Mission43 and Challenged Athletes Foundation-Idaho Team
The Smoke ‘N' Fire 400 is a grueling, off-road bicylcle race through extremely challenging terrain in Central Idaho. No adaptive athlete had ever attempted the event, let alone finished it, until now.
The CAF-I and Mission43 Team consisted of two Mission43 veterans and four world-class adaptive athletes. The austere nature of this event, coupled with the fact that some portions of the course are un-ridable for elite able-bodied athletes, dictated that this unique team of military veterans and CAF athletes was going to have to work together and suffer together to accomplish the task.
After more than 420 miles of steep climbs, deep single-track, smoke-filled air, fallen trees and plenty of wildlife encounters, Mission43 members Mark Andrews and Anthony Skeesick finished with Lucas Onan and completed Idaho’s iconic Smoke ’N’ Fire race.
More than 1/3 of all riders were unable to complete the course. Lucas is the first athlete with physical disabilities to finish in the history of the race. This team provided much inspiration for many in the Mission43 tribe, and Mission43 is determined to put together teams to take on this challenge in 2021.
If you're interested in supporting the cause of the Smoke ‘N’ Fire CAF/Mission43 team as they work to raise $40,000 for the #CAFCommunityChallenge - you can learn more and donate here.
Learn more about what happened during the challenge from the dudes who actually did it. Click here for Mission43's latest podcast.
