Safat, reigning world champion

The Swedish Armed Forces Adventure Team (Safat) is the elite multisport team of the Swedish Armed Forces. Composed of highly trained military personnel and specialists, it represents Sweden in the world’s top adventure racing competitions. The team is known for its exceptional endurance and ability to operate completely autonomously.

Considered one of the best adventure racing teams in the world, Safat has won several major titles, including three Adventure Racing World Championships, most recently in Canada (2025).

The rigorous preparation, inspired by military standards, of Malin Hjalmarsson, John Karlsson, Per Vestling, and Erik Jonsson enables them to excel in the most hostile environments.

Pascal Bahuaud, Race Director of ARWC 2026

Now retired after a career in an engineering school, Pascal began his high-level sporting journey with skiing before switching to rowing at the age of 18. This led to an international rowing career for over 20 years, highlighted by competing in multiple World Championships and the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

When he retired from rowing, he turned to adventure racing with the legendary Raid Gauloise, which he raced 10 times, finishing 7 times on the podium (second five times and third twice).

Organizing adventure races, part of the French National Triathlon federation, has been high on his priority list since 2007, when he embarked on the Raid in France adventure:

After taking part in magnificent sporting events such as the Olympic Games in rowing and multisport adventure races around the world, I wanted to give back to sports what it gave me in my personal development, as well as showcasing our country and its territories. This is why I have been organizing Raid in France since 2007 with a team of passionate volunteers, united under the Sport et Nature ProMotion association, whose goal is to promote our heritage through outdoor activities.”

Organizing an event of this scale requires meeting with local stakeholders — both to secure the necessary funding and to validate the racecourse. These interactions are always enriching on a human level.

Heidi Muller, CEO of the Adventure Racing World Series

Heidi began her sporting journey with athletics and netball. She discovered adventure racing through her partner — now her husband — Stephan Muller. Her passion for the sport turned into a full-time career with the creation of Expedition Africa.

For the past 15 years, she has devoted herself wholeheartedly to developing adventure racing in South Africa, organizing multiple events each year. In October 2023, Heidi hosted the Adventure Racing World Championship in South Africa before starting a new chapter in Australia with her family. She now dedicates all her energy to growing the Adventure Racing World Series (ARWS).

As CEO of the ARWS, she balances her work, with organizing multicultural meetings across different the time zones of the globe, all while being a mother of three.

Heidi’s superpower is her ability to bring people together, recognize their skills, and unite their efforts.

Sébastien Raichon, the ultra-raider

World Adventure Race Champion in 2024 in Ecuador with 400 Team, his long-standing team, Sébastien Raichon has been active on the ARWS circuit since 2009, the year of his first participation in Raid in France.

Since then, he has competed in 28 ARWS races, including 10 ARWC events, achieving 15 podium finishes and 8 victories. An exceptional record, which he continues to build today on the trails of XXL ultra-trail races. He works as a speaker, sports coach, and organiser of training camps and sporting events.

HIS ACHIEVEMENTS

3 victories in the Tor des Glaciers (450 km)
First finisher of the Terminorum (the French Barkley)
2 participations in the Barkley (4 loops completed in 2024)
Record for crossing the Alps self-supported
Record on the GR 20 in Corsica self-supported

Sandrine Béranger, the little bride of adventure

She started the adventure raid and the ARWS circuit in 2007, with the first Raid in France organised in the Pyrenees. Having participated in 9 Raid in France events to date, she has achieved 9 podium finishes, including 4 victories in this race.

With her team, 400Team, she has also completed 22 races on the ARWS circuit, including 9 World Championships, earning 7 wins and a World Champion title in 2024.

She is also an ultra-trail enthusiast, with prestigious victories such as the Grand Raid de la Réunion, Échappée Belle, Terre des Dieux, as well as setting records (GR54…) and taking part in major adventures like Duo des Cimes and Tor des Glaciers.

Professionally, she works as a self-employed speaker and author of guidebooks.

José Pires, the globetrotter of raids

Parmi les figures les plus reconnues et appréciées de la communauté du raid aventure, José a été bénévole sur plus de 100 courses à travers le monde. Il a travaillé comme policier pendant 3 ans avant de rejoindre les Forces Armées Spéciales portugaises, où il a servi pendant 26 ans, principalement en missions dans des zones de conflit ou de guerre telles que la Bosnie, la Guinée-Bissau et la République Démocratique du Congo.

Il a ensuite pris sa retraite en 2007 et a été bénévole sur sa première course de l’ARWS au Portugal, la même année. C’est alors qu’il a décidé que c’était ce qu’il voulait faire : suivre l’AR World Series à travers le monde ! Il aime tout dans cette activité : l’aventure, l’adrénaline, les rencontres et les voyages. Depuis sa première course ARWS au Portugal, il a parcouru des dizaines de pays, offrant son aide sur des courses allant de l’Afrique du Sud au Costa Rica, de l’Australie à l’Alaska et à la France.