Discussion: Adventure Racing World Championships

ARWC going on in Portugal (follow at http://www.arwc2009.com/en/live.php).

Giant roster of teams (59ish teams), tons of talent, 900km, and 90,000 feet of goodness. Shaping up to an awesome race. Who's going to win? Who's a top 5 team? Who's a top 15 team? Nike or Orion repeat, or a new team?

A few people logged their predictions over at http://www.UntamedAdventure.com/ARWC.

Lots of talent and a slightly "kooky" race format will make this hard to predict!

Inline skating at a world championship? That is so awesome! And inspiring... my next race should include inline skating. It's been a long time since I've done it in a race.

Skating is big in Europe; but it always seems to bother the US teams. I can't speak for Canadian teams. I have no problem with inline skating, but I would've been stoned to death for mixing it into Untamed New England.

The last time we saw it in my region was 2003 and it met some resistance. Being an accomplished hockey player I of course loved it! If I remember right, push scooters were allowed at the race as well... but people still elected to trek and carry their skates. Crosscountry skiing is big here but our winters are unpredictable, so a lot of people have roller skis, some of which are even off-road capable.

Put it in Untamed 2010 and I'll defend you! (Shawn can skate very well too!)

That's the nature of the beast though isn't it? You can't always be good / experienced at everything can you? If you've been given enough notice on your disciplines then you've only got yourself to blame if you still suck at them.

It's less a matter of sucking at them and more a matter of what people believe adventure races are about. I'm still holding onto the belief that they should be akin to wilderness journeys. Until traveling through the woods on inline skates becomes more common, I will continue to look upon the discipline as a fairy-dairy inclusion in adventure races.

Untamed, I like the predictions! Upset I didn't get in there before it closed.

On the inline skating issue. I grew up a hockey player (Canadian) and I can 'rollerblade' very well. BUT, I don't think think the discipline has any purpose in adventure racing for the following reasons (IMHO). Firstly, its on pavement, and adventure races are wilderness adventures. Secondly, because its on pavement, it limits navigational complexity. (i.e. go down this highway, or residential area; could say this about river paddling too, but rivers can have whitewater which does require route choices, such as line 'a' versus line 'b'). Thirdly, the sport is gear intensive already, why add more. Lots of gear and practice for newbies, for 3 hours of inline at Portugal.

From a more philosphical standpoint (and I'm thinking more expedition here), I think a true adventure race should follow a natural progression from A to B, such as explorers would have done historically when discovering new regions. No sections should feel forced, bur rather flow with the natural terrain. Thus, any course following this style, wouldn't have minimal pavement sections. Call me old school, but I think inline skating is new and trendy, but AR is about more traditional transporation methods.

Keep in mind, the rest of the world isn't blessed with free access to public lands like us Canadians. So, inline is often used to move between "wilderness like" areas on a course. Easier than transporting bikes. Spectator friendly as well. But likely right up there in danger as you usually are playing in traffic.

I too play hockey, but can't stand that inline skating is in an AR. Few times I've competed in that discipline, my feet scream.

There is always a balance between the "adventure" and the "race".

Woo! People do read!

Granted I've only ever done it in an urban AR. I'll buy Ryan's argument that it's already a gear intensive sport too... we have a hard enough time already attracting new people and 'cost' is a big factor for some. But, you can get a pair at most second hand sport stores for less than $40.

But by the standard of most of the rest of the arguments, wouldn't road biking be equally unappealing?

It's definitely not a staple of adventure racing. And if it is implemented, it needs an appropriate delivery. Urthbuoy suggested a move between "wilderness like" areas, and I think that is what I'd have in mind too. i.e. you've just finished a bike leg, you've got to go 12 km to a park for the trekking leg along a secondary highway with a decent shoulder... bring on the blades! It doesn't happen often enough to worry too much. It's not like AR ever gets boring, but it is nice to see some different things every now and then.

I think I know that screaming feet problem with rollerblades... I find that some models aren't stiff enough and you've either tied / ratcheted them too tight or they are too loose. The former result is that strange feeling down the middle of your foot like it's asleep, only with more pain!

I think the only race I ever wore them was Explore Sweden (airborne) and personally I loved it.. teamwise - not so much. Not all Canadians can skate apparently. My feet hurt a lot, but that was my own fault for not putting time in.

For me it's no diff between biking on roads to link sections and blading on roads to link sections... pavement is pavement and if it's in your race any non-motorized mode is fair game.. big wheels anyone??! ;-)

I'm not sure I buy the fact that navigation is easy on paved roads either. While you may know where you are at all times, route choice can be a challenge based on distance and contours.

Also... try navigating the city of Saint John, NB... it's as bad as any atv trail labyrinth and an outdated map!