Topics
Welcome
Purpose of the academy, how it ties to tomorrow.
Quick safety, AR culture, etiquette note.
Navigation
Map & Compass: orienting, attack points, handrails, catching features.
Bike Nav: speed vs accuracy, when to stop/confirm, cue-sheet hacks.
Water Nav: bearings across features, ferry angles, wind/current basics.
Gear Chat
Mandatory vs nice-to-have, weight tradeoffs, transition systems.
Transition strategy and planning.
Mini-scenario: Lay out bin setup.
Mindset & Expectations
Mental lows, emotional swings, staying steady when enthusiasm fades.
Nutrition. Pacing. Comms.
Race Strategy
Pre-race: clue sheet markup, hydration/nutrition plan.
In-race: pacing bands, cut-off logic, when to skip a CP.
Next race: debrief habits and learning loops.
Scenario Walk-through & Q&A
Mini-scenario: Shoot a bearing and pace count 50–100m to a flagged spot.
Mini-scenario: Map management on your bike.
Mini-scenario: Dry-land demo with cones simulating river obstacles and dangers.
Mini-scenario: You’re bonking at CP6, it’s raining, you’re lost and arguing with a teammate.
Friday 2pm-10pm
Saturday 8am-12pm
Camping field just across from the
race checkin and starting line.
We will have a large Green WildHare Flag.
There is no fee for the Academy. We’re here to support you.
We are offering this at no cost because part of our mission is to help people feel more capable and confident stepping into adventure racing. If the session or coaching is helpful and you’d like to support the time and prep that went into it with a tip or donation – it’s always appreciated, and will go toward supporting more racers at future events.
Adventures can’t be practiced. They must be raced.
The most exciting thing about an adventure race is the adventure.
But this means the training can’t be directly simulated in a gym or on a trail. There is no set distance, no set course, and no race is ever the same twice. Our WildHare Academy has been created to help new and intermediate racers connect your training to the real thing. Think of this as the pre-race bridge from preparation to confidence on race day.
What we will cover:
• How to plan, pack, and move through transitions like a seasoned team.
• Navigation tips for foot, bike, and paddle… and how to keep calm when the map doesn’t match reality.
• Gear systems that keep you moving instead of digging through bins.
• Mindset and team strategy for when things go sideways (and they will).
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Mountain Bike
The speed leg.
You cover long distances fast, but the terrain is unpredictable: sand, mud, singletrack, gravel, sometimes all in one ride. You’ll balance navigation with bike handling and efficiency. It’s keyhow to keep rolling when everyone else is fixing flats or second-guessing turns. -
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Trail Running
The simplest and hardest all at once.
Racers travel on foot through trails, bushwhacks, and terrain that rarely plays nice. It’s where you navigate by compass and instinct, moving from checkpoint to checkpoint. Trekking tests endurance, navigation, and teamwork under fatigue. -
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Paddling
The calmest-looking chaos.
Water sections can be peaceful… or pure survival. You’ll paddle lakes, rivers, or swamps, sometimes at day, sometimes deep night. Staying on bearing, reading current and wind, and managing gear transitions make this discipline deceptively technical. -
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Navigation
The invisible discipline.
Every map, compass bearing, and route choice shapes the race. Teams that navigate cleanly waste less time, fewer miles, and far less energy. Good navigation isn’t about never getting lost — it’s about finding your way back faster than everyone else.
