Outdoor Adventure Blog

Just got back from the Carolina Cup. Boy what a fantastic race & venue. The Blockade runner resort did a great job with this well organized paddle event. The Distressed Mullet crew was very calm cool and professional throughout the entire weekend with the race starts and announcing. Very patient with everyone and all of their questions. Very thorough when explaining the coarse to each division. The timing system they used worked great. Registration was quick and painless. They really know how to put on a great SUP race.

2012 Carolina Cup Stand Up Paddleboard Race »

Everyone has heard the ol’ saying “there is more than one way to skin a cat”. That saying plays pretty true for most situations.  There is no black & white, there is more than one way to do things. I attempt to use this type of reasoning for most every part of my life but it doesn’t always happen that way. Sometimes I get a little tunnel vision and think that one way is the only way. Most recently, I have had to use this reasoning with my running style, more specifically; I have learned that there is not always one way to strike the ground.  

I'll Strike Where I Want »

To any experienced hiker there is one thing that is most important before even the first boot imprint is left on the trail: planning. Now, if the trip that is being planned is a multiple overnight hike - there can be so many details, that preparation can quickly become a jumbled mess of complexities.

How to Plan an Overnight Hike »

Jessica Cichra, and I, had an awesome weekend in Dunedin, FL for the Shark Bite Challenge and Paddle Fest! Outrigger canoe, SUP, Prone Paddleboard, Surfski, O.C. 1&2, Kayak and canoes! Over 181 people participated in this awesome event and props to all those who finished. The conditions were rough to say the least.

Shark Bite Challenge Paddleboard Race »

Nothing gets me more excited to go on another adventure than browsing through old photos and videos of a previous trip. Not only do they inspire me to relive some old memories, they motivate me to experience the things that I never had a chance to. The sole purpose of any adventure is to live it, love it, and then hopefully remember it. That is why the GoPro HD2 has become my newest travel companion. Not only does it help me document the fun activities that I can later show to my friends, it’s the next best thing to reliving ‘that one amazing moment in time’ again.

Go Pro HD Hero II Analysis »

The easiest way to explain a Pangea Adventure Race is; a off-road triathlon mixed with a scavenger hunt on steroids. If you’ve ever enjoyed running and exploring things in the woods then it’s pretty safe to say that you’d enjoy a Pangea race.  On top of everything, you get dirty, you get sweaty, you might get a scratch or two, but you have a hell of a story to start work Monday morning with.

A Beginner's Look at Adventure Racing »

On a warm winter’s morning I found myself in an unfamiliar place: lined up next to 300+ ambitious souls preparing to begin an organized trail run. My buddy Brian and I were running in a half marathon trail race. Our benevolent employer, Travel Country, sponsored us and we were outfitted with the latest gear (Brian in the New Balance Minimus and me in Inov8 F-Lite 195).

My First Half-Marathon Trail Run »

There’s something primal about adventure racing. It’s basic. Natural. One step above breathing; two above sleeping. Combining orienteering and all-out speed, adventure racing is like being a 'hunter-gatherer' who’s chasing down dinner. The only difference; dinner is a checkpoint and survival is (generally) expected.

Adventure Racing Primer »

That’s the message I sent to some friends upon my family’s arrival to the Volunteer State. I already have an affinity for the mountains that was birthed in me when I grew up in Oregon, and as November began, with the leaves turned a beautiful golden yellow color, the air carried a crisp - almost cedar tasting - feel to it – and I was loving life. Add to that, the fact that it was my 31^st birthday and we were in town for a wedding – and it’s clear to me that the galaxy had offered me a most radical weekend adventure.

"Holy Smokies...Tennessee is Rad" »

Last winter, I picked up an Outdoor Research Transcendent Sweater for the cold season.

Transcendent Warmth »