André Cyr: An Insider View of Adventure Racing & Jackalope, ARWS Race Director in Quebec

Today we are thrilled to be interviewing André Cyr, adventure racer and Rikico director of the Jackalope Adventure Racing World Series event in Quebec. Enjoy! 

1. You have been to several races this summer! What was the first one? 

The first race was the TugHill adventure race in New York State. A great 12-hour course with some challenging navigation.

2. What were some of the challenges, and how did you overcome them?

 One of our teammates lost both her pedals during the bike section. Several unsuccessful attempts at repair forced us to redouble our precautions to keep the pedals on the axles.

3. What were some of the highlights and favourite memories from that time?

The best part of this race was the last trek. About 20km of mostly off-trail navigation in a beautiful, relatively open forest. Truly a great adventure.

4. What was the second race you were at? 

The second race was Raid the Rockies. Truly the highlights of the summer!

5. Were there any challenges there? How did you work through them?

One of the challenges of this race came from the fact that we were a team of three meeting for the first time during the event. Plus, as I speak French, communication was a challenge in times of fatigue. My two teammates were fantastic, and chemistry was quickly established on the first day.

As it was a 4-day stage race and we used up almost all our 16 hours every day, plus the preparation required every evening, the nights were very short.

6. What were some special moments at Raid the Rockies? 

• So many things happen in a 4-day race that forge unforgettable memories:
• Choosing a route that turns into a bit of a climb.
• Choosing the wrong ridge and descending a trail-less mountain.
• Crossing a snowy pass.
• Arriving 1 min from the cut-off on a 16-hour day.
• Via Ferrata on a 200m rock face.
• Paddling glacier rivers

7. You have been using MRS's Barracuda R2 Pro. What has been your experience with it? 

I don't have a lot of experience with packrafts, but I've been whitewater kayaking and rafting for over 20 years, and I'm pleasantly surprised by the capacity of this craft. 

We've used it in solo and duo mode in class 1-3 rapids, and the manoeuvrability is impressive. In solo mode, it feels like a whitewater kayak, with precise responsiveness. In duo mode, we moved the front seat forward a little to allow unsynchronized paddle strokes, which gave us good propulsion on the race without compromising maneuverability in rock-filled rivers.

We're also very pleased with the comfort of the seats and lumbar supports. Even after very long sections, we didn't feel any pain or discomfort. Usually, when we use a canoe for racing, I look for new positions to break the discomfort.

We haven't tried the internal storage yet, but we plan to do a little hiking and packraft when the rivers are higher in the area. However, the multiple anchor points made it easy to secure our gear.

The speed also surprised us. During our last race, the only packraft we had trouble overtaking were the Barracuda R2 Pros.

It's probably not the lightest model, but the material used seems very robust. With the extremely low water levels in our rivers this summer, we had to snag so much rock. At first, I was a bit nervous, but the Barracuda took the impact really well. 

Given its speed, size and robustness, I can't think of a model more suited to the rigours and unpredictability of adventure racing. 

8. Do you have any advice for people who might be interested in getting involved in adventure racing? 

My only regret when it comes to adventure racing is that I waited too long to start. For a long time, I thought that running or cycling for such a long time was impossible.

All you have to do is try! Most races are modular. In other words, you don't have to complete all the checkpoints. Most races are designed to offer a challenge for all levels of fitness. If in doubt, ask the organizers. There are more and more short-format races that offer a good introduction to the sport.

For your first race, keep a simple game plan and plan the estimated time for each section, cutting checkpoints if necessary to avoid arriving late. Keep a good margin for manoeuvre, especially towards the end of the race, as your progress will probably be slower than expected. Bring a variety of food that you've tested beforehand. The same goes for equipment: nothing new on race day.

Adventure races forge memories and friendships like no other. There will be difficult moments, of course, but you'll always come away with something positive.

We often joke that adventure racing is a vacation for busy people. You'll experience so many incredible things in such a short time!

9. What events does Rikico have coming up?

We've got a few small orienteering races planned, but we're mainly working on our stage race on May 17-18, 2024, which will bear a brand-new name: Course Aventure Saint-Laurent, in reference to the river that borders us.

During this event, teams will cover some 150 km in kayaks provided by the organization, on mountain bikes and walking or running over two days from 10 to 12 hours. This race will offer a great challenge to the most competitive teams and a good first experience for sportsmen and women wishing to try adventure racing. On average, only a few teams will manage to complete all the checkpoints.

We always organize a smaller race on the same weekend, ranging from 4 to 6 hours. This year, although yet to be confirmed, we are planning an 8 to 10 hour race to target teams who would like to try a slightly longer race. 

10 What's been your favourite part of racing this summer?

My favourite section of the 6 races I did this summer was undoubtedly the Hard Fall night packraft in Vermont on August 17 and 18. It was a 20 km section on a reservoir with peninsulas. Alternating between the packraft and the trek meant that the strategic aspect was important and the number of route choices almost infinite. Paddling and orienteering at night were truly special moments.

You can see a video of us here (from 2min47 to 3min10 with our black and red Barracuda R2 Pro. I'm wearing a yellow shirt with red PFD. Andréanne is in a white and orange helmet). 

10. Any final words? 

Don't be afraid by how long these events last. We always end up finding that it goes by too fast to go and look for one more checkpoint!

11. How can people get in touch with you?

You can contact us by e-mail at: riki.orientation@gmail.com or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RIKICO.Aventure