Jeffrey Aronson
Last April, 120 competitors from the US and Canada – selected from thousands of applicants – pushed themselves to the limits as finalists for the Defender Trophy US and Canadian teams. The combination of off-road driving, team building, physical fitness and recovery skills alternately exhausted and thrilled everyone. We spoke with each of these competitors:
Kreek Cameron, Eagle, CO
and Tirin Cameron, Bozeman, MT
“We grew up around the Camel Trophy as our father, Ken Cameron, competed in Kalimantan 30 years ago; we’ve off-roaded together since we got our learner’s permits.”
Joel Cates, Cochrane, AL
“I grew up racing all sorts of things my entire life. I missed out on the era of the original competitions. This is a huge moment for me to realize my potential; I’m making a full commitment and doing everything possible to win a spot.”
Lyn Woodward, Los Angeles, CA
“As a first generation American with British parents, I grew up around Land Rovers. I’ve been fascinated by the insane photos of the Camel Trophy – I’m not a ‘swim with the leeches’ person. However, the sense of challenge and accomplishment really appeals to me.”
Jenna Fribley, Springfield, OR
“What makes Land Rovers special is the community around them – the collective spirit of adventure, resourcefulness and the camaraderie that comes with shared experiences. Coming out of the Defender Trophy competition, I have 39 new adventure buddies, and that bond is the real legacy of the event and the marque.
Joe Hesselman, Dubuque, IA
“My biggest take-away from this weekend is the proof that the Land Rover/Off-Road/Outdoor Adventure communities are made up of truly great people.”
Garrett Schmidt, Waverly, NY
“I run ultra marathons, climb Adirondack Mountain peaks and won a heat at the 2022 Defender Trophy competition. When the 2026 Defender Trophy competition was announced, I immediately sent in the required video and was thrilled to be selected.”
Bryon Dorr, Portland, OR
“I’ve always loved the Land Rover sprit, and the adventures behind it. This feels like the original Land Rover TRek days. I’m super excited to be chosen to compete; this is a dream come true. I think it’s a cool component to combine it with helping TUSK.
At Destination Defender in May, JLR announced it selected Nathaniel Biggs and Tirin Cameron as the US Team; alternate is Charlie Miller. AJ Leville and Adrian Kowryha form the Canadian Team; alternate is Joel Cates.
The international finals will be held on the African continent in October. We commend every competitor and congratulate the finalists. The Defender Trophy restores the Green Oval spirit to Land Rover.
– Jeffrey Aronson, Editor
