Ian Adamson (born August 29, 1964) is a former competitive
adventure racer, television professional and president of
World Obstacle
World Obstacle, institutional name ''Fédération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles'' ''(FISO)'', is the international governing body for obstacle sports and related events. Disciplines include Ninja (similar to American Ninja Warrior), Obsta ...
, the Fédération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO).
Competition
Adamson started competing in middle distance running, road cycling, cross country and swimming at school. While at university he focused on canoe and kayak, winning the Australian Universities Canoe Championship in C2 Wild Water in 1988, and has four
Guinness World Records
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...
for the longest distance paddled in 24 hours (1997, 2004), Highest Altitude Obstacle Course Race (2021) and Highest Altitude Fitness Class (2021.)
Career
Adamson is an eleven-time world champion adventure racer, featured on television shows including th
Eco-Challenge Primal Quest,
Raid Gauloises The Raid Gauloise or The Raid is considered by many to be the first modern expedition adventure race and was first held in 1989 in New Zealand as "la grande traversée". Its creator, Gérard Fusil, took the existing concept of long distance endura ...
,
Men's Journal Adventure Team and
X-Games
The X Games are an annual extreme sports event organized, produced and broadcast by ESPN. Coverage is also shown on ESPN's sister network, ABC. The inaugural X Games were held during the summer of 1995 in Providence and Newport, Rhode Island ...
that aired on
Outdoor Life Network
OLN (formerly Outdoor Life Network) is a Canadian English-language Category A specialty channel. OLN primarily broadcasts factual-based and adventure-related reality programming aimed at male audiences. OLN is wholly owned by Rogers Sports & ...
,
ESPN
ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). The ...
,
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel (known as The Discovery Channel from 1985 to 1995, and often referred to as simply Discovery) is an American cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav. , Discovery Channe ...
,
USA Network
USA Network (simply USA) is an American basic cable television channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. It was originally launched in 1977 as Madison ...
and
MTV
MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
from 1995 - 2006. He was a founding member of Team Nike ACG/Balance Bar
Professional life
Adamson worked at
Newton Running Company from 2007 to 2014 as Director of Product Development, and later Director of Medical & Education and previously in an advisory capacity as a sponsored athlete for
GU,
Giant Bikes,
Nike
Nike often refers to:
* Nike (mythology), a Greek goddess who personifies victory
* Nike, Inc., a major American producer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment
Nike may also refer to:
People
* Nike (name), a surname and feminine given ...
(2002-2007.) He is currently president of World Obstacle, the Fédération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles, the world governing body for
Ninja Warrior
''Sasuke'' (サスケ; stylized in Japan as ''SASUKE'', also known as ''Shin-Sasuke'' (stylized as ''新SASUKE'' from Seasons 18 to 21, ''Sasuke Rising'' from Seasons 28 to 30 and ''Sasuke Ninja Warrior'' since Season 35) is a Japanese sports ...
,
Obstacle Course Racing
Obstacle course racing (OCR) is a sport in which a competitor, traveling on foot, must overcome various physical challenges in the form of obstacles. Races vary in length from obstacle course, courses with obstacles close together to events of se ...
and
adventure racing
Adventure racing (also called expedition racing) is typically a multidisciplinary team sport involving navigation over an unmarked wilderness course with races extending anywhere from two hours up to two weeks in length. Some races offer solo co ...
, and is working toward achieving Olympic recognition for the sport.
Adamson is also a writer, having authored Runner's World Guide to Adventure Racing
and as a contributor to Adventure Racing the Ultimate Guide, the Complete Guide to Adventure Racing, The Thrill of Victory, The Agony of my Feet, print interviews, appearances and articles. He works as a legal forensic expert at Robson Forensic focusing on outdoor and adventure cases.
Filmography
* 2016 American Tarzan, ''Senior Race Coordinator'',
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel (known as The Discovery Channel from 1985 to 1995, and often referred to as simply Discovery) is an American cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav. , Discovery Channe ...
* 2015 Down East Kayak, Talent,
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is an American programming division of the broadcast network NBC, owned and operated by NBC Sports Group division of NBCUniversal and subsidiary of Comcast. The division is responsible for sports broadcasts on the network, and its d ...
* 2015 Nature Island Challenge 3.0, ''Host'',
Outside Television
Outside TV (formerly RSN Television) is a sports channel, sports-oriented cable television, cable and satellite television, satellite television network based on Outside (magazine), ''Outside'' magazine. The network features programming related t ...
* 2015 The Raft, ''Logistics Producer'' (6 episodes),
National Geographic Channel
National Geographic (formerly National Geographic Channel; abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo or Nat Geo TV) is an American pay television television network, network and flagship (broadcasting), flagship channel owned by the National Geograp ...
* 2006
Primal Quest, Moab Utah, ''Cast'',
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is an American programming division of the broadcast network NBC, owned and operated by NBC Sports Group division of NBCUniversal and subsidiary of Comcast. The division is responsible for sports broadcasts on the network, and its d ...
* 2004
Primal Quest, San Juan Islands, ''Cast'',
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainmen ...
* 2003
Primal Quest, Lake Tahoe, ''Cast'',
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainmen ...
