On July 5, the "Red Bull 24-Hour Lecture Hall" was held in Kunming, Yunnan. Serving as a pre-race training camp for the Red Bull 24-Hour Plateau Challenge, over a hundred outdoor sports enthusiasts from 25 competing teams nationwide came to the century-old Army Military Academy to receive in-depth, comprehensive, and professional guidance from the legendary outdoor couple, the Usshers. As the only pair in the world to have achieved a "Grand Slam" of top-tier outdoor competitions, the Usshers not only shared their remarkable outdoor experiences on-site but also focused on the upcoming Red Bull 24-Hour Plateau Challenge, offering insights on preparation, physical conditioning, and technical aspects. On July 6, the Usshers will lead the "Red Bull Outdoor Team," joined by Chinese athletes Pajula and Batmunkh, to compete in the event.
Zhang Shi, Vice President of the Kunming Mountaineering and Exploration Association, sends a message to athletes of the Red Bull 24-Hour Plateau Challenge
"This is truly a very special place." Richard Ussher was visibly excited as he stepped into the historic site of the Army Military Academy, located west of Cuihu Park in Kunming. Although he and his wife Elina Ussher come to China every year for outdoor competitions, this place was clearly new to them. "I’ve heard this was a very important military school in Chinese history. Sharing our outdoor experiences here feels quite unique," Richard said.
Richard Ussher shares race experiences at the Red Bull 24-Hour "Lecture Hall"
Sitting in the lecture hall of the Military Academy, Richard from New Zealand quickly got into the swing of things, beginning with how he first got into outdoor sports. "At the time, I thought this might be my first and last outdoor competition," he recalled. In 2001, shortly after transitioning from professional skiing to outdoor sports, Richard took part in his first outdoor race in Queenstown, New Zealand. Unexpectedly, the weather turned drastically from scorching heat to heavy snow. Over the five-day race, he slept for just five hours, spending the rest of the time completing the course. After the race, Richard was adamant that he would never do outdoor sports again—but as everyone can see today, he not only continued for 12 years but also met his Finnish counterpart, Elina, another outdoor sports expert. The two eventually married and grew to become among the world’s top outdoor athletes. Over the past few years, they have won championships in four of the world’s most prestigious outdoor events: the Raid World Championship, the Seven Star Race, the Abu Dhabi Adventure Challenge, and the Wulong International Outdoor Open, making them the only duo to achieve a "Grand Slam" in the field.
The Usshers answer questions from training camp participants
The Usshers quickly won over the outdoor enthusiasts present with their legendary stories. As competitors in the Red Bull 24-Hour Plateau Challenge, they also shared their feelings about the upcoming race. "High altitude is the biggest challenge of this event. We’ll not only be competing above 4,000 meters, but the huge vertical elevation changes are another major difficulty," said Richard. His wife Elina, after carefully studying the course, added, "Running and cycling at such altitudes is a severe test for every athlete’s body—the intensity is several times greater than competing at sea level." It is understood that the Red Bull 24-Hour Plateau Challenge will take place from July 6 to 7, 2013, in the Jiaozi Mountain Scenic Area of Kunming, at elevations ranging from 1,935 to 4,223 meters. The race includes a 50-kilometer run-bike combination, a 5-kilometer cross-country run, a 25-kilometer orienteering trek over Jiaozi Mountain, as well as skill-based events like rope descending and zip-lining, and ethnic activities such as crossbow shooting, with a total race distance of about 80 kilometers.
Aside from the physical demands of high-altitude racing, when discussing key factors for success, Richard repeatedly emphasized the importance of teamwork. "Don’t be shy to ask for help when you need it, and never refuse help from your teammates," Richard said. "Even the best individual is just that—an individual. This is a team sport. You must fully trust every teammate. The team captain, in particular, needs to know each member’s strengths and weaknesses intimately, and arrange tactics accordingly to maximize individual advantages." Elina shared an unforgettable experience—during a trekking race, in order to overtake competitors without revealing their route, she and her teammates turned off their headlamps while crossing snowy terrain. They walked in complete darkness for nearly 12 hours. "I completely lost my sense of direction. I just had to follow my teammates and trust them completely. We helped each other," Elina recalled. "It’s hard to imagine if I could have made it out of that darkness without my teammates." Ultimately, through mutual encouragement and trust, Elina and her team crossed the finish line first.
