Adventure racing may be the most addictive sport there is. Why? Lots of reasons. It involves mental and physical challenges. A variety of sports are involved. Teamwork creates stronger friendships. The elation of finding a flag in the middle of the woods is addictive. It has a laid-back vibe not common in many sports. Racing through beautiful forests and on scenic rivers and lakes is like no other sport. The list goes on and on.

Adventure racing is a sport that combines two or more endurance activities. Teams of two or more racers navigate with a map and compass, cross-country run, mountain bike and either canoe or kayak. Other adrenaline-fueled activities may be included depending on the region and its terrain, such as rock climbing and whitewater rafting.

The goal is to reach as many checkpoints as possible within a set timeframe, anywhere from four hours to ten days. Unlike most sports, adventure racing does not have a set course. It is up to each team to determine the most efficient way to get from one checkpoint to another, relying heavily on reading a map correctly and making hundreds of decisions about terrain, altitude, trails, safety, weather, food, water sources, pace, direction, and more! It may provide the best balance of brains and brawn of any sport in the world.

The roots of adventure racing are deep and people debate the origin of the modern adventure race. Racers similar to today’s adventure race format occurred as early as 1968. The off-road triathlon also helped fuel the sport of adventure racing with its multiple disciplines on wilderness courses. Most Americans first learned about the sport when the Eco-Challenge aired on television from 1995-2002. That race spawned a grassroots movement that continues to this day throughout the United States and in many countries around the world. The Eco-Challenge returned in 2019 on Amazon Prime and hopefully we’ll see it back again.