Arthur the King Adventure Racing FAQs
Is adventure racing a real sport?
Yes! Not only is Arthur a real dog who had a long and happy second life in Sweden (here’s a link to the book for all the details), but the sport of adventure racing is very real. It’s been around for over 30 years, and there are races of all lengths all over the United States and the rest of the world.
How could I ever do a 5-10 day race?
Good news! There are a lot of races that are a lot shorter than the 5 to 10-day Adventure Racing World Championship. Most adventure racers start with “sprint” races that are 4-8 hours in length, so you can definitely start small. You can then either stick to shorter races that allow you plenty of time to socialize with your teammates and friends before and after, or you can work your way up to 24 hours of racing and longer.
OK, shorter races sound great, but getting started still feels a bit overwhelming…
When you’re new to the sport, it can certainly feel that way. You’re not alone! Multiple disciplines, long distances, map-and-compass navigation—it’s a lot! If you have a little time to spare, you can check out our resources for people new to AR. There’s nothing quite like getting out there and racing, but hopefully, this guide will help you feel more comfortable getting to the start line for your first race.
Do adventure racers really do crazy things like climb cliffs with their bikes and use suspicious zip lines in the jungle?
The short answer is no. But also, yes, kind of. A big part of the appeal, and ultimately the character, of adventure racing is about pushing your personal limits together with your team. For some people, that may be completing their first sprint race. For others, it could be tackling overnight remote navigation for the first time or paddling big whitewater. Each of our limits are just that; our limits. When you are pushing past those limits, it might feel like you’re climbing a cliff with no protection and your bike hanging from your back. However, the reality is that you should never see that kind of risk-taking in a real race. As a rule, adventure racing does an outstanding job of managing risk while allowing racers to push their limits. All races that USARA sanctions are required to meet baseline standards in terms of safety awareness, so you should feel confident when you sign up for a USARA-sanctioned event that you are in good hands.
Do I need an agent and a $100,000 sponsor to race?
Although we certainly don’t want to dissuade anyone from pursuing this kind of support, no, it is not necessary to have this kind of money to race. The sport can be rather expensive when you consider the need for a bike, paddling gear, backpack(s), headlamps, bike lights, etc. Fortunately, there are a lot of economical options for gear out there, and more are becoming available all the time. USARA members get a pretty sweet deal on gear through ExpertVoice. If you’re new and looking to stock up on gear, you should check it out!
Can I watch anything else about adventure racing?
Yes, you can! On Amazon Prime, you can find “The World’s Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji”. The ten episodes showcase the sport while telling compelling stories about many of the competitors. If you’re looking for a fix, this is a great place to start! You can also check out The Dark Zone: An Adventure Racing Podcast, or USARA’s brand new podcast, The Checkpoint.
My friends/family/coworkers loved the movie, but I’m the only one who wants to give this a shot. What do I do?
Well, our first suggestion would be to try a little harder to get those people to give adventure racing a shot. But we understand that’s not always going to work. If you’re active on Facebook there is an Adventure Racing Discussion Group that is incredibly welcoming to newcomers. It’s a great place to ask questions and find potential teammates. If you’re ready to race and looking for a team, most race directors (RDs) are more than happy to introduce you to potential teammates. After you find some races you want to try with the USARA Community Calendar, you can reach out to that race’s RD and ask for their help.
So what is USARA anyway?
The short answer is that we are the governing body for the sport of adventure racing in the U.S. We sanction events, keep rankings of all the teams throughout the season, and host the US National Championship. But most importantly, we’re here to support the community and spread the word about our sport. So if you ever have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. We can’t wait to see you out there!