The 2023 OCR Buddy Community Choice award winner War-X has quickly devloped a cult following in the mid-west of passionate OCR racers.
We sat down with Jake Moore to find out more about what War-X is and the vision he has for the future.
1. Please introduce yourself and how you are involved in obstacle course racing.
A. My name is Jake Moore and I am one of 6 owners of War-X. I am the Trilogy OCR event coordinator. The other owners are all part of my family and each bring specific skills to the table that make this work.
2. When did you get the idea for War-X and how did it go from an idea into the opening of the facility?
A. December of 2016. A couple of us were talking over Christmas gatherings about doing an extreme survival event and combining it with OCR. We designed an intense 24hr survival event that included obstacles as waypoints and ways for participants to retrieve needed supplies and mission critical items. In an effort to reach a larger crowd willing to participate in our craziness, we shifted to a more well known model of OCR while still maintaining the “wild west” part. The current facility is an old apple orchard. The property is family owned by the Richard Brothers Fruit Farm. They have become family to us and allow us to be as crazy and innovative as we want. There are no limits for us.
3. Since it has opened, how has War-X grown into what it is today?
A. The people who are War-X is the only way we have grown. We absolutely love to spend time at the facility with family and friends. All our volunteers are family or like family. Nobody gets paid for anything. All money goes directly back into the course or the facility to support Operation Enduring Warrior.
4. Do you have any future plans for the event greater than it is today?
A. The plan for Trilogy OCR is to constantly change. No racer will ever come to our event and know exactly what’s in front of them, even if they have done our race before. We will continue to build bigger obstacles and evolve to stay sharp.
5. Explain the fire, explosions and war scenario. How does that tie into OCR?
A. War-X is short for War eXperience. From the beginning, we talked about the camaraderie veterans have due to shared experiences in high stress situations. Most people will never experience that. We wondered if we could duplicate that on a small scale with gunfire, explosions, smoke screens, and flamethrowers. The result is an OCR that is distracting, exciting, surprising, and sometimes scary…like a battlefield. We love letting participants explode bags of tannerite or use the flamethrowers along the course. I think what we do ties perfectly into OCR and what everyone wants out of the entire experience.
6. SInce War-X is only one weekend a year, what else happens at the facility?
A. We hang out, hunt, drink a bit, ride UTVs, draw scary things on our whiteboards, and then build them. Operation Enduring Warrior utilizes the facility a couple times a year for the selection of new Masked Athletes. It’s grueling, and I enjoy watching.
7. Are you involved anywhere else in OCR? If so, what are you doing?
A. I try to be as supportive as possible to local OCRs. The Phoenix Race directors are awesome as well as Highlander Assault. We support them in any way possible.
8. What do you do outside of obstacle racing and blowing shit up?
A. Formerly a Marine, then an Army Chinook pilot, now an EMS helo pilot for Metro Lifeflight. Father of three and husband to my lovely wife Colleen who supports all of my adventures.
9. Why should people make sure that War-X is on the bucket list and is an event worth traveling to?
Hmm, I would say its not a bucket list race. Bucket list races are ones you do once to say you’ve done it. The repeat participants from California to Florida and Texas to Canada tell us we aren’t a bucket list race. We are a weekend destination. Nobody can do, is doing, or aloud to do the things that happen at War-X Trilogy.
10. What else should we know about you and War-X? The floor is open…….
I’m extremely proud of the OCR Buddy Community Choice Awards! It’s like adding rocket fuel to our backs for this year. All of us are working everyday to blow up another Trilogy. It’s never enough for us to just add an obstacle. Seems like we have to reinvent the wheel every time. Lot’s of work, but it also keeps us focused and strategic to bring everyone something next-level for 2024.
Really appreciate you taking the time to reach out and hope to see you at War-X!
