Gear manufacturers have realised that lots of women like the outdoors and they're different shapes from men. Here's what's out there, and where you can buy it.
Amanda Koerber - Adventure Racing
Adventure Racing is a mix of kayaking, mountain biking and running, combined with orienteering and any other random disciplines the directors may choose to throw in. Teams of two or more people navigate their way around a course, trying to collect the most check points in the least time. Missing checkpoints is often no big deal because you’re not going to get disqualified - you will most likely get a time penalty instead. This means that pretty much anyone can finish an Adventure Race provided you don’t just throw in the towel part way through, so it’s worth getting out there and having a laugh. You don’t need a high level of technical skill - the kayaks are often either plastic sit on top or inflatable craft which makes them very stable and easy to paddle, the mountain biking is not too technical and in the shorter races the navigation is often only slightly harder than a street directory. Many races also include a BBQ afterwards, which are a great chance for a chat with friends, or to meet new friends and team mates.
The interesting thing about Adventure Racing is that the premier teams are the mixed teams - not the all-male teams as you might expect. Despite the fact that there might be more men around in the sport of Adventure Racing, women are always involved and constantly in demand by the top teams. Many of the companies that organise Adventure Races are run by husband and wife teams, which Amanda says brings a good balance to the events.
This, Amanda says, is the tip she would like to share with people - keep playing! She says that when we’re teenagers, for some reason our sport and outdoor recreation stops being about having fun and starts being about training and exercise, which can have negative connotations because we start having to do it, rather than wanting to do it. She says that if you put your shoulders back, head up and smile then it’s hard to be depressed, sad or unhappy - especially when you’ve done some exercise as well! And finally, don’t be afraid about getting things wrong - she says that the best thing about Adventure Racing is seeing people out there getting it wrong, but having the most fun of anyone in the race.
If you're interested in Adventure Racing you should also visit the Sleepmonsters forum to find team mates, events or just to discuss anything about the sport.
If you liked this article you might also enjoy the profile of Thor Egerton, who talked to GO! Girls Outdoors about her sport of Mountain Bike Orienteering (and is also a keen Adventure Racer).