10th edition of TNP SUVival Challenge promises to be harder, more exciting

It will be 10 times tougher and the most intense SUVival Challenge yet.

That is only fitting given that it is the competition's 10th anniversary.

To live up to the billing, organisers have begun preparations for the event and are pulling out all the stops, said Mr Ryn Razif, 38, president of SUV Expedition Club - the event manager for this year's contest.

"We advise participants to come with an open mind and a thirst for excitement because this year will be challenging and one of the biggest so far," he said.

Having participated in the Challenge in 2006, Mr Ryn hopes his experience will help him provide the wow factor this year.

There is over $70,000 in cash and other prizes to be won.

Registration is open until April 12.

All participants will get a SUVival pack, each consisting of $200 worth of goodies from The New Paper, Jeep, H-TWO-O, Denizen and other partners.

The event consists of three segments: The Road Challenge, the Adventure Challenge and the Off-Road Challenge.

In the Road Challenge, participants have to play games and solve puzzles at various locations to get clues, which will lead them to the next segment.

To do so, each team will be equipped with a Marbella Geomate 500S Global Positioning System, which participants can opt to buy at a special price after the competition.

The Adventure Challenge will test participants' limits as they get soaked and muddied.

For the 10 Off-Road Challenges, which will be dirtier than last year's, participants will test their vehicles to the limit as they tackle obstacles in an area the size of five football fields.

NEW OBSTACLES

One highlight of this year's off-road segment is the Twilight Zone, which Mr Ryn described as a series of challenging obstacles that participants over the years would not have tried before.

"I won't reveal too much about this Twilight Zone, but on a scale of difficulty from one to 10, I would rate it an eight," he said.

Mr Vincent Low, 49, a marketing manager who will be in the SUVival Challenge for the fifth time, said he is relishing the chance to take part in this year's competition with his wife, daughter and two of her friends.

When told it would be more challenging than before, he said: "That sounds good to me. It's also a chance for our family to go on an outing and to meet up with some of my friends too."

Said Chrysler Jeep Automotive of Singapore's general manager, Mr Gerald Seng: "This 10th anniversary marks a significant milestone for the TNP SUVival Challenge and Jeep is delighted to be part of this synergistic collaboration.

"For the third consecutive year running, Jeep is proud to be the official presenter for...this annual nationwide event that embodies the off-roading lifestyle and an opportunity to bind the local community of enthusiasts."

This article was first published on April 3, 2015.
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