August 2014
18
www.sportseventsmagazine.com
From the fast-flowing rivers and streams of the
Southeast to the mountain lakes of the Northwest,
along the beaches of the Great Lakes and through the
deserts of the Southwest, the United States is full of
spectacular natural sports venues that draw competi-
tors from all over the world.
In every season and in a wide range of scenic spots,
runners seek to conquer new trails, power boaters
attempt to better their fastest speeds, and anglers cast
away for the prize catch. But they are not the only
ones facing major challenges. Those who organize
and coordinate sports events held at natural venues
must deal with everything from transporting partici-
pants into remote places to preparing for potential
weather disasters to ensuring the safety of thousands
of participants, along with many other details.
In this special section, SportsEvents magazine looks
at a variety of natural venue sports events around the
country. Sports events professionals share their expe-
riences, telling us why specific venues are so attrac-
tive to athletes, how the competitions have developed
over the years, and how they, as planners, are con-
stantly working to improve the quality of an event,
expand its reach and, most of all, address the chal-
lenges of holding a competition in the great
American outdoors.
2014
Natural
Venues
Guide
Great
Outdoors
By Marcia Bradford
Lake
of
the
Ozarks
Shoot-Out
in the
Sports
