Adventurer

Fast thinking, physically challenging, UK team adventure events

Physically Challenging  

Pitched at active groups of friends looking for a fun and challenging way to spend a weekend, these events are both mentally and physically demanding. Combining skills such as trail running, mountain biking and kayaking, the ‘Adventurer Series’ is taxing without requiring super human levels of fitness. The most successful teams tend to be balanced in terms of skills and shrewdly divide tasks between team members. Normally designed for teams of four. 

WHAT IS THE EVENT?

Adventurer events are multi-disciplined 2-3 day team challenges based in the UK. Normally for teams of up to four people working in pairs, events are split into stages where you collect as many points as you can from scattered locations using a combination of adventure skills. Checkpoints will be located across a wide area from road junctions to moorland peaks. You will need to decide your strategy and plan the best use of your teams skills across a variety of different adventure disciplines. You will use your vehicle to both find checkpoints and support team members who are operating away from the vehicle. You will need to work as a team to identify checkpoint locations using a combination of mobile technology and traditional adventure skills. On-line information will open up new possibilities to hidden checkpoints and also allow you to track the progress of your competitors which may require you to amend your plan as you go, your team will need to ‘think fast’…... it’s the smartest team who will win not necessarily the fittest.

WHERE ARE THE EVENTS?

Adventure events are staged throughout Great Britain making the most of our National Parks and rugged landscape. We endeavour to offer events spread across the country with the start and finish of the events within easy reach of national road links but, the stages will take you deep into wild and remote territory enabling you to explore less travelled routes.

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

• For an Adventurer event you will need:

  • a multi-skilled team of two to four, made up of: a driver; navigator/planner; runners; cyclists; kayakers (depending on the event)

  • planning and navigation gear - smartphones, compasses, map cases, marker pens, roamer, and other navigation / route planning items

  • a vehicle; you can use any type of vehicle, but it will need to carry your equipment such as bikes and kayaks

  • adventure equipment with associated safety gear etc as specified for each event on the event page

  • light camping gear and food for self-support and short camps during the event - usually carried in your vehicle; see event page for exact details

  • your accommodation at the start/finish

  • travel to and from the start / finish

  • personal insurance cover as you deem necessary for taking part in adventure activities within the UK

HOW DOES THE EVENT WORK?

Events are broken into time-limited stages, within stages there may be special sections. The details of each stage remain confidential until the start of the stage. Teams plan their own routes within stages to collect as many points as possible within the time, travelling by foot, bike, vehicle as specified, for the event. Checkpoints will vary in value. Some sections within the stages may be time trials to test speed and skills over a set course.

Teams will often need to split into pairs - which is the minimum for safety but still communicate and co-ordinate between each other to maximise their team score. All pairs will have a live tracker for safety and so event staff can monitor progress.

Checkpoints are collected in a number of ways, for example: virtually, via a Smart App; by scanning hidden QR codes; by answering questions about the checkpoint; by proof of arrival via an Instagram post (selfie) . Teams scores are updated on a ‘live leader board’ viewable on the web. Points collected roll forward from each stage to generate a final score and overall event placings.

The Event Guide gives full details of how Smart Events work and should be read by all competitors before entry.

What we will Provide

The exact details of each event will vary and are specified on the event page but normally we will provide:

• an Event Book - giving full event instructions including a timetable and the locations of start / finish, enabling the booking of accommodation etc. It also contains instruction on navigation methods, tips on route-finding and examples of route book navigation. This will be issued in enough time before the event to allow teams to plan

• an on-line (Zoom) pre-event briefing and navigation training - held four weeks before the event where you can: meet the other teams; understand the navigation techniques; and ask any questions you may have

• the Stage Books - with the route and challenge details - this will be issued in sections at the beginning of each stage

• paper maps

• team trackers - so we can monitor your progress and quickly locate you should you need assistance

• event assistance - on-call staff, with an emergency call number to assist you with problems which may arise during the event. Note: this does not include vehicle assistance other than limited towing, or medical assistance other than minor first aid and where appropriate movement to medical facilities

• fun prizes and event medals - for each competitor to record the event

Upcoming events ….