Salomon X-adventure World Series
The Course
Rob / 17.02.2002
This remains a secret until the teams are given their road books just before the race starts. The only thing the pre-race information has given away is that there is ‘a spectacular coastal finish’.
However, the format of the competition is fixed, so they do have some idea what to expect. The basic disciplines for the X-adventure are:
- Orienteering (distances are long and navigation is not technical)
- Mountain Biking
- Canoeing (ocean or inland)
- Swimming
- Rope Work (Abseiling and ‘Flying Fox’ – that’s a long rope slide)
Day one is usually much longer (about two-thirds of the course) and runs into the night, finishing at a camp/bivouac. Faster teams can get in a good nights sleep here and may avoid any night navigation, but the slowest may be out much of the night and arrive only just in time to start day 2, getting no rest at all. Day 2 is much shorter. Courses are generally just over 200 km, with winning times in the 22 to 24 hour range.
The course is set by the French company Saga d’Aventures, who also plan the Raid Gauloises, and in Wales they have been helped by local mountain guide Nigel Shepherd.
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