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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!

I’ll share my impressions of the craft and my experience with CampingHikingAdventures, but what I also want to tell you, is the Nomad lets me experience places that would be otherwise inaccessible to this 68-year-old. 

One of the benefits of opening an online store that I was not expecting is the people we have met and the relationships we have developed. I have so much admiration for the adventure athletes that we sponsor and their dedication to each other and to challenging their physical limits. I have enjoyed meeting elderly couples who are entering the packrafting world because their traditional kayaks are too heavy and bulky to manage anymore. I had so much fun being an exhibitor in several markets and outdoor shows and seeing people's eyes sparkle when they are first introduced to packrafts. And I really love connecting with Canadians from coast to coast, knowing that I have a quality product that serves them in exploring our beautiful country. It's also been a fun benefit that my family can participate and help out in so much of the business. 

We are so excited to interview Nathalie Long, creator of Canada's first 7 day Expedition Race. Find out why she switched to a MRS Barracuda R2 Pro as her packraft of choice for racing; what TV series just launched about her, and what she is looking forward to in 2023. Enjoy!

Luc, you are a bit of a legend in the packrafting community! Can you tell us what motivated you to write your book? The Packraft Handbook started as a short safety manual. I had been teaching swiftwater safety courses for the Swiftwater Safety Institute for a few years and wanted to figure out how to get safety techniques out to more people. I was only reaching 30-40 people a summer with the in-person courses. But after writing the safety and rescue content, I realized that it would be even more valuable to write about how not to need rescue! (Duh!) So,...