Additionally, Richard offered advice on energy reserves. "Timely energy replenishment keeps athletes in good physical condition throughout the race." Richard explained in detail, "This is an outdoor event lasting over 12 hours. Based on my experience, I recommend bringing plenty of energy gels and solid foods. During the race, try eating smaller meals more frequently—it helps maintain energy levels. Once you reach a mandatory rest area, eat more protein-rich foods. Fruits can also help replenish energy and fluids." The outdoor enthusiasts present were thrilled by such specific and practical advice, eagerly asking questions based on their own challenges. The Usshers answered every query thoroughly, leaving the athletes satisfied.
"We’re very pleased to see world-class outdoor athletes like the Usshers come to Kunming to compete, elevating the event to a new level. Their professional and detailed training for Chinese outdoor enthusiasts also gives a significant boost to the development of outdoor sports in China. We hope such activities continue, helping Chinese outdoor events and athletes move closer to world-class standards," said Zhang Shi, Vice President of the Kunming Mountaineering and Exploration Association, at the event. As a frequent participant in international top-tier outdoor events in China, Richard also noted, "In recent years, the level of outdoor events in China has been improving year by year, with increasingly professional event design, organization, and management. As the level rises, we’re seeing more high-caliber athletes. If they keep at it, I believe some of them will secure a place among the world’s elite within 5–7 years."
After the Red Bull 24-Hour Lecture Hall, the Usshers met with their teammates on the Red Bull Outdoor Team—Pajula and Batmunkh—to go over the details of the race once again. "We’ve met several times before, and they left a deep impression on me. Pajula is a biking expert, and Batmunkh excels in running and trekking," said Elina. Her husband Richard was equally confident and excited. "Every member of our team is exceptionally strong. I believe we have no major issues with fitness or technique—the only thing to focus on is communication during the race. We need to develop a set of hand signals as quickly as possible to facilitate communication." Batmunkh, who was part of last year’s winning Red Bull 24-Hour Plateau Challenge team, said, "I’m happy to be racing with the Usshers. With their strength on the team, I’m confident we’ll take the championship." Compared to the international elite-level events the Usshers usually compete in, the Red Bull 24-Hour Plateau Challenge, though mainly for amateur domestic outdoor enthusiasts, features fun and engaging elements that excited them. Upon hearing that athletes must cook their own meals using ingredients provided by the organizers, Richard became particularly enthusiastic. He looked forward to cooking with ingredients like beef, potatoes, and wild vegetables, playfully suggesting to Elina, "How about a cooking competition between us?"
It is understood that the Red Bull 24-Hour Plateau Challenge is jointly organized by the Kunming Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Sports, the Kunming Municipal Tourism Bureau, the Kunming Municipal People’s Government Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, the Jiaozi Mountain National Nature Reserve Administration of Kunming, and the Administrative Committee of the Jiaozi Mountain Tourism Development Zone in Tangdian Industrial Park of Kunming. It is hosted by the Kunming Sports Federation, the Kunming Mountaineering and Exploration Association, the Jiaozi Mountain Tourism Development Co., Ltd. of Kunming, and sponsored by Red Bull Vitamin Drink Co., Ltd. As the only non-stop outdoor event in China, the Red Bull 24-Hour series has launched both a coastal edition in Shenzhen and a plateau edition in Kunming. Its main features include being set in natural environments, operating non-stop around the clock, and combining multiple sports. With moderate difficulty and intensity, the event balances competitiveness and accessibility, making it suitable for all types of outdoor enthusiasts.