Adventure racing is an evolving discipline. Over the last few years, as adventure racing has become more popular, race organizers have experimented with new formats in an attempt to make races more accessible. While some purists bemoan this trend, the fact of the matter is that it gives many more people an opportunity to experience the characteristics of adventure racing without committing a year of their life to achieve it. Our hope is that many people will be drawn to the sport by having a chance to try short or novel formats first.
Navigation is always a requirement.
Rope tests are common. In this respect, adventure racing puts a premium on being able to think, to strategise and to react to unexpected situations. Finally events may be team competitions or solo events. Solo events, particularly the longer ones, are also tests of mental fortitude - there are no teammates looking out for you. To make sense of all the different formats, it is helpful to put them in categories.