ARWS Junior World
Championship
The official global summit for next-generation adventure racers: 100 km in stage race format across pristine boreal forests and vast Canadian Shield waterways. Teams of 2 in U18 and U25 divisions.
Official Teaser • ARWS Junior World Championship
Immerse yourself in the intensity, raw boreal scenery, and total self-reliance challenge awaiting U18 and U25 teams.
The World's Elite Youth Racers in the Boreal Wild
For the second time in adventure racing history, the global circuit ARWS (Adventure Racing World Series) and the IARA (International Adventure Racing Association) join forces with Endurance Aventure to stage the official Junior Adventure Racing World Championship.
From July 29 to August 1, 2027, the best young adventure athletes on Earth will gather in Témiscamingue to compete across a 100-kilometer stage-race course with nightly bivouacs, carved through the Canadian Shield's ancient granite, roaring rivers, and immense boreal lakes.
A world-class playground of dense forest, steep cliffs, and endless waterway corridors.
Disciplines on the Program
Teams manage navigation, cohesion, and pace across 6 combined outdoor endurance disciplines.
Water
Boreal Canoe & Portages
Tandem open canoeing on vast boreal lakes and winding rivers. Demands intense paddling, forest portages and moving water.
MTB
Mountain Biking (MTB)
Wild forestry double-tracks, loose gravel, rocky singletracks, and punchy climbs testing mechanical durability.
Trek
Boreal Trek & Bushwhack
On-foot progression through dense taiga and rugged rocky ridges. Full off-trail bushwhacking and bog crossings.
Strict Rule
Map & Compass Navigation
Zero GPS or phones allowed. Teams navigate solely using official topographic maps and magnetic compasses.
Aquatic
Open Water Swims
Open water swims crossing bays between islands and wild shorelines. Waterproof drybags required.
Ropes
Ropes & Heights
Cliff rappels, tyrolean traverses, and rope maneuvers rigged and supervised by certified safety specialists.
Two Official World Divisions
Each team consists of 2 athletes racing under their national federation or an international wildcard entry.
Junior Championship U18
Open to racers aged 15 to 17. Live satellite beacon safety tracking with complete unassisted wilderness racing along the route.
- ✓ Co-ed Podium (1 Female + 1 Male)
- ✓ Female Podium (2 Females)
- ✓ Male Podium (2 Males)
Espoir Championship U25
Open to competitors aged 18 to 25. Complete autonomy and navigation rigor modeled directly on premier ARWS World Series stages.
- ✓ Co-ed Podium (1 Female + 1 Male)
- ✓ Female Podium (2 Females)
- ✓ Male Podium (2 Males)
Estimated World Championship Schedule
Four days of sporting intensity, cultural discovery, and global camaraderie in Témiscamingue.
Arrival of international delegations in Ville-Marie and Témiscaming. Mandatory survival gear check and safety rope tests.
- • Check-in & medical verification
- • Captains' technical briefing
- • Opening ceremony of nations
Spectacular prologue stage alongside the launch of the Desjardins Youth Raid for regional athletes.
- • Spectator-friendly prologue race
- • Desjardins Discovery Youth Raid
- • Official sealed map handout
Wilderness expedition race: boreal canoeing, MTB transitions, and navigation treks through untouched country.
- • Mass line start
- • Strategic route choices
- • Live satellite tracking online
Second race day finish line and official crowning of world champions followed by the banquet of nations.
- • U18 & U25 finish line celebrations
- • Official medal ceremonies
- • Closing banquet and festivities
Témiscamingue: Sanctuary of Adventure and Vast Wilderness
Le Témiscamingue est une terre de légendes et de contrastes géologiques : des forêts mixtes denses, des falaises vertigineuses bordant le lac Témiscamingue et le labyrinthe féérique des immenses lacs boréaux.
A United International Front
The 2027 ARWS Junior World Championship brings together leaders in world adventure racing: ARWS, IARA, and Endurance Aventure, alongside the MRC de Témiscamingue, Indigenous communities, and regional partners.
Check official event information or reach out directly to Endurance Aventure for any logistics or partnership questions.