Wondering what it is, how to get involved, what level of fitness you'll need for your first race? What skills are required? What is Adventure Racing?

Adventure Racing is a multi-sport event which consists of a team that races from the start to finish line as one unit using human-powered locomotion only. There is no set course layout, format, or requirements for an Adventure Race. Most races require the racers to navigate with a map and compass from one check point to another, over an unmarked course, allowing the teams to take any route they choose between checkpoints. Checkpoints must be visited in the order as designated by the race director.

Teams usually comprise two, three, or four racers, in either all male, all female, or co-ed categories. The traditional format for Adventure Racing is a four person co-ed team.

Have you ever seen Eco-Challenge, Primal Quest, Discovery World Adventure Races, or Balance Bar Adventure Sprint races on television? Those are all various formats of Adventure Racing.

Every race organization who puts on races is different, requiring different levels of fitness, and skills. Our "Sport Courses" are designed for beginner-to-intermediate level adventure racers, or racers who don't want to bite off the whole Pro Course. Our "Pro Courses" are designed for more experienced racers, and are considerably more demanding. Check out the "Disciplines" page under each of our races on this site for an estimate of the distances you'll need to travel in each category to get a good idea of the fitness level required for each race.

Wicked adventure races place an emphasis on navigation, and each team needs at least one good navigator to guide them over an unmarked course. Choosing your own path is a big part of the "Adventure" in adventure racing, and can lead to significant gains and losses of time over the course. Sport Course teams have their UTM's plotted for you and require good skills with map and compass. Pro Course teams are required to plot their own UTM's. Check out your local REI for good introductory courses in map and compass skills.

If you're curious about adventure racing, but not quite ready to jump in just yet, come and check a race out and see what it's all about first hand. All of our racers welcome specators, and we're happy to provide some course info so that you can find the good spots to watch the teams move through the course. Since the course is a secret until just before the race starts, we give out this type of spectator information only after the race has begun, and sometimes only limited information. Keep in mind, though, that AR is not a particularly spectator-oriented sport and you'll spend long hours between team sightings.

Volunteering for a race is another great way to be involved and see a race up-close. You'll receive nifty race swag and a 25% discount to future Wicked race events. Check out the Volunteers page on this site for complete information and to sign-up. You'll definitely be more involved as a volunteer, but you'll also most likely be "stuck" in one place. You'll have much more freedom to move around the course at will as a spectator.

For great resources and information for beginners interested in the sport, check out the PDX Adventure Racer website for an Adventure Racing 101 frequently asked questions page for more information. PDX Adventure Racer is a Portland-based non-profit group and an excellent source of information, training, advice, and help in finding team mates. Membership is free, but you'll find it a very valuable group.

Most of all, remember that every adventure racer started somewhere, and most are very helpful to any newcomers interested in the sport.

Images © Bitton Photo