The 2007 Adventure Race World Championship
21st Century Adventure Race Reporting
Rob Howard / 01.06.2007
ARWC 2007 saw the launch of the ‘SleepMonsters Adventure Tracker’ (SAT), and it’s had a huge impact on the race, far greater than we expected. Our aim was to produce a unit that was more robust, reliable, lighter and smaller, and far cheaper to run than anything used before, and this was achieved. Our intention was to present the race on SleepMonsters in a much more comprehensive way with true live, positional updates, but what was unexpected was how everyone on the race used the system and the range of uses it was put to.All the technical objectives were achieved, and although a few racers may have complained about carrying them, at 750g they were lighter than units used before and have stood up to everything the race threw at them. ARWC2007 was the toughest possible test for the units, with extensive sea kayaking in severe winds (and a few capsizes), 48 hours of severe rain, swims and extensive ropes stages, including canyons and overhanging rock faces.
For the race administration the cost (which was 75% cheaper than any similar products) made tracking a race this size affordable, and the reaction from viewers who have been watching our coverage was overwhelmingly positive. To be able to see the position of teams and watch their progress was reassuring … and addictive too. We did have complaints that viewers were not getting any work done!
It could be frustrating as well. Imagine the reaction of friends and family of Black Heart/Kelly’s Base Camp watching as they passed the portage off Loch Morar and paddled off into the distance! In the past detours like that might not have been owned up to ... but now everyone will know! See All Event Posts
