Adventure Racing sounds thrilling, but what about the navigation? Fear not! This exciting sport welcomes everyone, from seasoned explorers to families seeking an epic outdoor adventure. Here at South East Adventure Racing (SEAR), we understand that navigating unfamiliar terrain can feel daunting. That’s why our Wolf Cub Challenge and The Pack Challenge are designed to ease you in, making adventure racing accessible for all.
Adventure Racing 101: Map & Marked Routes
While some races demand masterful map and compass skills, many – especially beginner events – provide a helping hand. These races typically offer a marked route on the ground, supplemented by a detailed map. Checkpoints, your targets throughout the race, might be scattered along this route, making navigation a breeze.
The Wolf Cub Challenge: Family Friendly Adventure Race
This is the perfect entry point for families and first-timers. The Wolf Cub Challenge features checkpoints (both compulsory and optional) that you can collect in any order. The route itself is marked, and a clear map helps you pinpoint each checkpoint location. No need for complex navigation here! However, some optional checkpoints might be tucked slightly off the beaten path, giving you a gentle introduction to navigating with a map.
Feeling adventurous? The beauty of SEAR events is the flexibility! Ditch the suggested route and devise your own strategy to collect checkpoints – it’s all part of the fun!
The Pack Challenge: Stepping Up Your Navigation Game
Similar to the Wolf Cub Challenge, The Pack Challenge offers a marked route with checkpoints. Here, the marked route might be a little less obvious, but key junctions will be clearly marked for your confidence. Just like the Wolf Cub Challenge, feel free to explore alternative routes and test your newfound navigational skills!
Focus on Fun, Not Flawless Navigation:
At SEAR, we prioritise enjoyment and the thrill of adventure over flawless navigation, especially in beginner events. GPS and phones are absolutely welcome to help you navigate! Our goal is to get everyone outdoors and experience the joy of adventure racing together.
Top Tips for Beginner Navigators (and Little Adventurers!)
- Be a Map Master: Even on marked routes, trace your progress on the map. This helps you stay oriented and ensures you don’t miss any hidden treasures (checkpoints!).
- Narrate the route out loud to your team, describing turns and landmarks. This keeps everyone engaged and makes navigation a collaborative effort. For families, this helps younger members feel involved and start to grasp the basics of navigation.
- Orientate Your Map: Master the art of “map orientation.” Line up the map with the actual terrain features you see around you. This ensures you’re reading the map correctly and navigating with confidence.
- Learn from Mistakes: Everyone gets turned around sometimes! Embrace these moments as learning opportunities.
- Practice Makes Progress: The more you practice navigation, the more comfortable you’ll become. Head out on local trails with a map and compass, or try a geocaching adventure. The more you play, the more prepared you’ll be for race day.
Are you ready to take on the challenge of adventure racing? Browse our website to learn about our upcoming adventure races, or subscribe to our newsletter and always be the first first to hear about upcoming races.
Your next adventure starts here, so dive into the world of adventure racing with South East AR and discover the joy of exploring the UK’s wilderness together.
