Adventure racing team members bring different strengths to a race.
Can you relate to this: you’re tramping in the dusk with your headtorch after misjudging how long it would take to reach the hut. You’re stumbling up another ridge, legs burning. Your hiking friends are somewhere behind you – or are they in front?
While this isn’t everyone’s idea of tramping heaven, it’s not too many steps removed from the world of rogaining and adventure racing, where getting lost is part and parcel of the appeal and suffering is somehow fun.
Both sports originated in the southern hemisphere: rogaining in Australia in the 1970s, adventure racing in New Zealand in the 1980s. New Zealand remains one of the best places in the world to experience them.
Take a look at our feature to learn how to get started, what kit is needed and tips to find the best event for you.
Missed yesterday’s feature? Go off-track to bag this stunning Kahurangi summit.
Quiz
Sutherland Falls is a side trip off of which Great Walk?
A. Milford Track
B. Routeburn Track
C. Heaphy Track
D. Kepler Track
Scroll to the bottom of this email for the answer…
Recipe: Mocktail energy balls
Energy balls can be made with any dried fruit. With ingredients like chia, hemp seeds and tahini, they deliver calcium, healthy fats, fibre and protein in every bite. Here are two mocktail flavoured versions to try.
Photo: Yvette Shaw
Profile
Time: 15 min
Serves: 9
Ingredients
Mango Daiquiri Balls
1 cup dried mango (or other dried fruit)
2 tbsp tahini (or preferred nut butter)
2 tbsp hemp seeds
⅓ cup sunflower seeds
⅓ cup desiccated coconut
2 tsp grated lime zest
2 tsp lime juice
2 tsp chia seeds
Piña Colada Balls
1 cup dried pineapple (or other dried fruit)
2 tbsp tahini (or preferred nut butter)
⅓ cup hemp seeds
⅓ cup sunflower seeds
⅓ cup desiccated coconut + 2 tbsp for post-blending
2 tsp water
2 tsp chia seeds
Method
Mango Daiquiri Balls
Place mango or other fruit in a bowl and cover with warm water (or rum for the real version). Allow to stand for 10min or so to soften fruit for ease of blending.
In a separate bowl, mix chia seeds and lime juice and allow to stand for a few minutes or until they have bound together. Tip out any leftover water or rum from the fruit mixture then blend all ingredients.
Leave in the fridge for a few hours before rolling into balls. Store in the fridge, or freeze if you’re not going to eat within the week.
Piña Colada Balls
Place pineapple or other fruit in a bowl and cover with warm water (or rum). Allow to stand for 10min or so to soften fruit for ease of blending.
In a separate bowl, mix chia seeds and water and allow to stand for a few minutes or until they have bound together.
Tip out any leftover water or rum from the fruit mixture then blend all ingredients. Stir through the extra coconut after blending.
Leave in the fridge for a few hours before rolling into balls. Once formed, sprinkle some coconut onto a plate and roll the balls in it for coating. Store in the fridge, or freeze if you’re not going to eat within the week.
Poll results
On Monday we asked Wilderness Daily readers if you have been listening to our 'The Wild Podcast' episodes.
The results are in: 84% like the idea, but haven’t listened yet, 8% are listeners and 8% aren’t interested.
Here is a selection of comments from readers:
“I am going to listen to the Hollows Boys ep.”
“I would listen more if they were on Spotify but having to go to the website and use extra data just to listen isn’t convenient” [Editor’s note - we will investigate hosting options on platforms like Spotify.]”
“Please add a link to it in the next email as I’m having trouble finding where to listen to it.” [Editor’s note - we will make sure to add direct links to both the article and the podcast episodes in the future.]
Quiz answer
Answer A - Milford Track.
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