In adventure racing, a “dark zone” is a pause in the action—when darkness or safety concerns require teams to stop, regroup, and prepare for what lies ahead. It’s a time for swapping stories, building friendships, and renewing energy. Here at The Dark Zone, we aim to recreate that spirit through compelling stories and shared experiences. We’re thrilled to have you with us.
The Dark Zone Podcast exists to celebrate the sport and its community through three key goals:
- Support new racers by connecting them with the wisdom of seasoned adventurers.
- Preserve the sport’s history through conversations that capture its essence and evolution.
- Showcase events by giving race directors a platform to share their stories with the world.
Dive in, enjoy the journey, and make the most of your time in The Dark Zone. We’re glad you’re here.
Episode 145 – The Long Way North: Tyler Stancill’s Eastern Divide Ride
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dark-zone-an-adventure-racing-podcast/id1578529221?i=1000735020275 In this episode of The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast, we shift gears—literally and figuratively—to explore a different kind of endurance adventure. Our guest is Tyler Stancill, a passionate bikepacker who pedaled more than 6,000 miles from Key West, Florida to Newfoundland, Canada along the newly established Eastern Divide Trail. His journey captures…
Episode 144 – John Karlsson – SAFAT Team Captain, 3X World Champion, and Aspiring Golfer
Episode Link Here In this episode of The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast, host Brian Gatens welcomes John Karlsson, captain of Team SAFAT, the reigning Adventure Racing World Champions. Known for their precision, discipline, and calm under pressure, SAFAT has come to define the standard of excellence in expedition racing. John shares his introduction…
A 5-Minute TDZ Update (And An Invitation for World Champs Voice Memos!)
Episode Link Here Happy October, TDZ Nation Here is a quick 5-minute update following the Adventure Racing World Series AR World Championship in Penticton, British Columbia. TDZ was onsite to help with media, and the race was quite the ride. Per the episode, everyone involved in the race – racers, supporters, volunteers, family, media, EVERYONE…
Course Reveal: Subaru Canada Adventure Racing World Championship 2025
Link Here Welcome to a special episode of The Course Reveal Podcast, a companion show to The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast. Today, we turn our attention to the 2025 Subaru Canada Adventure Racing World Championship, where the best teams on the planet will converge in Penticton, British Columbia, to chase the ultimate prize…
Episode 143: A Podcast Crossover – Course Reveal: USARA National Championship 2025
Episode Link here Welcome to The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast. From time to time, we like to support our companion podcast, The Course Reveal, by crossposting special episodes. ———————————————————– Welcome to a special episode of The Course Reveal Podcast. Today, we turn our attention to the 2025 United States Adventure Racing National Championship,…
Episode 142 – Course Reveal: Endurance Quest Saimaa ARWS European Championship
Episode Link – Here Welcome to the Course Reveal Podcast. Join Course Director Lauri Hollo as he breaks down each stage of Endurance Quest Saimaa. As the Adventure Racing European Championship, this race will bring 60 teams from 12 countries to the Savonlinna region of Finland, and winners will earn a coveted spot at the…
Episode 141 – Olga Huber: Prolific Solo Racer, Strong Teammate, and a Student of AR
Episode Link Here! In this episode of The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast, we welcome Olga Huber of Team Fragile Flowers. A well-known racer, Olga has taken on a growing number of events, both with teammates and solo. She loves AR, and she enjoys learning from all of her experiences. Wise, direct, and thoughtful,…
Episode 140 – ITERA Flash Episode with RD Paul McGreal
Follow Link Here The mountains, midges, and lochs of Scotland are putting racers to the test at ITERA and ITERA-Lite. In this Flash Episode, Race Director Paul McGreal joins The Dark Zone to share not just the leaderboard highlights, but the many stories from the trail — teams helping each other through brutal weather, challenging…
Episode 139 – Lauri Hollo of Finland’s Endurance Quest Saimaa/European Championship 2025
Click Here For The Episode Link Today’s episode takes us north to the wild, water-rich terrain of Finland, where host Brian Gatens is joined by Lauri Hollo —longtime racer, passionate advocate for the sport, and Technical Director for the 2025 Endurance Quest Saimaa, the European Adventure Racing Championship. In this wide-ranging conversation, Lauri reflects on…
Episode 138 – Course Reveal: Wilderness Traverse/ARWS North American Championship
Podcast Link Click Here Today’s episode is a special one — it’s a course reveal for the 2025 Wilderness Traverse, the iconic Canadian adventure race and this year’s ARWS North American championship. This event has long been a staple in the North American adventure racing calendar, known for its challenging terrain, demanding navigation, and classic…
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The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast 