Racers and Directors Gather For IATOS

Rob / 12.02.2003

The International Adventure Travel and Outdoor Sports Show (IATOS) to be held in Chicago at the end of the month will see a unique gathering of teams and race directors. The show will have a strong AR theme, with a showcase race (indoor and outdoor) and a conference on issues affecting the sport. The Adventure Racing Pavilion is expected to be the largest gathering of adventure race organisers, gear manufacturers and racers in the world and among the many sponsors are clubs like the USARA and NYARA, races like Southern Traverse and Four Winds, and AR brands and retailers like Lava Gear and Moosejaw.

The show expects 20,000 visitors and the exhibition race held for the last couple of years has been extended this time around, with teams invited to enter and gear and race entries up for grabs as prizes. Race organisers Adventure North are even running amateur and advanced divisions in the 6 hour ‘sprint’ which starts on the Navy Pier on Chicago’s lake shore on Feb. 22nd. They are promising biking, orienteering, running, fixed ropes, stair climbing, and a few surprises along the way.

The indoor section features a spectacular ropes course that includes a 60- foot ascent and rappel, a Tyrolean traverse and zip line, along with an obstacle course that will challenge each racer\'s ability to work together as a team. There will also be some famous AR names there like four-time Eco-Challenge winner, Ian Adamson, and Rebecca Rusch. The day before the public get a chance to have a go at some of the challenges too.

Alongside the race and activities in the pavilion the second Adventure Racing Summit will take also place (on Friday 21st). It’s got a broad remit, including “the future infrastructure of Adventure Racing, working with permitting agencies and media & sponsor development”. There will be whole sessions on media and event marketing, and racer and Race Director panels will both look at the issues of safety, scheduling, course design, certification and the future of associations. The racers get to go first and there will be Race Directors there from several international races, as well as US events.

Sounds like it’s going to be a fascinating mix of marketing, racing, hype, sales, gear and gossip and the big role AR is playing at a major outdoor show is yet another indication of the commercial ‘maturity’ of the sport. Though some would argue that’s not necessarily a good thing. The position is reflected in the UK with ACE Races organising the showcase the indoor event as a major attraction at The Outdoors Show at the NEC in March, though the conference room there is still the bar and there is no formal agenda!