JPFreek - Index

JPFreek - magazine - Index

In the sports early days, especially here in the U.S., many race
organizers supplied canoes and kayaks. This maintained a level
playing field in terms of equipment, but it also stunted kayaking’s
development as most of these boats more closely resembled
floating bathtubs than racing craft. Thankfully, many adventure
race organizers have evolved beyond the cursed Sevylar
inflatables, and now allow teams to supply their own kayaks and
canoes. Despite this, most teams still seem content in their
plastic sea kayaks, so an enterprising rookie team can gain a
substantial advantage by investing the time to develop the skills
necessary to paddle racing kayaks (ICF K2’s, tandem surf skis, etc.).
“Adventure racing
consists of four core
sports: running/trekking,
mountain biking, kayaking/
canoeing and fixed ropes
progression, and the
non-athletic sport of
orienteering/navigation”
It is also important to train in as many different environments to
which you have access. Proficiency on a placid lake will not
translate to a raging river or a choppy bay. Last, always train with
your teammates on the water. The obvious safety factor aside,
you almost always paddle in a two to four person boat in an
adventure race; hence, you need to develop a rhythm with your
teammates.
Mountain biking
Perhaps it is only my perception, but it seems as though most
adventure racers already have a background in mountain biking.
Given the prevalence of the discipline today, it might surprise
many newer adventure racers that mountain biking did not
become a staple in the sport until the mid-1990’s.
Whether to buy a lighter weight hard-tail or a heavier, more
forgiving duel suspension bike is a matter of personal preference.
In any event, this choice is of lesser importance than properly
rigging the bike for adventure racing. One essential consideration
is a lighting system. I still bear the scars on my
knees from a harrowing crash in the Scottish
Highlands that resulted from my refusal to
carry a heavier, but higher quality light on my
bike (the cheap version did not survive the
constant impact of the rough terrain).
Experienced teams grapple with weight to the
point of obsession, but in some cases the extra
weight is offset by its benefits, and this is one
of them. The added light enables faster speeds
over undulating terrain at night, and this more
Raid World Cup
- Kalbarri W.Australia