The Yukon government and German tire company Fulda have ensured the annual Fulda Extreme Arctic Challenge will continue for at least two more years.

Tourism and Culture Minister Elaine Taylor and Fulda chairman Bernd Hoffmann signed a new two-year marketing agreement Wednesday.

The challenge welcomes international athletes and media to the Yukon for a week of winter competition, testing the teams in strength and endurance.

'The (nine-year) relationship for us was always good, even with different people,' said Hoffmann at a news conference Wednesday evening. 'We always get good support, even when we started with the Yukon Quest.'

The Yukon government will continue to provide community liaison support and the agreement identifies up to $150,000 toward marketing and promotion.

'The Yukon is pleased to continue working with Fulda in promotional and marketing initiatives relating to the Fulda Challenge,' Taylor said in a statement. 'Our territory has benefited tremendously from the awareness of the Yukon that is generated in our key international markets.'

Media broadcasts and articles of the Challenge are seen throughout Europe and North America, generating $186 million in estimated value of media exposure toward promoting and increasing awareness of the territory as a travel destination.

Events are held in communities throughout the Yukon. The challenge generates $1.1 million in equipment rentals, transportation, food and beverage sales, accommodations, staging of events and other services.

'This is what the Yukon needs,' explained Hoffmann. 'It's not the average tourist (who visits for the challenge). People who come here are on a different level, the level of people is much higher.

'What you have here in the Yukon is something very rare compared to what we have in Germany. In Germany we have people. You have space here and people from Europe are not used to it.'

Hoffmann said there will continue to be changes to the Fulda Challenge over the next couple of years.

'We are working every year to have a change in location because you want to bring the media different sights in the country,' he said. 'You have to think about what you can provide as pictures. We have now the nice link to Skagway and White Pass. You have to give them (media) different events too.'

Hoffmann said the Fulda board is open to new ideas and is learning. He suggested it may even be possible to have another Yukon team next year, depending on the applications the company receives. An Alaskan team is also a possibility.

'We will see,' he stated when asked about the chance of an American team competing next year. 'Probably we even can get somebody from the area of Alaska with us to help with media coverage. We are open to this.'

Both Taylor and Hoffmann exchanged gifts at the signing, with Hoffmann receiving a Natalie Parenteau painting from YTG.

Fulda Challenge events are taking place in Whitehorse today at the race-track, Miles Canyon and on Fish Lake. Tomorrow, the teams head to Braeburn and Five Finger Rapids, followed by Eagle Plains on Saturday. The Challenge wraps up with the ice climb in Dawson City on Sunday.