Arkansas State Parks to Host Adventure Race Series
March 13, 2009
Zoie Clift, travel writer
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
Adventure races have taken place in Arkansas for 11 years, starting with the Ozark Challenge Adventure Race. However, the sport is still somewhat of a mystery to most people.
“Arkansas has plenty of great events, but adventure racing doesn’t seem to be as "main stream" as in most states,” said Brandon Butler, race director of Ozark Extreme Adventure Sports.
Butler said the group is trying to spread news of the sport by holding their events in Arkansas’s State Parks. This year’s Sprint Adventure Races are at Cane Creek State Park on March 21, Village Creek State Park on June 6, and Devil's Den State Park on August 29.
“Since more people know the reputation of the parks in Arkansas, we hope the locations attract people to see what adventure racing is all about,” he said.
Butler said several races have popped up all over the state and the sport is taking off, but the concept is still hard to understand for most people.
The ultra endurance event was created to challenge both the mental and physical limits of racers. Part of the confusion lies in the fact that there are three different categories of races: sprint races (2 to 6 hours); middle distance races (12 to 48 hours) and expedition races (5 to 10 days). The most common of these is the sprint race, with core events being trail running, mountain biking and paddling.
“I get a ton of people who say "so it's like a triathlon", which in the multi-sport realm is true, but my response is that adventure racing is different in the way we do things,” he said.
For starters, adventure racers are part of a team, (though solo divisions do exist) and are not limited to just three disciplines. Most large races have at least five sport disciplines as a minimum. There is also the matter of navigation skills. From start to finish racers navigate a course, not knowing the course details until the night, the day (and sometimes) even during the race.
Also, unlike a triathlon, there’s no prescribed format to adventure racing. The race might include orienteering, navigation, running, paddling, climbing, mountain biking and related rope skills. Or it might not. Some races are spread over several days, with race teams navigating through a course with maps and compasses carrying all necessary survival equipment with them, while others last only a few hours and require racers to scramble over preset courses. The format is as unique as the locations and event organizers’ imaginations.
“I think the mental aspect of adventure racing is the most misunderstood,” added Butler. “Unlike any other race of its type, you have to be able to think on your feet. Being able to make quick decisions that range from navigation to team dynamics and the challenge of being able to think when you are tired and physically fatigued is imperative to having a successful race. I have always said that the mental aspect of adventure racing is the great equalizer for all teams.”
Butler said they created their sprint series to fill what they saw as a gap in the sport. “Traditionally sprint races were more carnival in atmosphere and not really what we came to see as an adventure race,” said Butler. “Our events give the beginner the experience of a traditional race and a means to move into more advanced categories within our race series.”
The courses in their race series have the disciplines normally found in all adventure races, including mountain biking, running, hiking, paddling, and navigation (for advanced racers). Advanced racers can’t use GPS devices. They navigate the course using a topographic map and compass. Both sprint and advanced racers carry a passport and punch checkpoints throughout the course. Approximate distances for their races are running/ hiking 4 to 6 miles, biking 10 to 15 miles, and canoeing 1 to 2 miles.
Butler competed in his first adventure race in October of 2002. He got interested while watching the Eco-Challenge on TV and although it was a much longer race (5 to 7 days) he wanted to be involved in the sport and eventually do a race that long. He started searching for events and found one in Little Rock. “Competing in that event was one of the best experiences I have had,” said Butler. “Simply crossing the finish line caused me to be totally hooked.”
Overall the sport is young, created in 1989 when French journalist Gerard Fusil debuted his multi-day event Raid Gauloises in New Zealand. In 1992 the first American team participated in the event led by Mark Burnett. By 1995 Burnett had developed his own expedition race in the U.S., the Eco-Challenge, and helped spread the popularity of the sport.
As with most sports, the endeavor takes a little dedication to enjoy.
“I always suggest that a person start by learning to run and mountain bike first,” said Butler. “After that it's all about learning the sport. Adventure racing takes a little preparation in gear choices and food, so learn what works for you before you race. I always say one thing to everyone...winning does not matter as much as finishing because everyone who crosses that finish line is a winner and adventure racers understand that.”
Along with the sprint series, the group is also directing an Adventure Racing Clinic at Burns Park on April 25th and the Ouachita Adventure Race (mid distance race) on October 10 at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa.
For more information on the series or details on how to register for races go towww.adventuresprints.com or e-mail admin@ozarkextreme.com.
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
Adventure races have taken place in Arkansas for 11 years, starting with the Ozark Challenge Adventure Race. However, the sport is still somewhat of a mystery to most people.
