| What Are The Skills Needed To Get
Started In Adventure Racing We are continuing from "How do I get started?" The analogy is about crawling, and taking our first steps. First we must learn how to stand. In this section I will cover the basic skills you will need to learn before you attempt to take that first step. |
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"An overnight success usually takes about ten years"
- Anonymous
At first glance you might
not think there is much technique to trekking but there is. I feel that
trekking is the most common section where a team will drop out of a race.
So don't take it for granted and think that just because you have been
hiking before that you can handle this part. Some of the things you need
to pay attention to are eating and drinking on the move, taking care of
your feet, and learning how to accomplish everything without the need
to stop. The key in adventure racing is to keep moving. No matter how
slow you are it is still faster than stopping.
The two pieces of gear you will have for trekking is the backpack and a pair of shoes. Regardless of the brand you like, be sure to get the ones that fit you. Some shoes and backpacks are touted as being the best for the sport, but none of this matters if the shoes give you blisters or the pack makes you hunch over with discomfort. The fit is very important.
Some brands are preferred
because they have all the best features that adventure racers like. We
are usually getting wet from stream crossings or even swimming across
a river or lake. So a feature that is needed is drain holes. Whether its
your pack or your shoes, you do not want water to collect in them.
For shoes you want to pay attention to the weight, and what kind
of traction you get from the sole. Some types of rubber and traction are
suited for certain environments. Adventure racing will take you through
alpine, forest, desert, swamp, and snow. For more information on taking
care of your feet and preventing blisters I refer to the bookstore
where a great book on the subject is available. The title is "Fixing
Your Feet", by John Vonhof. This book covers preventative maintenance
like taping, and more, like how to get a proper fit for your shoes. It
is written specifically for runners, hikers, and adventure racers. Click
here to Order
Now.
The size of a backpack depends
on the size of your torso. In the past most racing packs have not been
available in different sizes. Some are being offered in small or large.
Racing packs are made to be very lightweight so you may not find the comfort
you got from your favorite hiking pack. Certain features like a food pouch
on the waist belt, or a pocket for a water bladder can be very useful
in an adventure race. Feel free to go out and buy the latest Salomon,
Dana, GoLite, but don't be afraid to get out the scissors, needle and
thread. You can do with what you have for your first race, as long as
it doesn't weight 10 pounds to begin with. A good goal is to try to keep
your fully packed pack down to about 20 pounds. The lighter the better.
If your current pack does not have a food a pouch on it, you can
either make your own, or use a lightweight fanny pack. Just twist it around
so that the pouch is in front instead of on your fanny. Another good feature
that is very handy is mesh pockets on the outside. Here again you gain
install these on any pack with a needle and thread. The reason these pouches
are so handy is that you can put all the things you will use during the
day in them. You can have your teammates get these things for you so that
you don't have to stop. Another little trick is to put the pack on backwards
while you are trekking, and now you can get into your pack.
In races where you have to swim, think about using a lightweight drybag.
In summary you need a pack and shoes that fit, learn how to pack your gear in the pack so you don't have to stop, and figure out how to keep your things dry (especially food).
Mountain biking is a section that weeds out those with skills and those without. If you have skills you can get past obstacles much faster than those that have to dismount. Time is made with skill, not with the bike that was made out of Titanium. Any bike will due, but you may want to have a front suspension at a minimum. If you need to learn bike selection, proper dress, care and cleaning, the latest skills and riding techniques, then this book will get you started. Bicycling Magazine's Mountain Biking...
There are a few aspects specific to adventure racing you will need
to address. Pedals, lighting, towing and a luggage rack. For most
races the clipless pedals are better because they give you the most energy
transfer. But some of those non-supported events could be better with
something like Power Straps. In this case you would not have access to
a support crew, so you carry your extra shoes with you. The benefit is
better efficiency with biking shoes, the cost is the extra weight of carrying
some trekking shoes with you. Otherwise, practice with those clipless
pedals so that you aren't falling over all the time.
Lighting is also a cost benefit analysis. You can't have light without
batteries and they are heavy. The rechargeable type present a difficulty
in charging your batteries. Some places in the US could make it possible,
but in most cases you will find it easier to use regular batteries. A
typical Cateye that uses AA batteries and a headlamp on the helmet should
be sufficient. You will probably use the same headlamp you use for all
the other disciplines.
Towing can be accomplished with something as simple as bungy cord.
The simplest version of the tow would be to attach one end of the cord
onto the seat post or seat rails and leave the other end free to hand
over to the towee. When its not in use just wrap it around the seat post
or put it in your pocket. You can attach a small fishing pole or other
similar device to the towers bike. This allows you a hands free detachment,
keeping the cord out of the back wheel. The reason you need a tow would
be to equalize the speed between your fastest and strongest biker to your
slowest one on the team. Try to equalize these speeds when you select
teammates to avoid these situations. Also if someone bonks on the bike,
you can tow them and allow them an active rest.
You can attach a rack to the rear of your bike in order to carry heavy
gear. The rack adds weight to your bike, but when you have to carry 20
pounds or more in your pack, your butt will thank you. The idea is to
get the weight off your seat. Once you learn how to save more weight,
you may not need a rack in the future. A little tip would be to use that
lightweight dry bag. Just pull it out of the pack and bungy it down on
the rack. Then you can still wear your pack keeping food and water available.
In summary practice, practice, practice. You make time with skills.
Paddling is probably the
most neglected skill in adventure racing. If you can develop your technique
you can make some big gains in a race. The idea is to perfect the motion
for greater efficiency. When you save work or energy, it will pay off
in the end. The skills you should learn are proper paddling technique,
and rescue methods. The skills you will have to demonstrate for a typical
paddling certificate may include boat maneuvering, paddle strokes, how
to read a river, self rescue, throw ropes, hypothermia prevention, and
navigation.
Adventure racing can take place on all sorts of water. After you
select a race you will know which type of water to train for. On rivers
you could use a canoe, sea kayak, or inflatable so get prepared to paddle
anything. Some events could even have whitewater rafting. Lakes and oceans
present new skills to learn such as launching in the surf and navigating
while tide wind and current are moving you around.
Water is easy to find on a fresh water river, but it is something
to consider in your planning when going to salt water. Learn how to keep
your food and extra dry clothing dry.
Coming soon!
Coming Soon!
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If you have any specific questions that I haven't answered here, please send them to me. Ask the expert>> |
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