I hear this a lot these days, "we're in pretty good shape and all, and we're excited about adventure racing, but
am I ready for the Storm The Eastern Shore Adventure Race?"
Short answer: Probably not.
I say this because I want to err on the side of caution. I want racers going in with their eyes open as there's the potential for unintentional "
wet exits" on the open water paddle legs and race day is not the time to see if you do --
or if you don't -- have the rescue skills. I don't know of any other adventure race on the East Coast that will throw this level of paddling challenge at you -- except, perhaps, some of the surf zone stuff we're looking at for
the Sea & Sand Adventure Race in November (but you'll have to wait on that until later...).
This year we'll be doing skills testing Saturday morning where each team will have to demonstrate water rescue skills off the beach at Cape Charles. It's just another measure we can take to make sure participants are prepared. Plus, it makes racers and their gear get all wet
before the race even starts -- what a bonus!
Now, if you've got good paddling skills then
you probably are ready for the Storm because the Eastern Shore of Virginia doesn't have brutal terrain to bike or run on. You even get a break overnight to put your feet up and eat a smore by the fire, what more could you ask for from your first adventure race?
The Storm is on pace to sell out this year (amazing, since last year we were begging teams to race it), but if you get your act together and take a paddling class or two from some professionals,
there's still time to get comfortable on the water before race day.