WHAT IS ADVENTURE RACING?
Adventure racing is a team oriented, multi-discipline, athletic venture.
The core disciplines in an adventure race are mountain biking, paddling, and trekking, although a variety of other components are often included, such as fixed rope, horseback riding, mountaineering, scuba diving and inline skating.
Navigating with a map and compass is a common feature throughout the entirety of the race. Adventure racing is also a team sport, with the most popular division being that of coed 4 person teams. This mixed gender component allows for relational dynamics to occur. Anger, frustration, joy, exhilaration, good and bad are all shared among teammates throughout the course of an adventure race. The relational dynamic is compressed in a short period of time, the length of an adventure race, and is further propelled by exhaustion, dehydration, sleep deprivation, and hunger. Course layout and design, in most adventure races, are kept hidden from competitors until just prior to the start of the race. This secrecy provides the racers with several unknowns which foster team decision-making during the race. All this creates the catalyst that makes for thrilling and exciting adventure racing.
You may have heard of Eco-Challenge or even Primal Quest. These are multi-day expedition races that represent the pinnacle of international AR competition. Races in this area are usually in the 12 to 24 hour range and are the Trioba, Beast race, and Wicked Adventure Race series.
Adventure Racing
