It\'s Showtime
Rob / 28.03.2004
Next weekend adventure racing goes on show to the masses at the National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham. During the 3 days of the Ordnance Survey Outdoors Show 60,000 visitors are expected, and all of them will see some of the action from the Renault Kangoo Indoor Adventure Race. It’s the biggest AR audience of the year and a chance to tell the wider outdoor community more about the sport.Even if AR wasn’t one of the main attractions, it’s still a show not to be missed. There is so much going on in the exhibition halls, which include a combination of 6 different outdoor shows, including Climb 2004 and Canoe 2004. There are dozens of well known speakers, workshops and special events, so there is new gear, expertise, information and bargains in abundance.
There are over 450 exhibitors who want to tell you about their products and services including canoe, climbing and cycling shops, guides and outdoor centres who run specialist training courses, and brands like Salomon, Peak UK and Science in Sport. It’s a good chance to ask questions of those who make the products, and many of them will have show offers you can take advantage of. Major retailers like Cotswold Outdoor and Snow and Rock will also be there.
If you want to sit and listen for a while after tramping the halls the choice of speakers is amazing, and so are their accomplishments. Everything from setting free diving records, to climbing Everest, to rowing the Atlantic. There is plenty of practical advice too, and Tim Lloyd, the manager of Team Saab Salomon is speaking in the Decathlon ‘Introduction to’ theatre.
You can ‘have a go’ as well, on indoor wave pools, virtual hang gliders, and a wide choice of climbing walls. There are opportunities to try out bikes and canoes and all sorts interactive displays. Sadly, there is no mini-challenge on the indoor arena this year though. So if you are not racing, you can’t try it out and will just have to watch.
If you want to find out more about the show all the information is on www.theoutdoorsshow.co.uk, where you can buy tickets online.
