Inclusion in adventure racing

On Wednesday, May 19 at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT, USARA will host a public discussion on equity in, and access to, adventure racing. With this, we aim to begin a community-wide conversation about the current state of inclusion in the sport, and where we can go from here.

This discussion will be facilitated by diversity and inclusion educator Yi Shun Lai, and will bring together Kevin Hodder, race director for Eco-Challenge; Clifton Lyles, captain of Team Onyx and chair of the USARA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force; and Stephanie Ross, founder of the Women in Adventure Racing campaign.

We invite you to join us — to listen, to learn, to ask questions, and to offer feedback. We invite you to come together to ensure that our beloved sport is a welcoming space for everyone who wants to take part, and that it continues to grow. 

Part of the great appeal of adventure racing is its intimacy and the ways in which it allows us to gather around shared experiences. These experiences are precious moments; they become the best stories, keep us coming back for more, and ultimately provide an escape from the “real world.”

But as much as AR is an escape, it also exists within the social, political, and economic challenges facing our nation and the world around us. Our membership is not immune to these challenges.

The tragic shootings in Georgia last week only underscore the need for all of us to look more closely at the part we can play in alleviating the pain that inequity can cause.  USARA also takes this moment to affirm our commitment to fighting the entrenched systemic racism, xenophobia, and misogyny that creates inequitable systems. 

Adventure racers relish the discomfort we face in training and racing. We are a community well equipped for embracing the challenge of addressing the structural barriers to access and entry to our sport. Ultimately, this work will ensure its growth and sustainability for generations of racers to come.