Dynamic Adventure Racing Challenge
A Fresh Challenge
Gary Vallance (Team Usual Suspects) / 31.01.2007
Pouring through the race calendar for fresh AR challenges in 2007, Cassie Vallance and Karen McFall of team Usual Starlets where having a crisis. Brimful of enthusiasm, but empty on navigational skills, they were lost. It was time to learn the dark arts.Looking to me and James for some guidance, we decided they’d get most benefit from a realistic environment, and set about looking for the ideal event: early in the year, entry/intermediate level, score based, with multiple disciplines including something brand new for the girls to get excited about.
Sunday’s DAR Challenge seemed like the perfect opportunity.
Organisationally Challenged
The Starlets arrived at the Cerne Abbas HQ to find James and I repairing the three tyres that had gone flat since Saturday’s event. With work remaining on the encrusted bikes we pointed them in the direction of the hall to register our two mixed teams, before rejoining them to sort out our kit.
With one notable exception, the competitors’ car park was an orderly affair: the cool morning air scented with GT 85 and Ralgex as teams fine-tuned derailleurs and hamstrings. Meanwhile, in our corner we were knee deep in kit and logistics, and the girls had learnt that electrolyte powders and breezes don’t mix, and race numbers are best pinned on packs with the reservoirs removed.
Eventually we passed the kit check, receiving our control descriptions with enough time to split into our respective teams and prepare our plans of attack.
A Staggered Start
I would be racing with my sister Cassie, and we discussed route options over a strategic cup of tea. With her limited appreciation of mapping features, we began with some broad strokes, doing a “join-the-dots� between the controls to try and find an obvious order. We considered which direction we ought to take, how far out we might be able to reach in the time, and any controls we ought to ignore. Keen for Cassie to call the shots I left the decisions to her, instead answering her many questions as we chatted.
Looking up from our comfy chairs we saw people already starting. As our start time smiled up at us from our watches we scooped up our packs and ran from the warm hall trying not to laugh. Oops!See All Event Posts
