Where do I begin? A good start to learning about adventure racing and navigation/orienteering is to attend a clinic. If you can’t find one in your area, then start with online education. Lots of resources on the web or click on one of the presentations below and blog posts (right side) and teach yourself. It’s not difficult, although we definitely recommend practicing a few times before the race, even just in your neighborhood using a Google Maps printout with a few checkpoints drawn on it so you can learn how to get a bearing with a compass. Questions? Ask our experienced racers in our Facebook community group or e-mail me.

For those of you attending an upcoming clinic, here is what you’ll want to print out (you can follow along with the presentation on your phone to safe paper, but please print the waiver and map if possible).

Navigation Clinic (please print the following materials)

• Clinic Presentation (ok to view on your phone)
  • Clinic presentation with adventure racing basics slides (for your own reference)
• Orienteering Course Map – Seidman Park (please print)
• Waiver (print and sign if you did not register online at the BikeReg site)

Other Sources

• Join the Southern Michigan Orienteering Club.
• School Curriculum Lesson plans, maps, and Q&As created by an educator
• MI Backyard (now Michigan Adventure Club) race analysis. Cooper and Michelle Green and guest racers explain their logic for route selection from Michigan Adventure Races and other events.
• Mark Lattanzi’s Navigation Tips site. Another great resource for navigation education from an expert navigator.
• Orienteering training links curated by Southern Michigan Orienteering Club.
• Search for “adventure racing” and “orienteering” on the web for additional information.