Flying to Europe from JFK on Sunday March 15 will be 11 teams of two travelers apiece, all seeking redemption for their years of training as a traveler. Count me along those road warriors who like to grin as a “Master of their own Universe” when looking back at their success rate in overcoming the challenges of travel. But the new Competitours travel competition makes that grin become a game face as these teams face off for the inaugural shakedown of what may become the most fun you can do and still count the miles.

Of the 11 teams, FlyerTalk has stepped up to provide challenges for their members and hopefully some bragging rights by fully sponsoring 5 teams and providing co-sponsorship to two additional teams. Why so many? It’s a FlyerTalk thing — we love our travels and we love exchanging the experience, all of which has made FlyerTalk a must stop along the way of travel information.

This blog will provide a ‘listening post’ for all travelers to read, watch and listen first hand from all the teams that are competing in this travel competition. We’ll bring you blog posts, pictures and even videos from around Europe — the first stop of the new travel season.

So, look over the team links on the right hand side of this page, learn who is Thelma and You Be Louise, find out why someone who has bicycled across the U.S. is ready to rumble with the best travelers we could find, who wrangles chickens, who dodged rental RV drivers on a bike, who even admits to being a “washed-up air traffic controller,” who was up-close-and-personal with a 45-foot whale shark, who rode yaks in Tibet, which team has visited 6 continents apiece and finally, which team has an award-winning sailing journalist now ready to get his land legs during this travel competition.

I think you’ll find the teams as interesting as the travel challenge and welcome you all to follow along, in a modern day version of “You Are There.”