We know you are going to be inspired and challenged by our interview with Troy Becker, President and Founder of Adaptive Adventures about their first adventure race at Raid the Rockies 2026. Enjoy!
This was Adaptive Adventures’ first adventure race. How did you decide to take on this significant challenge?
For more than 25 years, Adaptive Adventures has approached outdoor recreation with the motto “Embrace the Challenge” and by asking, “How can we make this possible?” Our Adaptive Wilderness Expeditions (AWE) program is the pinnacle of that approach.
We all embrace challenging ourselves in diverse environments and activities within our own risk tolerances. These experiences push us physically and mentally. Over the years, we have met thousands of people who share that same desire but either aren’t permitted to participate or don’t have access to the equipment and support needed to immerse themselves in these life-changing challenges.
We are here so everyone can laugh, suffer and succeed together. That is inclusion. That is the AWE experience!
Adventure racing was a natural extension of that philosophy. It brought together so many of the activities we already provide—paddling, cycling, trekking, wilderness travel, navigation, teamwork and problem-solving—and placed them into one continuous, epic, multi-day challenge.
At the centre of our team was Clayton March, an athlete with cerebral palsy who has already taken on significant endurance challenges. Clayton’s determination and willingness to embrace discomfort made him an ideal person to help us take this next step.
Raid the Rockies gave us an opportunity to attack another challenge while breaking down more perceived barriers. We knew it would push us, challenge us and try to break us—which is exactly why we all wanted to participate.
What made the Adaptive Adventures team different from the other teams?
Our team included the man, the myth, the legend—Clayton—along with purpose-built adaptive equipment and a larger support structure than a traditional four-person adventure-racing team.
However, what made us different was not simply the equipment or Clayton’s disability. It was the level of teamwork required to move one another and our equipment efficiently through every stage of the race. The need to push harder, for longer, and endure more often required us to go through or over obstacles that others could go around.
Every transition required another level of coordination. We had to move from paddling to cycling or trekking while managing packrafts, the TrailRider, adaptive cycling equipment, personal gear, food, hydration and participant care. Success depended on racers, support members, equipment specialists and logistics personnel functioning as one team.
Clayton was not a passenger being taken through the course. He was an athlete and teammate whose effort, challenges, attitude and perseverance affected everyone around him.
Adventure racing tests even the closest teams. How did your group lean on each other’s unique strengths when fatigue set in on day two or three?
Our team included people with experience in adaptive recreation, long-distance racing, wilderness travel, rescue, participant care, logistics, equipment management and mechanical problem-solving. As fatigue increased, those different strengths became increasingly important.
Leadership changed depending on the problem in front of us. One person might take the lead through difficult terrain, another would focus on equipment, another would monitor Clayton’s positioning, comfort and inevitable bumps and bruises, while someone else managed food, hydration or the next transition.
Our most important strength was the absence of ego. When someone was tired, another person stepped forward. When something failed, we did not waste time assigning blame. We assessed the situation, found the safest workable solution and kept moving.
Our storytellers also kept things light during the dark moments. Nothing picks you up after ending up face-down in the mud quite like Clayton’s contagious and entirely unsympathetic laughter as he rejoices in your suffering.
Clayton’s attitude was a major source of motivation. When the teammate navigating the greatest physical barriers continues to remain positive and determined, it becomes difficult for anyone else to complain.
What were some of the highlights?
One of the greatest highlights was simply reaching the start line. A considerable amount of planning, equipment development, training and problem-solving was required before the race even began.
Seeing Clayton competing as an athlete and taking shots on the biathlon course—not watching from the sidelines—was extremely meaningful. We were also inspired by the response from the organizers, volunteers, other racers and spectators. People were genuinely interested in the equipment and wanted to understand how they could help.
The paddling stages were another highlight. This was our first opportunity to use the MRS packrafts in a multi-discipline race environment. They provided a lightweight platform capable of accommodating Clayton’s additional positioning needs while also transporting support paddlers and bulky adaptive equipment through sections that might otherwise have created a major barrier.
Most importantly, the team continued returning to the course each day with smiles on their faces, ready to compete and complete. We demonstrated that an adaptive team belongs at the start line and can take on the same weather, fatigue, uncertainty and discomfort that define adventure racing.
We were there for the journey as much as the finish.
What were some of the challenges?
Transitions were one of our biggest challenges. Adaptive equipment requires additional time, energy and knowledge to assemble, adjust, secure and move.
Training for the event also required considerable self-reflection and the adaptation of regular race strategies to account for prolonged stops, repeated transitions, increased muscular endurance and the additional weight and resistance involved in assisting adaptive equipment.