“Arkansas has plenty of great events, but adventure racing doesn’t seem to be as "main stream" as in most states,” said Brandon Butler, race director of Ozark Extreme Adventure Sports.
Butler said the group is trying to spread news of the sport by holding their events in Arkansas’s State Parks. This year’s Sprint Adventure Races are at Cane Creek State Park on March 21, Village Creek State Park on June 6, and Devil's Den State Park on August 29.
“Since more people know the reputation of the parks in Arkansas, we hope the locations attract people to see what adventure racing is all about,” he said.
Butler said several races have popped up all over the state and the sport is taking off, but the concept is still hard to understand for most people.
The ultra endurance event was created to challenge both the mental and physical limits of racers. Part of the confusion lies in the fact that there are three different categories of races: sprint races (2 to 6 hours); middle distance races (12 to 48 hours) and expedition races (5 to 10 days). The most common of these is the sprint race, with core events being trail running, mountain biking and paddling.
“I get a ton of people who say "so it's like a triathlon", which in the multi-sport realm is true, but my response is that adventure racing is different in the way we do things,” he said.
For starters, adventure racers are part of a team, (though solo divisions do exist) and are not limited to just three disciplines. Most large races have at least five sport disciplines as a minimum. There is also the matter of navigation skills. From start to finish racers navigate a course, not knowing the course details until the night, the day (and sometimes) even during the race.
Also, unlike a triathlon, there’s no prescribed format to adventure racing. The race might include orienteering, navigation, running, paddling, climbing, mountain biking and related rope skills. Or it might not. Some races are spread over several days, with race teams navigating through a course with maps and compasses carrying all necessary survival equipment with them, while others last only a few hours and require racers to scramble over preset courses. The format is as unique as the locations and event organizers’ imaginations.
“I think the mental aspect of adventure racing is the most misunderstood,” added Butler. “Unlike any other race of its type, you have to be able to think on your feet. Being able to make quick decisions that range from navigation to team dynamics and the challenge of being able to think when you are tired and physically fatigued is imperative to having a successful race. I have always said that the mental aspect of adventure racing is the great equalizer for all teams.”
Butler said they created their sprint series to fill what they saw as a gap in the sport. “Traditionally sprint races were more carnival in atmosphere and not really what we came to see as an adventure race,” said Butler. “Our events give the beginner the experience of a traditional race and a means to move into more advanced categories within our race series.”
The courses in their race series have the disciplines normally found in all adventure races, including mountain biking, running, hiking, paddling, and navigation (for advanced racers). Advanced racers can’t use GPS devices. They navigate the course using a topographic map and compass. Both sprint and advanced racers carry a passport and punch checkpoints throughout the course. Approximate distances for their races are running/ hiking 4 to 6 miles, biking 10 to 15 miles, and canoeing 1 to 2 miles.
Butler competed in his first adventure race in October of 2002. He got interested while watching the Eco-Challenge on TV and although it was a much longer race (5 to 7 days) he wanted to be involved in the sport and eventually do a race that long. He started searching for events and found one in Little Rock. “Competing in that event was one of the best experiences I have had,” said Butler. “Simply crossing the finish line caused me to be totally hooked.”
Overall the sport is young, created in 1989 when French journalist Gerard Fusil debuted his multi-day event Raid Gauloises in New Zealand. In 1992 the first American team participated in the event led by Mark Burnett. By 1995 Burnett had developed his own expedition race in the U.S., the Eco-Challenge, and helped spread the popularity of the sport.
As with most sports, the endeavor takes a little dedication to enjoy.
“I always suggest that a person start by learning to run and mountain bike first,” said Butler. “After that it's all about learning the sport. Adventure racing takes a little preparation in gear choices and food, so learn what works for you before you race. I always say one thing to everyone...winning does not matter as much as finishing because everyone who crosses that finish line is a winner and adventure racers understand that.”
Along with the sprint series, the group is also directing an Adventure Racing Clinic at Burns Park on April 25th and the Ouachita Adventure Race (mid distance race) on October 10 at Mountain Harbor Resort and Spa.
For more information on the series or details on how to register for races go towww.adventuresprints.com or e-mail admin@ozarkextreme.com.
This release, along with others by the Department of Parks & Tourism, is available electronically at the Department’s on-line media room: www.arkansas.com/media. Hundreds of high-resolution photos are also available at this Web address.
Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, (501) 682-7606
E-mail: info@arkansas.com
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
“Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism”
Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-7606
E-mail: info@arkansas.com
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"