Teams of two looking for an experience of a lifetime can apply until January 31^st for the Southern Ontario Amazing Race (SOAR).

“We can’t think of another adventure race that’s better organized, more exciting or where racers can truly say they’ve had life-altering experiences.” – Three time participants, John and Amanda Stevens.

Whether you are looking for an adventure in 2016, want to have an incredible bonding experience with someone in your life, are looking for unique ways to give back to children in need, or, all three – this is the event for you.

SOAR has been running since 2004. Since that time, teams have travelled to locations all over Southwestern Ontario and completed challenges like walking a slackline between two seven story buildings, learning and performing a waltz routine to solving unique and challenging logic puzzles. No matter what your strengths are, there will be challenges that some teams will excel at and others that may drop you to the bottom of the pack. As past racer Michael Pinkney says “This is the fun…doing things that you don’t like or have never done and succeeding.”

The race is entering its 13^th year but the challenges stay fresh from year to year and the organizers are always looking to feature the latest trends in puzzles and adventure. Last year’s race included bubble soccer, axe throwing and an escape room. The weekend is so unique of an experience that many teams return to race multiple times. Team selection rules state that teams may only race three times to make room for new people interested in the event. There are still many spots available and chances for you to be part of this life-altering experience.

Not only is the event itself amazing, so is the cause that it supports. SOAR teams raise funds for the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington (CFGW). All donations go directly to the CFGW and are helping better the lives and futures of children in need. Since 2004, SOAR has raised over $750,000 for the Children’s Foundation.

Last year’s SOAR Champions were Jake Drexler from Elora and his teammate Paul Harrington from Rockwood. As Jake proclaimed at the final pitstop “It’s not about this [holding the trophy] it is about the people you meet, raising money for a fantastic local charity and having the experience of a lifetime!”

For more information on how to apply visit www.therace.ca .

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Photos

SOARmaps – SOAR Teams leave their smart phones at home on race weekend which requires them to navigate from challenge to challenge using road maps or based on directions they can get from the general public.

Bubblesoccer – The SOAR organizing team pride themselves on keeping each year’s race unique and fresh and often feature trendy new puzzles or activities like last year’s bubble soccer challenge.

Locations – SOAR challenges take place in various locations across Southwestern Ontario including many popular tourist attractions like the Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton.

Videos

2016 SOAR Promo Video: https://youtu.be/Zk_hZN8OpqU

2015 Challenge “Cut Me Some Slack” where teams walked a slackline between two seven storey apartment buildings. https://youtu.be/Y-jpX8r0nfI

If you’ve never raced before, here is some insight from the racer’s perspective. In 2014, John & Amanda Stevens fought their way to first and loved every minute of it. Earlier this month, the couple reflected on their experience racing in SOAR and we thought it would be worth sharing.

Our SOAR experience has been amazing from the very beginning! Our first year racing was in 2012 when one of the early challenges was to pose nude in front of a professional artist –well, we didn’t have to pose in the nude, but we would have to wait 30 extra minutes and as Amanda said, “John, you take off your clothes right now!” With that out-of-your-comfort-zone challenge, it was pretty clear that this wasn’t an ordinary race; this was the real Amazing Race. After three years racing and a year volunteering, we have zip-lined between two apartment buildings, rappelled down the side of a church, flown in a helicopter looking for clues, eaten a variety of creepy crawlies, and solved countless diabolical puzzles to help us navigate across a whole host of towns throughout Southern Ontario. It says a lot about an event where we remember all those lasting experiences before highlighting an unforgettable trip to China after winning SOAR 2013!

We can’t think of another adventure race that’s better organized, more exciting or where racers can truly say they’ve had life-altering experiences (or one where the racers are fed better!). To be able to participate in such a unique event that also raises much-needed funds for local children is something we’ll always be grateful for and it says a lot about a community where a small handful of dedicated volunteers have single-handedly made this event a Guelph institution while raising over $700,000 since 2004. What an amazing race!

So now that you’ve heard John & Amanda’s experience, take the plunge and apply now for the 2016 Southern Ontario Amazing Race! Director’s have already started planning the race, so it’s sure to be another unforgettable event. Click here to learn more.