* 2002
Eco-Challenge
''Eco-Challenge: The Expedition Race'' is a multi-day expedition length adventure race in which teams of four (five in the early years) competed. It originally aired on TV from April 1995 to April 2002. Based closely on the Raid Gauloises advent ...
Fiji, ''Cast'',
USA Network
USA Network (simply USA) is an American basic cable television channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. It was originally launched in 1977 as Madison ...
* 2002
Primal Quest, Telluride, ''Cast'', Outdoor Life Network
* 2001
Eco-Challenge
''Eco-Challenge: The Expedition Race'' is a multi-day expedition length adventure race in which teams of four (five in the early years) competed. It originally aired on TV from April 1995 to April 2002. Based closely on the Raid Gauloises advent ...
New Zealand, ''Cast'',
USA Network
USA Network (simply USA) is an American basic cable television channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. It was originally launched in 1977 as Madison ...
* 2001 World Championship Adventure Race Switzerland, ''Cast'',
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel (known as The Discovery Channel from 1985 to 1995, and often referred to as simply Discovery) is an American cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav. , Discovery Channe ...
* 2001 Men's Journal Adventure Classics (3 episodes), Executive ''Producer/Cast'', Outdoor Life Network
* 2000
Eco-Challenge
''Eco-Challenge: The Expedition Race'' is a multi-day expedition length adventure race in which teams of four (five in the early years) competed. It originally aired on TV from April 1995 to April 2002. Based closely on the Raid Gauloises advent ...
, Borneo, ''Cast'',
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel (known as The Discovery Channel from 1985 to 1995, and often referred to as simply Discovery) is an American cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav. , Discovery Channe ...
* 2000
Raid Gaulioses, Race Across the Himalayas, Cast, Outdoor Life Network
* 1999
Eco-Challenge
''Eco-Challenge: The Expedition Race'' is a multi-day expedition length adventure race in which teams of four (five in the early years) competed. It originally aired on TV from April 1995 to April 2002. Based closely on the Raid Gauloises advent ...
, Argentina, ''Cast'',
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel (known as The Discovery Channel from 1985 to 1995, and often referred to as simply Discovery) is an American cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav. , Discovery Channe ...
* 1998
Raid Gauloises The Raid Gauloise or The Raid is considered by many to be the first modern expedition adventure race and was first held in 1989 in New Zealand as "la grande traversée". Its creator, Gérard Fusil, took the existing concept of long distance endura ...
, Race Across Ecuador, ''Cast'', Outdoor Life Network
* 1998 Mild Seven Outdoor Quest China, Cast
* 1997
X-Games
The X Games are an annual extreme sports event organized, produced and broadcast by ESPN. Coverage is also shown on ESPN's sister network, ABC. The inaugural X Games were held during the summer of 1995 in Providence and Newport, Rhode Island ...
III, San Diego, ''Cast'',
ESPN
ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). The ...
* 1997
Eco-Challenge
''Eco-Challenge: The Expedition Race'' is a multi-day expedition length adventure race in which teams of four (five in the early years) competed. It originally aired on TV from April 1995 to April 2002. Based closely on the Raid Gauloises advent ...
Australia, ''Cast,''
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel (known as The Discovery Channel from 1985 to 1995, and often referred to as simply Discovery) is an American cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav. , Discovery Channe ...
* 1997 Mild Seven Outdoor Quest, China, ''Cast''
* 1996
X-Games
The X Games are an annual extreme sports event organized, produced and broadcast by ESPN. Coverage is also shown on ESPN's sister network, ABC. The inaugural X Games were held during the summer of 1995 in Providence and Newport, Rhode Island ...
II,
ESPN
ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). The ...
* 1996
Eco-Challenge
''Eco-Challenge: The Expedition Race'' is a multi-day expedition length adventure race in which teams of four (five in the early years) competed. It originally aired on TV from April 1995 to April 2002. Based closely on the Raid Gauloises advent ...
British Columbia,
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel (known as The Discovery Channel from 1985 to 1995, and often referred to as simply Discovery) is an American cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav. , Discovery Channe ...
* 1995
X-Games
The X Games are an annual extreme sports event organized, produced and broadcast by ESPN. Coverage is also shown on ESPN's sister network, ABC. The inaugural X Games were held during the summer of 1995 in Providence and Newport, Rhode Island ...
I,
Eco-Challenge
''Eco-Challenge: The Expedition Race'' is a multi-day expedition length adventure race in which teams of four (five in the early years) competed. It originally aired on TV from April 1995 to April 2002. Based closely on the Raid Gauloises advent ...
Maine,
ESPN
ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). The ...
* 1995
Eco-Challenge
''Eco-Challenge: The Expedition Race'' is a multi-day expedition length adventure race in which teams of four (five in the early years) competed. It originally aired on TV from April 1995 to April 2002. Based closely on the Raid Gauloises advent ...
Utah,
MTV
MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
Awards
* 2006 Men's Journal Adventurer of the year
* 2005 Adventure Race Team of the Year
* 2004 Adventure Race Team of the Year
* 2002 RailRider Adventurer of the year
Works
* Author: Runner's World Guide to Adventure Racing
References
External links
Website*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Adamson, Ian
American male triathletes
1964 births
Living people
Sports commentators
Sportspeople from Boulder, Colorado
People from Davis, California
Davis Senior High School (California) alumni
Triathlon coaches