Outer Edge Adventure Awards 09 –  Best Photograph of the Year. Outer Edge is on the search for all that’s great in the wide world of adventure. Actually we’re after the pinnacle. So we’ve created our own Australasian adventure awards, which we hope grow to be the cornerstone recognition of achievement in the outdoor and adventure community.

The Awards are about celebrating not only big-budget expeditions but also the multitude of grassroots efforts that are the bedrock of true adventure. We want to commend and recognise those that push themselves out of the comfort zone and over the edge in their quests for adventure, no matter the motivation. ‘Just because’ is good enough for us.

We also want to pay tribute to the people and organisations that lend their support and professionalism to the outdoors industry. Without them, getting our and your adventurous dreams off the ground would be a whole bunch harder, if not impossible.

Categories

1. Solo Adventurer of the Year – individual undertaking, completing an adventure in the period Jan 2009 – Dec 2009.

2. Team Adventure of the Year – team (two-plus members) undertaking and completing an adventure Jan 2009 – Dec 2009.

3. Young Adventurer of the Year – U18 undertaking and completing an adventure Jan 2009 – Dec 2009. Must be under 18 years old upon completion of adventure.

4. Adventure Operator of the Year – adventure operator displaying ingenuity, professionalism, environmental responsibility and providing a unique experience and overall a damn good time for its guests.

5. Indigenous Adventure Operator of the Year – indigenous adventure operator displaying ingenuity, professionalism, environmental responsibility aand providing a unique experience and overall a damn good time for its adventure-loving guests.

6. Regional Adventure Award – a state, region, council or city that has done the most to foster outdoor and adventure activity in its geographical area of responsibility.

7. Outdoor Club Community Award – rewarded for organising and motivating increased participation in outdoor and adventure activities, can be an MTB, paddling, climbing, rogaining…or any other kind of outdoors-related not-for-profit club.

8. Outdoor Not-for-profit Organisation of the Year – rewarded for supporting and organising individuals, teams and community groups in their outdoor and adventure activities. ie. Outdoor Associations. Can also be an NGO using an outdoors activity as the basis for a campaign.

9. Outer Edge Adventurer Hall of Fame – a legend of adventure

10. Best Adventure Photograph of the Year

11. Moment in Time Adventure Video Award – video material of an adventurous moment. Can be anything from a snippet through to a full-length feature. As long as it’s on the edge.

12. Adventure Destination of the Year – State or nation based award. Anywhere in the world, including Australasia, offering a premium adventure experience and which has proactively encouraged adventure tourism within its borders.

13. Adventure Race/Series of the Year – can be a singular expedition race or an AR series, the minimum requirement being that it involves multiple (2+) adventure-based activities, generally in the wilderness (although urban AR races are eligible as long as there are 3+ activities).

14. Adventure Racer of the Year – judged on a collective points basis of events entered (3points), and placings (4 points for each win, 3 for each second placing, 2 for each third placing). Can include International events competed in.

We are asking readers, the adventure-loving public and outdoors-associated organisations to send in their nominations over the coming six months. We will then judge a shortlist of nominees in each category before making final winner decisions, based on a mix of votes from our expert judging panel and reader votes, depending on category.

Awards are open to all Australian and New Zealand residents and businesses.