Adventure Racing

A HK/Asian team has recently competed at the Adventure Racing World Championships (ARWC) in Scotland. The team consisted on Ryan, Stuart and "Stone" from HK and Esther from Singapore, which, in my opinion, is a fair representation of one of Asia's-based teams with higher potential. However, with only around 12h of racing -that is even before they reached T1-, they had already been downgraded to the short course. Along with many other teams, it has to be said! Eventually, for reasons I'm not aware of, they withdrew with only 2 days into the race.
Comparing their progress with the top teams' is appaling! I dare saying that the top teams were moving roughly 50% faster on the course, as in each day to the top teams required 1.5 days to "our" team.
But why?! Is it a difference in the team's logistics, support, equipment? Maybe, to some extent. But I still think that it all comes down to the 4S: speed, strength, stamina and skills.
A part of me really wants to believe that we have people based here in the region who are capable of competing for a mid-pack position at the ARWC, but looking at the current facts, am I being too optimistic?

I think it comes down to training.

The ARWC is totally different to the sprint adventure races / tri's most of us are use to here in Asia. We're talking 4 hours compared to 7 days of non-stop extreme sport in taxing conditions....not to mention the lack of sleep! I would think the top teams have been specifically training for 6 months or longer. Sure the APA crew is fit and have strong skills but they aren't pro athletes.

Your 4S are a direct result of training.....training equals time....time equals money.

Hell, pay me to train for 6 months and I'll take you up on your challenge to finish mid-pack!

Now, wouldn't that be a sweeeeeeeet lifestyle and a dream come true!

Hi inmotionasia.

I agree with you, but only partially. After all, you probably can't find teams with all 4 professional athletes. On the other hand, you probably don't find teams above top 10 with one single professional athlete in them. Okay, there may be a few exceptions here and there, but generally, I think my comments are fairly right. So with that said, we can only conclude that APA or any other Asian team should -theoretically speaking- be able to compete at the same level as teams who place roughly at, say, 20th place.

Happy training.
Pedro

hey guys, when will the AA challenge come back to singapore. would be good to measure up against you lot. love the 4S: speed, strength, stamina and skills

sounds like a marketing school for racers!

enjoy life! LWC

Any Action Asia challenge planned in Singapore?

Cheers, Rosemary.


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