The World's First Family Sport Obstacle Course Race: Building The World's Strongest Families

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Northern-California based, "The Rising Tribe," (www.therisingtribe.com) is looking to redefine how families spend their time participating in sporting events by launching the very first family obstacle course race on October 12 and 13, 2013 in Vacaville, CA.

The mission of The Rising Tribe program is to reveal "The World's Strongest Families," through a physically, mentally, and emotionally memorable sports experience that encourages and rewards family teamwork and cooperation. Participating teams or "Tribes" are required to have at least one participant member to be within ages 6-17 years (T1), and one to be 18+ years (T2).

"We have a unique opportunity to provide an event experience that gives, not only related families, but unrelated families as well, the chance to accomplish something together," says The Rising Tribe's Co-founder & CEO, Gary Xavier, a 15 year veteran of youth sport instruction and event production.  

Xavier came up with the idea for The Rising Tribe while creating The Northern California PGA Regional Junior Golf Tour in 2009. During that event, Xavier made it a mandatory requirement to have the parents caddie for the players; and by doing this Xavier found, "The parents not only responded positively; they were flat-out grateful. This is when I realized that keeping parents on the sidelines deprives the whole family from enjoying the event."

The Rising Tribe is composed of three course levels: two, four, and eight miles long. Each obstacle is designed by Marine Corps special operators, adventure education specialists, and "mom engineers," to encourage families to collaborate, communicate, and overcome each challenge together. Xavier and his fellow co-founders, Lee Scott, Josh Unfried, and Ilya Mir emphasize that their event is not about speed, but about the participants' attitude and determination to finish as a family.

"Never has a sport provided a structured way for children and adults to compete together on the same team," says Xavier.

The Rising Tribe announces its support of New York-based Family-to-Family, Inc. (www.family-to-family.org), a national hunger and poverty relief organization that links donors one-to-one with struggling American families. The Rising Tribe is donating a portion of its inaugural event proceeds to Family-to-Family to help fund their programs and will be encouraging "Tribe" members to bring a bag filled with non-perishable food items to the event. The food will be donated to a local Feeding America registered food pantry. Family-to-Family's relief efforts speak to the heart of The Rising Tribe's overall focus; bringing individuals and families together to change the way we spend our free time and bring the focus back to the family unit. 

To find out more about The Rising Tribe's cause, event, and registration details visit www.therisingtribe.com, 'like' on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheRisingTribe, or contact Gary Xavier at [email protected].

SOURCE The Rising Tribe