Mountain Biking

Mountain Biking in a Wild Adventure Race comes in many forms - paved road, hard pack, loose gravel, forest service roads, ATV/Snowmobile routes (where permissible), bike routes, single track and swamp.

All competitors are required to ride a mountain bike as the official form of travel during this discipline.

A good bike computer is always a smart choice as it is easy to loose track how far you have gone and if you're still on the map. It's not always how fast you go, it's how fast and accurate you are with your navigation.

Knowing how to repair mechanical problems will also save your race. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.

Trekking

Trekking in a Wild Adventure Race (perhaps the most under-rated of any adventure race discipline) requires some of the most intense navigational skills and decision making skills.

Pacing is important, as are eating and drinking and replenishing electrolytes. There are several options for accomplishing this, however experience and personal taste determine what is right for you.

Trekking is one of those opportunities to really work as a team. By letting eveyone in on the plan, you will find your team problem solving and trekking faster through the course.

Fixed Ropes

Fixed-ropes in a Wild Adventure Race is led by a separate team of professionals. In order to create a safe environment we utilize a Ropes Master whose sole purpose is the setup and safe passage of competitors and volunteers at the ropes section.

You may find a traverse, a rappel, an ascent or a zip line at one of our races. Depending on the skills necessary to complete the fixed-ropes course, previously learned skills prior to racing may or may not be necessary. This will be outlined on the race description page and any updates pertaining to a specific race.

Fixed-ropes equipment is outlined on the preliminary and in full on the final manadatory gear lists. All teams that arrive at the fixed-ropes check-point in a Wild Adventure Race are put into a queue. One rope per team. In this way, one team cannot capitlize the ropes section and slow the race down for others.

Our goal is to try and make sure as many competitors as possible can get the opportunity to experience the fixed-ropes section at one of our races. For some, it is the most exciting part of the race and certainly a unique and distinguishing discipline.

Paddling

Kayaking in a Wild Adventure Race generally occurs on flat lakes and rivers.

All competitors use our Airhead TK-2 inflatable kayaks - a new fleet purchased in 2007, these kayaks are just over 12 feet long and can accomodate two people and gear. These boats are tough and hard to tip over. If you take on a huge wave no worries, they're inflatable and will still keep you afloat, albeit a bit slower. Having a way to bail out water or quickly pull ashore to dump out the extra weight will improve your hull speed.

Included in your registration are the kayak rental, seats and paddles. Some teams choose to bring their own paddles which is allowed. However we reserve the right to make teams carry their own gear including paddles through to an appropriate TA. Transportation of boats and sometimes of the Team Mandatory Gear Kayaking bag will be provided.

Navigation on the water and understanding land features as they relate to the map are helpful and can speed up your kayaking section.

Navigation

Navigation in a Wild Adventure Race is considered the Holy Grail of any adventure race discipline.

Route choice is important. Sometimes the route choices are made for you perhaps to bypass private land or a natural hazard such as a waterfall. Other times the choice is up to you and a simple mistake can be costly, such as going in the wrong direction!

A good way to practice navigation is to understand the relationship between features on the map and landmarks you can see all around you. This works great during the daytime, however night-time navigation is much more difficult! Perhaps a known route, though longer may actually be faster. Counting your steps and staying on a bearing can be the difference between a few minutes looking for a checkpoint and a few hours.

Mystery Challenges

Mystery challenges in a Wild Adventure Race are an area where teamwork really shines.

Every year the challenges change, though somteimes we bring back the old ones just to see if you've been practicing.

Whether they are physical, mental or of a skills orientation, mystery challenges can save you time, literally. The end result of a mystery challenges could shave time off your finish. When teams finish within just minutes of each other it has the potential for determining final ranking.