As in much of the world, adventure races in South Africa differ in their combinations of adventure racing disciplines, but usually include hiking or trail-running, mountain biking, navigation, and some form of paddling or rafting, along with other disciplines like rappelling, Tyrolean traverse, swimming or coasteering, horseback riding, sailing, scuba diving, rafting, or any other non-motorized discipline.
Short course adventure races, often also called training races in South Africa, take less than a day to complete -- usually only 5 to 8 hours. Examples of these races are the Game ASS Short course races which consist of running/hiking 20 km, mountain biking 40 km and a special stage of 15 km.
According to the race organiser, the Game ASS Adventure Training series is an intermediate race that bridges the gap between short course/sprint races and the real thing.
"You will start to feel the pain. You will need your fitness and endurance. You will get a glimpse of the achievement and exhilaration that you will experience when you participate in the world’s most gruelling, challenging and demanding sport. The Adventure Training Series (ATS) is a way of brushing up on your adventure racing skills and keeping up your fitness levels under race conditions."
South Africa's Medium-Course Adventure Races include the Cedarberg Challenge from 9 - 12 August 2001 or the Mazda Drifter Eco-Adventure race from 8 - 9 June 2001 in Zululand (KwaZulu Natal), are roughly two days long.
In the Cedarberg Challenge, teams will be tested over 150 km and adventure racing disciplines include orienteering, abseiling, rafting, mountain biking, hiking and ropework.
In the Mazda Drifter Eco-Adventure race, the course is held over 200 km. Skills will be tested in the following adventure racing disciplines: ocean swimming & free diving, trekking (hiking), mountain biking, orienteering, paddling and rope work (abseiling).
South Africa's long course adventure races include the Hi-Tec Discovery Channel Adventure Quest (July 29 - August 4, 2001, KwaZulu-Natal) or the SA Opens (9-15 December) run over at least four days (400 - 500 km) and are much more demanding.
Races vary significantly in terms of required degree of readiness, skills and cost to compete. Here you need to know your level of ability, your level of commitment and your budget, and then choose a race accordingly. Getting in over your head on your first race can turn you off adventure racing for life, providing you with a miserable time -- not to mention that it could be potentially dangerous.
For instance, in the Hi-Tec Discovery Channel Adventure Race, participants will have to cover between 350 km and 450 km. Adventure racing disciplines include kayaking (open water as well as Grade 1 rivers), mountain biking, hiking/trekking, abseiling/rope work, and coasteering (navigating and trekking along the coastline, usually no further or higher than 100 m from the sea. This could involve quite a bit of swimming...). Navigation will be an integral part of all the disciplines. Co-ed teams of four will require support en route.
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