AF Eco-Challenge team heads south. (Airman's World).

NORTH POLE, Alaska -- Battling Alaska's frontier was a milestone challenge for Armed Forces Eco-Challenge winners, Team Speedy Mail. In June, the Air Force team beat 23 other military teams to qualify for the Eco-Challenge New Zealand 2001 World Championships.

From tundra to glacier, the team biked, mountaineered, rafted and trekked its way to victory. This month they head south to put their endurance to the ultimate test.

Seventy-five teams will represent more than 25 countries in the competition. The four-person, mixed-gender teams will attempt to traverse almost 250 miles of terrain aiming at the $50,000 first-place award.

Competitors must follow strict rules during the event while minimizing environmental impact as they progress. Everything brought in must be taken out, and teams cannot leave any evidence of campsites.

Participants can use only nonmotorized transportation like mountaineering, horseback riding, mountain biking, kayaking, rafts and fixed ropes to negotiate the course. The event gives competitors the chance to apply technical skills as they navigate an intense geographical course. To see how the Air Force team is performing visit: www.ecochallenge.com.

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Air Force members from Team Speedy Mall, winners of this year's Armed Forces Eco-Challenge, will head to New Zealand this month to represent the U.S. miliitary at Eco-Challenge New Zealand 2001. Pararescue-men Senior Master Sgt. Skip Kula and Staff Sgt. David Shuman, stationed at Kulis Air National Guard Base, Alaska; Tech. Sgf. Kenneth Fournier, Moody Air Farce Base, Ga.; and communications officer 2nd Lt. Rebecca King, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, dedicated their most recent win to pararescue-men who have died on duly. Members (left) are shown traversing Alaska's wilds during competition.