Team Exede by ViaSat to Begin 3,000-Mile Bicycle Race Across America June 14

CARLSBAD, Calif., June 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Team Exede by ViaSat will ride in the team division of the 2014 Race Across America (RAAM) non-stop bicycle race, departing from Oceanside, California at noon on Saturday, June 14 and finishing in Annapolis, Maryland. The team of eight endurance athletes, all employees of ViaSat Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT), will take on the ocean-to-ocean course that traverses the desert, mountains, plains, and hills of the U.S. ViaSat and a number of corporate sponsors are backing the team, which will ride in support of Pedal the Cause San Diego, a non-profit that funds cancer research at the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, Salk Cancer Center, and Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute.

Riding in the event for the eighth time, the team also uses the race as an opportunity to showcase new ViaSat technology and services. The team's support vehicles and crew will be deploying an innovative L-band satellite communications service from ViaSat to guide and track the team. The recently launched service uses custom ViaSat technology operating over the LightSquared SkyTerra-1 satellite to enable tracking and messaging services with increased performance and better economics using small mobile terminals. The service will enable anyone to view the real-time progress of Team Exede by ViaSat during the week -long race by visiting raam.viasat.com.

Quick Facts

• ViaSat: Wireless and secure networking company based in Carlsbad, Calif.
• LightSquared: Mobile satellite voice, push-to-talk, data and GPS tracking services from SkyTerra-1, the most advanced commercial L-band satellite over North America.
• Years in RAAM: 8
• Last appearance: Record-setting Team ViaSat won the 2012 race
• 2014 Riders: David Pettit, Gilbert, Arizona office; James Derr, Matthew Falkner, Michael Gray, Patrick Gillespie, Kim Kim, Chuck Pateros, and Aaron Sager, Carlsbad, Calif. office.  
• 2014 Crew: Wei Sun and Stephanie Shabestari, ViaSat; Obie Derr; Andrew Wilson; Scotty Wilburn, Pacific Coast Cycles; Liz Olsen and Jesse Martinez, Triathlon Club of San Diego; and Matt McDaniel, Traction Bicycles.
• Charity partner: Pedal the Cause San Diego: Patrick Connor, Executive Director, 760-642-2721
• Sponsors and Corporate Supporters: Benchmark Electronics, Quinn Emanuel Trial Lawyers, BBVA Compass, Microelectronics Technology Inc., Lockton, Snell & Wilmer LLC, California Bank & Trust, Union Bank, Oracle, Latham & Watkins LLC, Barney & Barney, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Bank of the West, Wells Fargo, Ickler Electric Corporation, AVIS, Sock Guy, Clif Bar, Pacific Coast Cycles, Traction Bicycles, Amigo Custom Screen Prints, and Encinitas Sign-a-Rama.

About RAAM (www.raceacrossamerica.org)

RAAM is one of the most respected and longest running endurance sports events in the world, runnning 3,000 miles through 12 states from Oceanside, California to Annapolis, Maryland. The race is seen as a pinnacle of athletic achievement not only in cycling circles but the greater sporting community as well.

About ViaSat (www.viasat.com)

ViaSat creates satellite and other wireless networking systems that efficiently deliver the most bandwidth for fast, secure, and high-quality communications to any location for consumers, governments, enterprises, and the military. The company offers Exede services in North America, which feature ViaSat-1, the world's highest capacity satellite; worldwide mobile satellite services, including global tracking and messaging as well as high-speed in-flight Internet; satellite broadband networking systems; and network-centric military communication systems and cybersecurity for the U.S. and allied governments. ViaSat also offers communication system design and a number of complementary products and technologies. Based in Carlsbad, California, ViaSat employs over 3,100 people in a number of locations worldwide for technology development, customer service, and network operations.

Exede is a registered trademark of ViaSat Inc.

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SOURCE ViaSat Inc.