FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:          
General Inquiries:        Helene Mattison, Kids Adventure Games LLC, (970) 401-3804
                                    Helene@kidsadventuregames.com

Media Inquiries:           Denise Lavaroni, Kids Adventure Games LLC, 415-827-0560,

                                    denise@kidsadventuregames.com

(Vail, Colo.)--Over 750 kids, ages six to 14, and their families will converge in Vail this week for the 6th annual Vail Kids Adventure Games. The five-day event will feature a free Family Adventure Expo Friday through Saturday, the KEEN Family Mud Run on Saturday and three days of action-packed racing Friday through Sunday.

Although the adventure race is sold out, there are still plenty of opportunities to take part in the action. Beginning on Friday, the Family Adventure Expo will kick off the event at Solaris Plaza in Vail Village. The Expo will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday featuring fun activities including a climbing wall, Cave of Confusion, meet and greet with Vail's Ski Patrol rescue dogs, photo booth, fly fishing demos, helmet safety checks with Vail Valley Medical Center, a spirit station full of crafting supplies to create cheer cards, product sampling from Horizon Organic and more.

For those who are missing out on the adventure race or are just ready to get down and dirty, the KEEN Family Mud Run returns at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Mountain Plaza in Vail Village. The Mud Run will feature a one-plus mile course with mud pits and is open to all ages. Costumes are encouraged. Costs to preregister are $10 for kids, $20 for adults or $50 for a family of four (two kids, two adults). Register at www.vailrec.com.

Finally, the Kids Adventure Games races will take place Friday through Sunday with 375 teams of two competing in what is considered to be one of the coolest kids' races on the planet. Participants will compete on an adventure course in Vail Village and on Vail Mountain that will include a mud pit, rope obstacles, zip line, giant slope-n-slide, tubing and more. The challenging competitions begin at 9 a.m. each day and will offer opportunities for spectators to share in the excitement at various locations along the course. The exact route and the specific challenges of the course will not be released until just before the competition, but several key areas will present a hub of racing activities:   

• Mountain Plaza at the base of Vail Mountain in Vail Village will serve as the staging area where teams will suit up and set off between challenges.  
• At the base of Vail Mountain, just above Mountain Plaza on Pepi's Face, sports fans can access (by foot) some of the most exciting activities, including the giant slope-n-slide.
• During Friday's race, a number of spectator-friendly challenges will take place around Ford Park and the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens.
• The tubing challenge will take place along Gore Creek between the Covered Bridge and International Bridge in Vail Village.
• Children will be running and biking throughout Vail Village and Golden Peak.
• At 3 p.m. Friday through Sunday, the Horizon Organic after party and awards ceremony will take place at Mountain Plaza where all race participants will celebrate the day.

Vail Kids Adventure Games Spectator Guides are available for free at athlete check-in headquarters at KidSPORT in Vail Village and other Vail locations, offering more detailed information. The guides include spectator viewing areas for each race day, a kid-friendly dining and shopping guide, as well as fun information about adventure racing, healthy habits for kids and more.  

Additionally, those who don't want to be left out of the action are being sought to join in as volunteers and help with the various obstacles, course marshaling, transition areas and the start and finish area during the event. The Games also provide local school groups and non-profit organizations an opportunity to receive a financial contribution for working the event. To volunteer, contact Volunteer Coordinator Carey Anderson at canderson@vailrec.com or call 970-479-2280.

The Vail Kids Adventure Games is brought to you in partnership with the Town of Vail, Vail Resorts, Vail Mountain, KidSPORT, Horizon Organic, Clif Kid, Vail Valley Medical Center, The Steadman Clinic, The Steadman Philippon Research Institute, Moe's Original Bar B Que, Minturn Anglers, Timberline Tours, Aloe Up Sun and Skin Care, Andy Linke, Parent's Handbook, Evergreen Lodge, Antlers at Vail, Axis Sports Medicine, Yellowbelly, KZYR 97.7, GoPro, SmartWool, Skipper and Scout, Smiling Moose Deli and Trick Threads.

To find out more about the race, visit www.vailkidsadventuregames.com or call 970-401-3804..

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About Vail, Colorado 

December 1962, Vail marked its 50th anniversary this winter as the new home of the Burton US Open Snowboarding Championships. Also home to world Alpine ski racing champion Lindsey Vonn, the legendary Back Bowls of Vail Mountain, and in 2015 Vail will host its third World Alpine Ski Championships. Matching the incredible winter mountain experience, Vail from May through October is characterized by a rich culinary scene, a world-class events schedule from adventure sports to classical and Jazz, family activities and everything in between. Leading this lineup is the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival, the Vail International Dance Festival, America's greatest bicycle race, the USA Pro Challenge, and the legendary Gourmet on Gore culinary festival capping off the summer season. Vail also offers exceptional lodging from high-end luxury hotels to practical condominiums and vacation rentals. Getting to Vail is easy via Denver International Airport and close by Eagle Airport, America's fourth busiest regional airport with non-stop service from nine major U.S. cities including the new Houston flight, and connections from around the globe. Once here, Vail proudly offers the largest free public transportation system in North America. The Vail consumer website is www.vail.com and the Town of Vail website is www.vailgov.com.  

About Kids Adventure Games (KAG):

The Vail Kids Adventure Games was founded in 2009 by Hélène and Billy Mattison and co-produced with the Vail Recreation District. In 2013, after four successful summer events, KAG expanded the concept to a national platform with NRG Marketing. NRG Marketing is an experiential marketing agency, creating and producing activations for lifestyle brands in and around sports, music, art, and culture. www.vailkidsadventuregames.com and www.experiencenrg.com   

About the Vail Recreation District

The Vail Recreation District's mission is to offer diverse and exceptional recreation opportunities that enhance the physical, social and emotional well-being of all its residents and guests. The VRD aims to help Vail Valley residents and visitors pursue their recreational passions by providing outlets for competition in summer and winter via a running and a mountain bike race series and numerous tournaments and/or leagues for hockey, volleyball, lacrosse, softball, golf, tennis, soccer, flag football, broomball, figure skating, rugby and more; at venues like Dobson Ice Arena, Vail Golf Club, Vail Nordic Center, Vail Gymnastics Center, Vail Nature Center, Vail Skatepark, Vail Tennis Center, Vail's Community Programming Room, Vail's Imagination Station and through use of additional gyms, playing fields and the surrounding White River National Forest; through its sports classes and camps for youth, adults and families; and through opportunities to learn about and appreciate Vail's surrounding Rocky Mountain environment through guided activities, classes and camps. Information is available at www.vailrec.com

The VRD is an equal opportunity service provider and operates under a special permit from the White River National Forest and Bureau of Land Management.