Trekking Competition
In Brazil we have a sport called Enduro a Pé (Walking Enduro) also known as Trekking Competition. It is a regularity competition where teams navigate following a given course while trying to stay on the predetermined speed for each segment. The competition is organized in 12 stages, which typically happens on natural environments. Each team receive a spreadsheet which shows information about the course such as: references (trees, rivers, constructions), compass directions, lengths of each segment and target speed. The speed is given in meters per minute and the distances in meters.
Besides the compass (which is needed to navigate in some segments) each team can use equipment to help them measure the distances and keep the time. However direct measurement equipments such as GPS and lasers are forbidden. All distances must be computed based on step counting. Equipment to add the steps such as pedometers are allowed. Radio communication is also prohibited.
Besides the compass (which is needed to navigate in some segments) each team can use equipment to help them measure the distances and keep the time. However direct measurement equipments such as GPS and lasers are forbidden. All distances must be computed based on step counting. Equipment to add the steps such as pedometers are allowed. Radio communication is also prohibited.
The regularity of each team is verified by personnel and equipment positioned along the course. Each team carries a USB pendrive (chip) that is timestamped by Control Points along the course. The position of the control points is not known in advance, so one must be attentive to not miss them. The Control Points can verify one of several things:
A team can have from 2 to 6 members. Each member usually perform one or more of the following functions:
After the race, the organizers compared the passage time in each Control Point with the ideal time. Each second late is penalized with one point. Each second ahead with two points. The team that receive the least penalty points wins.
- Time: Hour of passage of the team
- Distance: Distance measured by the team from a previous point
- Course: Verify only if the team passed through the point
- Error: Penalize the team that passes on the point
A team can have from 2 to 6 members. Each member usually perform one or more of the following functions:
- Navigation: Read and interpret the spreadsheet references, finding the way on the environment
- Computation: Perform the time and distance calculations to discover if the team is on time or not.
- Step Counting: Measure the distance between points by counting steps.
- Control Point: Responsible for registering the team passage in the control points.
After the race, the organizers compared the passage time in each Control Point with the ideal time. Each second late is penalized with one point. Each second ahead with two points. The team that receive the least penalty points wins.