Are you stumped about what to get your favorite adventure racer for the holidays? Funderstorm has come up with a few ideas that will solve your gifting dilemmas.
First up, The Thrill of Victory, The Agony of My Feet. This book, published in 2005 and full of adventure racing stories from the sports' top athletes, is sure to please any racer. At $13.00 CAD at Chapters, you really can't go wrong. Funderstorm highly reccomends.
If your favorite racer is too busy training to read an entire book, how about a magazine subscription? Although the only publication dedicated entirely to adventure racing is now defunct (RIP Adventure Sports), Trail Runner is now the official publication of the USARA. In addition to several pages devoted to AR each month, the magazine also has a great race calendar and tons of tips for adventure racing training. Our only warning is that since this magazine is only published bi-monthly, the recipient may spend days waiting at the mailbox for it to arrive.
Reading not their thing? Not too many racers wouldn't be happy with a gift pack of their favorite gels and energy bars. Thanks to an ad in Trail Runner, SnackyPants recently discovered Zombie Runner, a great site with an excellent selection of nutrition and running-related products. Canadians will marvel at the selection of training, racing and recovery products that we are being denied north of the border. Check out the cool new Clif Shot Hot Chocolate and Apple Cider recovery drinks. Mmmmm!
If cross-border or online shopping isn't your thing, check out Running Free in Markham. Owned by adventure racers and featuring a wide selection of related products, you are sure to find something there that will please your racing pals. You can't go wrong with a pair of Salomon XA Pro shoes or a Simon River Sports paddle. Believe me, it doesn't matter if they already have one of these items - most racers horde gear like fat kids horde chocolate.
Got a bigger budget? Well if you live in an area where winter puts a damper on the racing season, why not consider a bike trainer? The CycleOps Fluid 2 Trainer is one of top-selling trainers and for good reason. Featuring a smooth, quiet ride and easy attachment to your existing bike tire, this trainer will let the racer on your list be prepared for the 2008 season. This puppy will cost you about $400 CAD or slightly less in USD, but is definitely money well spent.
Does that racer on your list have difficulty figuring out which way is North? Aside from being able to tell time (duh), the Suunto Vector has a digital compass, an altimeter, a barometer, about five different alarms and comes in many cool colours, like pink and baby blue. We're not sure what the barometer is for, but if knowing barometric pressure will ever help you through that nasty bushwhack, then you are all set. SnackyPants has this watch in black, but Toots-in-Tights calls the colour "stealth," which sounds way cooler. The large face takes a little getting used to, but it's worth the size not to get lost in the woods anymore. Buy it from Moosejaw, because they are hilarious.
Lastly, if you don't find anything on this list that appeals to you, check out the following sites, where great adventure racing gear can be had for reasonable prices:
http://www.pricepoint.com/
http://www.argear.com/
http://www.moosejaw.com/
http://www.altrec.com/
http://www.backcountry.com/
Funderstorm loves to talk gear, so drop us a line if you have any questions, and until then, happy shopping!
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