New York, New York-The search for the country’s best all-around sportsman is officially on as FIELD & STREAM, the world’s leading outdoor magazine and Bass Pro Shops, America’s favorite outdoors store, today unveiled the dates for the 2009 FIELD & STREAM TOTAL OUTDOORSMAN CHALLENGE; PRESENTED BY MOBIL 1. Now in its sixth year, the annual coast-to-coast competition offers sportsmen and -women more chances to qualify than ever before with a beefed-up roster of local qualifiers taking place April 25-26 at Bass Pro Shops. The Total Outdoorsman Challenge will culminate in an intensive, three-day, final championship event in Springfield, Mo., September 10-13, 2009, pitting 16 of the nation’s top outdoorsmen in head-to-head competition in seven outdoor skill challenges: fly-fishing, bass fishing, rifle, shotgun, endurance, archery and ATV handling.
Widely celebrated as the country’s premier competition for outdoorsmen, the 2009 Total Outdoorsman Challenge kicks off with free local qualifiers taking place April 25 and 26 at 48 Bass Pro Shops nationwide – twice as many locations as last year – allowing thousands of hopefuls across the country more opportunities than ever before to showcase their skills in baitcasting, air rifle and archery (participants must bring their own bows).
Field & Stream editors will evaluate the local qualifier results to cull the top 200 participants to contend in one of four regional qualifying events taking place in June 2009. Participants who place in the top three positions at the regional qualifiers will then advance to the Championship Event, where they will face off against the top three finishers from the 2008 Total Outdoorsman Challenge and a sole “wildcard” competitor selected from online submissions at www.totaloutdoorsmanchallenge.com . The sportsman who is able to out-fish, out-shoot and out-hustle his or her opponents will win the grand prize package, which includes: $25,000, a profile in Field & Stream, a Yamaha ATV, a year’s supply of Mobil 1 motor oil, and extensive exposure on FieldandStream.com and the Outdoor Channel’s Total Outdoorsman Challenge television show.
There is no fee to enter the Field & Stream Total Outdoorsman Challenge and each event is open to the public. Anyone is invited to cheer on sportsmen from all walks of life as they test their abilities across a wide range of outdoor disciplines.
“Three-time Total Outdoorsman champion Paul Thompson told Field & Stream that a total outdoorsman; is a jack-of-all-trades,'” said Anthony Licata, editor of Field & Stream. “That’s what we’re looking for – outdoorsmen who approach every experience in the outdoors, whether they are hunting, fishing or camping, as an opportunity to grow their skills and have fun doing it.”
For the second year in a row, Field & Stream will host a regional qualifier during the widely-attended, four-day Country Music Festival in Nashville, Tenn., June 11-14, 2009, the “crown jewel” of country music events. Total Outdoorsman defending champion Paul Thompson will show off his keen outdoor skills against a field of country music stars in a special celebrity edition of the competition on June 11 leading up to the regional qualifier slated for the following day.
The May issue of Field & Stream (on newsstands now) features an exclusive Q&A with Thompson, in addition to training tips and advice and complete event registration information. Before heading to Bass Pro Shops for local qualifiers, sportsmen who think they have what it takes can also brush up on fishing, hunting and camping tips from every U.S. state with the May issue’s cover story, “The United States of Skills.”
Sponsors of the 2009 Field & Stream Total Outdoorsman Challenge include: Mobil 1, Bass Pro Shops, Yamaha, Toyota, 2009 CMA Music Festival, Rocky Boots, Mossy Oak, Under Armour, Veramyst Smith & Wesson, Thompson Center, Diamond Archery, Eukanuba and The Outdoor Channel.
FIELD & STREAM TOTAL OUTDOORSMAN CHALLENGE SCHEDULE:
Local Qualifiers-April 25-26, 9 AM to 4 PM
(Listed in alphabetical order by city)
– Arundel (Baltimore), MD
– Atlanta, GA
– Auburn, NY
– Auburn Hills (Detroit), MI
– Bolingbrook, IL
– Bossier City, LA
– Broken Arrow, OK
– Cincinnati, OH
– Clarksville, IN
– Columbia, MO
– Concord (Charlotte), NC
– Council Bluffs, IA
– Dania Beach (Ft. Lauderdale), FL
– Denham Springs, LA
– Denver, CO
– Fort Myers, FL
– Foxborough, MA
– Garland, TX
– Grapevine, TX
– Gurnee, IL
– Hampton, VA
– Hanover County (Richmond), VA
– Harrisburg, PA
– Independence, MO – Katy, TX
– Las Vegas, NV
– Leeds, AL
– Macon, GA
– Manteca, CA
– Memphis, TN
– Mesa, AZ
– Myrtle Beach, SC
– Nashville, TN
– Oklahoma City, OK
– Olathe, KS
– Orlando, FL
– Pearl, MS
– Pearland , TX
– Portage, IN
– Prattville, AL
– Rancho Cucamonga, CA
– Rossford, OH
– Saint Charles, MO
– San Antonio, TX
– Savannah, GA
– Sevierville, TN
– Spanish Fort (Mobile), AL
– Springfield, MO
Regional Championships:
– Grapevine, TX – June 6
– Nashville, TN – June 12 at the CMA Music Festival
– Independence, MO – June 20
– Harrisburg, PA – June 27
National Championship:
– Springfield, MO – September 10-13
MEDIA CONTACTS:
FIELD & STREAM * Amanda McNally * 212.779.5527 * amanda.mcnally@bonniercorp.com>amanda.mcnally@bonniercorp.com
BASS PRO SHOPS * Katie Mitchell *417.873.5618 * kamitchell@basspro.com
ABOUT FIELD & STREAM:
Field & Stream®, The World’s Leading Outdoor Magazine, is the country’s largest special-interest title and most recognized outdoor publication. Devoted to the complete outdoor experience and lifestyle, Field & Stream (www.FieldandStream.com ) gives its readers the knowledge and inspiration to pursue the sports they love. It celebrates the outdoor experience with great stories, compelling photography and sound advice, while honoring the traditions hunters and fishermen have passed down for generations. Established in 1895, Field & Stream is published 11 times per year by the Bonnier Corporation.
The Bonnier Corporation (www.bonniercorp.com ), one of the largest consumer-publishing groups in America and the leading media company serving passionate, highly engaged audiences through more than 40 special-interest magazines and related multimedia projects and events.
ABOUT BASS PRO SHOPS:
Bass Pro Shops, an international catalog and internet retailer, is also America’s most popular outdoor store, offering shoppers the largest selection of quality outdoor gear, clothing and accessories from top industry names and at value prices. More than just hunting and fishing stores, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World stores are also part museum, part art gallery, part education, conservation and entertainment centers. Award-winning in their concept and design, Bass Pro Shops retail stores are rated high as tourist-destination picks and more than 100 million people visit the stores annually. Bass Pro Shops, headquartered in Springfield, Missouri, currently has 55 retail locations across the United States and two locations in Canada.For more information on Bass Pro Shops products, events and stores visit www.basspro.com .
