The venue of the 2016 event is home to fishermen, coir workers, farmers and related small scale industries such as food processing and coir extraction. Creating awareness regarding the daily life in these communities, through voluntary arts and crafts workshops at the venue, is a key objective of the event.
Registrations are now open for the first Chakravyuh Challenge, to be held in Kochi on the 30th of April and 1st of May 2016. Tickets to the event are available at www.bookmyshow.com.
For more information regarding the event, please visit the event website http://ift.tt/1QZBupH.
To watch a teaser video of the Chakravyuh Challenge scan QR code given below.
About Obstacle Course Racing
Obstacle course racing or OCR as it is popularly known, is a sport in which the participant, travelling on foot must overcome various physical challenges in the form of obstacles. These include but are not limited to, climbing over walls, crawling under barbed wire as well as traversing bodies of mud and water. Many of the obstacles are similar to the ones used in military and commando training and are intended to test the competitors' fitness and endurance, while also providing an avenue for fun and entertainment. Those engaged in desk-jobs and working in corporate positions make up the vast majority of people participating in OCR events held across the globe and the challenge provides them an opportunity to take in a breath of fresh air and relieve stress by putting their physical selves to the test. With the perfect blend of fitness, playfulness and creativity, obstacle course races appeal to both men and women. In 2014 alone, nearly 42 lakh people participated in obstacle courses worldwide.
About 4x4 Off-road Racing
Off-roading is the art of skilfully manoeuvring a 4 wheel drive vehicle over arduous terrain. The driver must get from start to finish without damage to the vehicle or the operator and with minimum damage to the environment. The goal of the competition is to put expert drivers and their rides to the test by pitting them against the toughest off-road hurdles. Tracks are laden with articulation pits, inclined slopes, slush pools, flat slippery surfaces, cross-axle situations and water wading. Registration is open for both the single participant and club participant segments of the race.
About Team Chakravyuh
We, at Team Chakravyuh are an ensemble of former Armed Forces Officers, event managers, advertising and marketing professionals, fitness freaks, performance and creative artists, television and media content producers; united in our efforts to craft and develop unique concepts that bring people together for the common cause.
The Chakravyuh Challenge 2016 would be the realization of our dream to encourage a culture of fitness while also providing an opportunity to promote tourism and develop local communities by shining a light on their culture, heritage and way of life.
With a circuit conceptualized and developed by former special forces commandos, and conducted with the support of the Indian Navy Diving Centre, at Team Chakravyuh, our passion for fun, excitement and bringing people together, is only trumped by our commitment to safety.