Guelph, Ontario: This weekend, nineteen teams of two raced across Southern Ontario in support of the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington. Similar to the network television show, Southern Ontario Amazing Race (SOAR) challenged teams of two to numerous physical and mental challenges throughout Southern Ontario.

The funds were raised by just thirty-eight racers from across Southern Ontario. Racers held their own fundraisers from bottle drives to bbqs. Kylie Van Horne and Tim Anderson of Elora, together, raised $14,666.37. The team held tree sales, garage sales and organized a dance with over one-hundred people in attendance. The total funds raised exceeded $80,000, which all funds go to the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington.

In just twelve years SOAR has raised close to $800,000. The funds raised provide vital funding for programs that support the wellbeing of children in need including financial assistance for sports and recreation, breakfast, lunch and snack programs and scholarships. Since 2004, SOAR has helped assist thousands of children be healthy, happy and learn new skills within Guelph and Wellington counties.

To learn more about the race and to see highlights visit SOAmazingRace on social media. To learn about becoming a racer, visit  www.therace.ca.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (Wednesday, June 3, 2015)

Guelph, Ontario: With less than a week away, Directors of the Southern Ontario Amazing Race have announced Guelph’s Mayor, Cam Guthrie, as their official starter. Similar to the network television show, the 2015 Southern Ontario Amazing Race (SOAR) will challenge twenty teams of two to numerous physical and mental challenges throughout Southern Ontario. (more…)

– Online applications and audition videos for Season 12 can now be submitted at www.therace.ca/2015-team-application –

GUELPH (January 6, 2015) – If you have a taste for adventure and enjoy challenging your body, mind and spirit; the Southern Ontario Amazing Race is now accepting racer applications for its 2015 race.

Team applicants can go online now at www.therace.ca/2015-team-application and submit their application for their chance to participate in a two day adventure race across Southern Ontario. Potential teams are encouraged to provide an audition video to showcase their personalities and explain why they want to be part of the competition. The deadline for submissions is Saturday, January 31 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Similar to the network television show, THE SOUTHERN ONTARIO AMAZING RACE challenges teams of two to numerous physical and mental challenges throughout Southern Ontario.

THE SOUTHERN ONTARIO AMAZING RACE is the single largest fundraiser for the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington. In the race’s eleventh year, in 2014, racers raised $78,483. The funds raised provide vital funding for programs that support the wellbeing of children in need including financial assistance for sports and recreation, breakfast, lunch and snack programs and scholarships. Since 2004, THE SOUTHERN ONTARIO AMAZING RACE has helped assist thousands of children be healthy, happy and learn new skills within Guelph and Wellington counties.

“THE SOUTHERN ONTARIO AMAZING RACE is one of the best adventures I have ever participated in. It is fun, exciting and intense – simply an awesome time!”
DANA ARMSTRONG – RACER

“It is one of the best organized and meticulously thought out races I have experienced. The people are amazing. The food is amazing. The cause is amazing.”
MICHAEL PINKNEY – RACER

For more information about THE SOUTHERN ONTARIO AMAZING RACE, visit www.therace.ca for full details and follow @SOAmazingRace for the all the latest news and information.

**Media Note** Download artwork for THE SOUTHERN ONTARIO AMAZING RACE at therace.ca.

About the Southern Ontario Amazing Race

The Southern Ontario Amazing Race (SOAR) is a two day adventure competition modelled after the TV show The Amazing Race. Twenty teams of two, race around Southern Ontario competing in challenges of all sorts that test racers’ mental and physical strengths. Racers collect pledges prior to the event for The Children’s Foundation. The teams that bring in the most pledges are given tokens that help them during the race. Shortcuts allow teams to skip an entire challenge, Tune-Ups give teams a hint or head-start at a challenge and Yields allow a team to force a following team to wait 15 minutes at the Yield sign. In the 11 years of the race’s existence, teams have raised $700,000 dollars!

For more information on The Southern Ontario Amazing Race visit www.therace.ca

About The Children’s Foundation of Guelph Wellington

The Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington helps children and youth reach their full potential through programs that support their intellectual, emotional and physical well-being. We have helped thousands of children by providing financial assistance for sports, arts activities and summer camp; scholarships; memorable Christmas experiences; and breakfast, lunch or snack programs at schools. These children are currently in family situations that limit their ability to access these opportunities.

For more information on The Children’s Foundation visit www.childrensfoundation.org