What is Adventure Racing?

Here’s what you need to know about Adventure Racing:

• Past, Present, and Future of Adventure Racing
• What is Adventure Racing, Exactly?
• The Teamsmanship Mentality
• Adventure Racing Team Structure & Roles
• The Purpose of Adventure Racing

Past, Present, and Future of Adventure Racing

Adventure Racing has been around since 1989 and was invented to be reminiscent of the world exploration era.

Since then, Adventure Racing has evolved to become one of the toughest endurance sports in the world. It is notoriously addictive in nature for athletes who enjoy team competition, diversity, and adventure.

As more and more athletes are drawn to the sport, Adventure Racing will continue to grow in popularity in the coming years.

What is Adventure Racing, Exactly?

Adventure Racing is a unique multi-disciplinary team sport, which may include a combination of running, biking, hiking, kayaking, rafting, climbing, etc. across varying wilderness terrain.

Racers must traverse through diverse environments, cultures, and weather climates as they overcome physical, mental, and relational challenges.

Adventure Racing courses vary in design and are unmarked, requiring teams to navigate their own way from checkpoint to checkpoint.

Each race also varies in distance and length, with some races covering 40 miles in 24 hours or 100 miles in 2 days.

Other races may be much longer, such as the 2018 Adventure Racing World Championships, which took place on Réunion Island and stretched over 250 miles, taking some teams 7-8 days to finish. Learn more about the Adventure Racing World Series → 

While though competitors may choose if and when to rest, teams often race continuously, day and night, forcing participants to persevere through fatigue with little-to-no sleep.

The Teamsmanship Mentality

At its core, Adventure Racing emphasizes team achievement over individual achievement. In fact, the rules of engagement make it impossible to separate yourself from the pack, quite literally.

Teams must race together and finish together as a unit. The rules require teammates to remain in close proximity with each other throughout the entirety of the race; otherwise, a team could be disqualified if one team member drifts too far from the rest or if they drop out.

To be a successful Adventure Racing team, you must prioritize teamwork above all else.

New Zealand’s most successful Adventure Racing Team, captained by Nathan Fa’avae, has won the World Championships six (6) times within the last 7 years. They exemplify what a winning teamsmanship mentality looks like.

Adventure Racing Team Structure & Roles

Adventure Racing teams are made up of four (4) people with at least one male and one female racer.

Each racer is given a unique role to help the team succeed. Roles may vary, though teams almost always designate a lead Navigator and a Captain.

A Navigator determines the route. Navigators are proficient in reading maps, using a compass, and leading their team through unmarked terrains to reach destination checkpoints without technological assistance (i.e. GPS instruments).

A Captain leads the team’s racing strategy. Captains help make decisions, set the racing pace, determine where and when to rest, leverage the strengths and weaknesses of their team, etc.

Other roles may include a Secondary Navigator, or a Packhorse; someone who is physically stronger than the rest, capable of carrying additional backpacks, and willing to pull teammates on a tow rope.

The Purpose of Adventure Racing

Believe it or not, the purpose of Adventure Racing is not always to be the first to cross the finish line.

Rusty Chadwick, Teaming Expert and Assistant Director of WinShape Teams, refers to Adventure Racing as, “A small group of people who work together in a difficult environment to pursue a common goal.”

However, that common goal looks different for every team. For Fa’avae and his accomplished team, winning is always on the table; however, simply doing their best is the common goal.