Navigation Lesson #6 Aiming off is another navigation strategy you can employ. Aiming off means deliberately aiming to one side of a feature on or near to confidently predict which side it will appear on. For example, if you aim right at a bend on a stream, but don’t see it when you hit the … Read More

Navigation Lesson #8: Micro-Navigation Route Choice. Route choice is establishing a planned flow for the race at both a macro-navigation level (major movements between transition areas) and a micro-navigation level (moving between two checkpoints or tying together a series of checkpoints usually on foot). Route choice is done both in pre-race planning and adjusted on … Read More

Navigation Lesson #9: Macro-Navigation Route Choice The last lesson was about micro-navigation, generally on-foot navigation between two checkpoints relatively close to each other. This lesson is on macro-navigation, or selecting routes over longer distances usually connecting a series of roads and trails via bike (but sometimes long trekking or paddling legs) rather than off-trail trekking. … Read More

Night orienteering. Intimidating at first but once you get the hang of it, flowing through an orienteering course at night is thrilling. It’s where your team will be most challenged in a race and where it’s most critical you work together. Go safe and simple. Sometimes in the daytime you can get away with running … Read More

1. MOST BENEFICIAL: Switch tires to a semi-slick tread pattern (less pronounced knobs), depending on your experience and the difficulty and slickness of the trails you will be on. Wider tires don’t slow you down, but heavy, knobby tires will. Ask your local bike shop what they recommend. 2. Inflate tires to a higher tire … Read More