Adventure racing attracts teams
Activities keep teams on the run
The multi-disciplinary team sport of adventure racing has hit Hawke’s Bay running — mountain biking, riding a unicycle, completing a memory challenge and erecting a tent.
Hawke’s Bay Adventure Race (HBAR) was held in Hawke’s Bay a couple of weeks ago and was open to four-person and twoperson teams with single and mixed gender divisions. Race organiser David Tait says the event had more women than men.
“And noticeably there were a large number of youth teams involved.”
Adventure Racing involves navigation over an unmarked course with races extending anywhere from two hours up to two weeks in length and are usually mixed gender teams of four racers.
This year’s event comprised about a dozen different adventure-inspired activities during the six-hour event. Teams mountain biked 16km, completed a compulsory gear check before choosing to complete a rogaine (orienteering), ride a unicycle, throw a bag, do a memory challenge, complete a puzzle, cross hoops, erect a tent and complete a ropes section.
“We have been asked to run an adult race for many years now and we were excited about this year’s race,” David says.
Based on the successful points-based format of the GO4-12 Youth Adventure Race David and wife Tanya have coordinated for 13 years, it was designed to be achievable and fun. Support crews could observe and the highlight for many teams and observers was the 30m Tyrolian Traverse. After teams completed what they could of the rogaine they headed to the finish line at Elsthorpe School. Some teams were slow at the start but got into a rhythm, David says.
“At the finish line teams rang the school bell and celebrated the fact they had completed a great adventure together. It was great greeting everyone home and see everyone finished — we wanted it to be challenging but achievable.”
■ For details visit hbadventurerace.nz.