Topic: Trailbased Adventure Sport"

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Topic Trail-based Adventure Sport"

• Runs in natural settings
• Includes trail races, but also
• Adventure races
• Team 'Treks'
• Supported walks
• My focus today is on trail-based events

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George Brass, only finisher in the 1962 Mountain
Trial (UK)
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The characteristics of "Adventure sport"

• First and most important, it is nature-based
• May be competitive, to different degrees
• Provides supportive logistics culture
• Large scale but very occasional use
• Mainly trail-based - no new facilities, IF
  shared-use
• Low environmental impact
• And - these events are growing fast!

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Chart Participation in long distance running
(Australia)
"Mothers Day Classic attracted 50,000
participants nationally in 2007, up 31
(Aust)"Trail races now routinely fill online
entry quotas in minutes (USA Trailrunner
magazine)
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Put simply, we've got it wrong

• Overseas, huge range of events
• Australia, huge barriers to events
• In SE Queensland, exclusive use zoning
• Walking tracks for walkers only, 365 days/year

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Chasing a permit in Queensland

• This zone-based exclusionary system also leads
  to
• A culture of conformity and precedents
• Loss of evidence-based decision-making
• Permits need to be based on a broader view of
• the specific values and issues of the event

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Why is all this important?

• Policy issue opportunities for solitude vs
  obesity vs building an active culture
• Policy issue regional promotion
• Policy issue self-funding, can fund trails
  maintenance
• Policy issue runners are low impact park users
• Policy issue targeting youth and low incomes

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Principals of sustainable events

• We need signature events in some high-demand
  areas
• Regional events in national parks should be the
  norm
• Also, shorter frequent events in accessible city
  parks
• Provide support so fun runners and walkers feel
  safe
• Access to well-signed, well-maintained trails
• Well-designed routes also use low-demand trails
• Cap entry numbers, wave starts, trail courtesy
  briefings
• Trail runs have minimal environmental impact

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
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Birdwatcher
Trailrunner
Bushwalker
Rogaines
Bikes
4WDs
Trailbikes
Trackcutter
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Mont Blanc Classic example of shared use - 130km
of low-risk alpine trails across 3 countries,
permitting 3,500 entrants in its 5th year
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German Gutsmuth A national symbol of
achievement run regularly since the 1970s,
attracts 15,000 runners and walkers
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Englands Lakeland Trails New shorter run/walks
- all four rated Top 50 by Runners World 80 of
4,500 entrants travelled from outside the Lake
District
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USA National Trail Series 150 races and growing
every year - huge incentive for regional travel
many fields fill up in first 10 minutes of online
entries
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NZ's Kepler Track 20th year - 400 participants
on alpine trail, major fundraiser for track
maintenance eg helicopter gravel for trails and
hut extensions
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Hopeful signs from NSW

• Six Foot Track 800 entrants, raises 30,000
• Sydney's Trailwalker raised 3 million!
• Two new trek-style events in Blue Mountains
• One regional park ranger even rang a run
  organiser to encourage him to start an event

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QLD Great Walks contested ground

• Current SE Queensland interpretation exclusive
  use
• New Zealand interpretation 4/9 have events
• Kepler, Routeburn, Tongariro, Abel Tasman
• Great Walk ideal venue for annual event
• Promote the Walk, the region, and fitness
• Next step seeking high level meetings

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Ernest Dalziel 1910 Grassmere Guides Race