Destination Defender brought an unforgettable weekend to Temecula Valley.
One of the most respected names in the world of off-road driving, Defender is a brand with a proud British heritage and a virtually limitless spirit of adventure. Built with the purpose of going anywhere, Defender vehicles are known for their capabilities, reliability and, especially with the new generation of Defender off-roaders, a range of cutting-edge technology that turns epic adventures off the beaten track into an effortless act of wanderlust.
Every year, Defender brings together the most passionate members of its community for Destination Defendera series of festivals that brings the brand’s enduring adventurous spirit to some of the country’s best outdoor destinations. This year’s Destination Defender West took place in California’s beautiful Temecula Valley, a mountainous wine paradise southeast of Los Angeles. We had the opportunity to participate in the latest Destination Defender with Defender in Temecula, and our experience was one we won’t soon forget.
In an unlikely event for Southern California, rain dampened the Galway Downs Estrian Center where the festival was held all weekend, but the outdoor spirit of Defender enthusiasts and the festival itself refused to be threatened by wet and cold weather. Our time on site started with an off-road driving experience, where we got behind the wheel of the Defender 130 for a demonstration course that would put any off-road capable SUV to the test.
Thanks to features like Hill Descent Control, an electronic active differential with Torque Vectoring, adjustable ride height and the 3D surround camera that helps see obstacles and clearance around the wheels and in front of the vehicle when the windshield isn’t enough, the Defender 130 made easy work of steep slopes, rocks, slaloms and even a bridge made of two narrow planks.
After that driving experience, it was our turn to take the passenger seat as the flagship Defender OCTA was piloted by instructor Davy Jones, whose qualifications include winning the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans. Powered by a sonorous twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine, the OCTA has an impressive 626 horsepower, and on dirt roads turned to mud by the rain, Jones demonstrated its exciting off-road launch control, its OCTA mode that helps the car stay stable, confident and comfortable on rough terrain at high speed, and even its luxurious Body and Soul audio that allows passengers to feel music through speakers in the seats.
Grammy-winning Icelandic rock band Kaleo performed at a private concert for the event, and even the rain and mud didn’t stop fans from enjoying the band’s hits. The biggest highlight of the event, however, was the Defender Service Awards Gala, the end of the year’s Defender Service Awards presented by Chase, where outstanding charities receive funding and a bespoke Defender 130 from the brand and the awards’ sponsors, all with the aim of expanding their noble missions.
For this year’s fifth annual awards ceremony, organizations in five categories were recognized with the Defender Service Awards: the Animal, Wildlife and Marine Welfare Award presented by Disney, the Veteran and Civil Servant Outreach Award presented by Hearts & Science, the Community Service Award presented by ei3, the Search, Rescue and Emergency Support Services Award presented by PELICAN, and the Outdoor Accessibility and Education Award presented by OUTSIDE Interactive Inc., plus a Defender Service Awards Honoree Award, Presented by S&P Global Mobility for former finalists.
Each finalist had an incredible story and mission behind their tireless work and daunting efforts to improve the surrounding community. Not only did the 30 category finalists receive $5,000 each from Chase this year, but the second-place finalists in each category also received $10,000 each from Artemis Cars, a Premier Partner of the Defender Service Awards, and additional sponsors.
However, the category winners each received $30,000 in funding for their organization’s missions, as well as a customized Defender 130 to expand their goals. These were Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society in Vancouver, Canada for the Animal, Wildlife and Marine Welfare Award, Jason’s Box in Paris, Kentucky for the Veteran and Civil Servant Outreach Award, Feeding Northeast Florida in Jacksonville, Florida for the Community Service Award, Chilliwack Search & Rescue in Chilliwack, Canada for the Search, Rescue and Emergency Support Services Award, Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada in Dorval, Canada for the Outdoor Accessibility and Education Award, and West Place Animal Sanctuary in Tiverton, Rhode Island for the Defender Service Awards Honoree Award.
The full list of finalists for the 2025 Defender Service Awards is:
Animal, Nature and Marine Welfare Award – presented by Disney
- HIT Living Foundation – Los Angeles, CA
- Marine Mammals of Maine – Brunswick, ME
- The Soft Shed – Santa Clarita, CA
- Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society – Vancouver, BC
- WildCare Oklahoma – Noble, okay
- Feeding Northeast Florida – Jacksonville, FL
- Meals on Wheels from the Monterey Peninsula – Pacific Grove, CA
- Meta House, Inc. –Milwaukee, WI
- Red Feather Development Group – Flagstaff, AZ
- The Food Brigade – Paramus, NJ
Search, Rescue and Emergency Services Award – presented by Pelican
- Amwell Valley Ambulance Corps – Ringoes, NJ
- Boulder Emergency Squad – Boulder, CO
- Chilliwack Search and Rescue – Chilliwack, BC
- Pemberton Search & Rescue – Pemberton, BC
- Sunshine Coast Search & Rescue – Sechelt, BC
Veteran & Civil Servant Outreach Award – Presented by Hearts & Science
- Combat Recovery Foundation – Loveland, CO
- Jason’s Box – Paris, Kentucky
- Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans – St. Paul, MN
- Project Shrine – Pagosa Springs, CO
- Lodging for Soldiers – San Diego, CA
Outdoor Accessibility & Education Award – presented by Outside Interactive Inc.
- Adaptive Adventures – Westminster, CO
- Catalyst Sports Inc. – Atlanta, GA
- City Kids Wilderness Project, Inc. – Washington, DC
- Adapted Sports in North Carolina – Cary, NC
- Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada – Dorval, QC
With an incredible weekend of outdoor activities, off-road riding, live music and daring philanthropy, totaling $390,000 in prize money distributed to charities, this year’s Destination Defender was undoubtedly one to remember.
#missed #Destination #Defender #West #Temecula