In the future, we will bring a larger transition crew that has trained specifically with each piece of equipment. This will allow the racers to focus on their own needs and prepare for the next stage.
We also experienced mechanical problems, including the breakdown of one of our tow bikes. At times, our adaptive cycling system became an adventure of its own, tossing both the pilot and Clayton onto the ground and into the mud and puddles. These incidents required us to stop, assess everyone, modify or adjust the system and reset before continuing.
Those experiences reinforced the importance of redundancy, regular equipment checks and having mechanically capable people throughout the race.
Nutrition, hydration, foot care and participant positioning also required continuous attention. An adaptive team may have greater energy demands because team members are not only moving themselves—they are also pulling, pushing, lifting and carrying equipment throughout the course.
None of these challenges stopped us from being successful. They added to the experience, strengthened our teamwork and increased the scale of what we accomplished.
What made you decide to use the MRS Fin Whale and MRS Viking EVO Self Bailer X2?
We needed packrafts capable of carrying considerably more than a conventional paddling team. Our configuration could include Clayton, support paddlers, personal equipment and a folded TrailRider weighing approximately 75 pounds.
The Fin Whale offered the interior space, stability and load-carrying capacity needed for a participant and bulky adaptive equipment. Its longer design allowed us to experiment with different seating positions and weight distributions.
The Viking EVO Self Bailer X2 provided a complementary option for moving water. Its self-bailing design reduced the need to manage water entering the raft and made it better suited to sections where waves, splashing and faster-moving water were expected.
There is rarely one piece of adaptive equipment that is perfect for every participant and environment. Using both models gave us greater flexibility to match the raft to the water conditions, participant’s needs and required cargo.
This was the first time Adaptive Adventures had used MRS packrafts. How was the experience, and did they require any modifications?
The experience was extremely positive. The packrafts gave us a lightweight, packable platform with enough capacity to begin developing configurations for participants who may not be able to paddle independently.
We did not need to make major permanent changes to the rafts. Most of our adaptations involved removable seating and positioning supports, inflatable cushions or air bags, padding, adjustable straps and carefully planned lashing points.
We also developed a system for folding, positioning and securing the TrailRider without creating pressure or abrasion points against the raft.
Much of the work involved testing weight distribution, participant positioning, entry and exit procedures, and how quickly the entire system could be assembled or packed away during transitions.
The rafts provided an excellent foundation. As with all adaptive equipment, the final configuration comes from understanding the individual participant and testing the system in progressively more challenging environments.
For someone with a disability who watches adventure races and thinks, “That’s not for me,” what would you tell them about getting started in paddle sports or wilderness racing?
You do not need to begin with a four-day adventure race.
Start with a supported experience in a controlled environment. Try a short paddle on calm water, meet the people who will be supporting you and become familiar with the equipment. From there, gradually increase the distance, environmental complexity and level of challenge you desire.
There is no single adaptive solution that works for everyone. The right equipment and support depend on the person’s abilities, goals, comfort and tolerance for risk. A good adaptive organization will work with the individual rather than trying to fit everyone into a standard system.
Most importantly, do not assume that needing assistance means you are not an athlete or adventurer. Every adventure-racing team depends on its teammates. Adaptive racing simply makes some of that interdependence more visible.
If you are looking to push yourself and test your adventurous side, reach out to Adaptive Adventures.
Your team brought a lot of inspiration to everyone who watched you compete. What message do you hope your presence at the start line sends to the broader outdoor community?
Inclusion needs to be more than an invitation. It requires planning, appropriate equipment, knowledgeable people and a willingness to adapt when the first solution does not work.
Disability does not remove adventure, risk, discomfort or achievement. It changes how we approach the challenge.
We hope our presence encourages event organizers, outdoor businesses and other participants to stop asking whether someone with a disability belongs in these environments and start asking what needs to be put in place so they can participate safely and meaningfully.
We also hope people understand that success is not always defined by being the fastest team. Sometimes success is creating a pathway that did not previously exist and leaving it more accessible for the next person.
What are you planning next?
Our immediate priority is to complete a thorough review of the race and apply what we learned. We want to continue refining our packraft configurations, transition systems, adaptive cycling equipment and support-team training.
We plan to expand packrafting within our adaptive paddling and wilderness expedition programs and continue pursuing multi-day expeditions and future adventure-racing opportunities.
We also want to document what we learn so other organizations, equipment manufacturers and event organizers can benefit from the process. Raid the Rockies was not the end goal—it was an important first step.
How can people get in touch with you?
Adaptive Adventures is based in Kelowna, British Columbia. People interested in participating, volunteering, partnering with us or learning more about adaptive outdoor recreation can contact us through our website:
https://www.
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