For Yukoners Sierra van der Meer and Land Pearson, representing Canada in the annual Fulda Challenge has meant an opportunity to experience things they wouldn't otherwise get to.

"It's a way to get out of your comfort zone,” van der Meer told reporters today at the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre.

She spoke following the media kick-off to the adventure challenge.

The event will see 10 teams compete in various events ranging from a tire change to a canoe race to a polar bear swim and many in-between.

Each year, the German tire company hosts its challenge in the territory, with teams coming from overseas to compete. There is also one team from the territory that represents Canada.

"It's a neat opportunity to go see the Yukon,” said van der Meer, fully decked out in the bright red and black Fulda uniform jacket of the challenge, as were all those affiliated with the race.

She noted she rarely drives to Dawson City, for example, for a visit during the winter, and this will give her the chance to do so.

The teams departed for Dawson this morning. Over the course of this week and next, they will take part in events in Carmacks, on the Dempster Highway, at Eagle Plains, the Arctic Circle and Whitehorse before departing for Vancouver, where the final events, including a polar bear swim, will be staged.

After applying to represent the Yukon, van der Meer and Pearson were informed they would indeed be part of the challenge last October.

What they didn't know, and wouldn't learn until just days ago, was exactly what the events would be.

That meant looking at previous years' events and training for a wide variety of possibilities in cold weather.

"I would never go ice climbing,” van der Meer said.

She also likely wouldn't have otherwise joined the speed skating club and learned just how much she enjoys the sport, she added.

While it was an opportunity for the pair to try out ice climbing, something that has been part of previous challenges, it may not make a big difference at this year's session.

"Ice climbing's not in it,” Pearson told reporters with a laugh.

Other events have caught the pair off-guard.

"We really didn't swim,” Pearson noted, pointing to the polar bear swim set for Vancouver.

They did; however, do other activities like running, good for both endurance in the cold weather and overall fitness. van der Meer believes the colder the temperature is, the better that will be for the team, given that they are more accustomed to the low temperature compared to their European counterparts.

And there are some events the pair knows they aren't prepared for.

"We're doomed on the snowmachine,” van der Meer said.

Still, the Yukoners were ready this morning to set out and begin the challenge.

Prior to introducing the teams, race and Yukon government officials welcomed the participants and media, noting the benefits the challenge brings to the territory.

Speaker Ted Staffen spoke on the government's behalf. In a statement, Tourism and Culture Minister Elaine Taylor commented: "This successful partnership gives Yukon its greatest media and branding value in German-speaking Europe, raising the awareness of the territory as a winter destination.”

The territory put in $150,000 and, through a marketing agreement, supports media coverage of foreign journalists and broadcasters attending the challenge.

”The agreement also supports the development of marketing initiatives with Fulda that further generate Yukon destination awareness abroad,” notes the government statement.

In the territory, it's estimated about $1 million is spent locally by Fulda on equipment rentals, food and beverages, transportation, accommodations, event staging and other services.

Before the teams and officials took off for the challenge, they were also informed on the rules around the challenge by race officials and about road regulations and driver safety in the territory by RCMP.

"Let the adventure begin,” Staffen said.