Our volunteers out at CP8 (Aubrey Island) are chatting up racers as they come in to ask how things are going and it seems that the age-old nemesis of paddlers everywhere has reared its head today - the headwind. What's a headwind you ask? It's the wind that smacks you in the steals your hat, seems to suck ever ounce of forward movement out of your boat ("Are you sure, we're moving forward?!?") and brings joys such as sudden veers right or left, and makes that 40km seem more l

As the field spreads out, our TAs are heating up. Teams are starting to come in fast and furious through TA1 - moving from the first trekking leg and onto their bikes (the feet say thank you, the backsides... well... they'll complain a little later). At the same time, we're starting to see our leading teams coming through TA2 coming off the first bike section and moving out onto the water! As of 14:25, we had 20 teams through TA1 (of 53 total teams) and 4 teams through TA2. T

Our team at TA2 has all the boats organized and ready for racers to arrive. Teams will be coming in on their bikes and heading out on the water for 40km of paddling through lakes and narrows and just short (haha) ~8km of portaging. Most exciting is that the race will take the teams into Algonquin Park, one of Ontario's most spectacular preserved wilderness areas.

As the race progresses, teams start to spread further and further along the course - different speeds, route choices and other factors create a dynamic field across front, mid and back of pack racers. As we approach 4 hrs of racing, we have most teams trekking their way towards TA1 looking forward to a change of activity, and some lead teams now on bike and on their way up to TA2 to start their paddle. A gap has started to form between current teams leading the pack and the l

We asked past WT podium finishers Chris Laughren (Attack from Above) and Alex Provost (Raid Pulse / Bend Racing) - who aren't competing this year - their predictions about the race: what sections could decide the race, who they think might be on contending for podium and top 10, and any dark horse or teams to keep an eye on. Here's what they had to say: PODIUM PREDICTIONS Some winners from past years aren't at the 2026 WT due to other race commitments, so the podium should be

We're two hours into the race and teams are moving well through the first trek. We're seeing two main route choice strategies to move between CP3 and CP4 - continue bushwhacking (green line as the 'direct route') or head south and use the road (red line). The bushwhacking (green) route is the most direct on paper, but the road, might offer a quicker option to cover kms, but you still need to bushwhack south from CP3 and back north to CP4. We HQ dot-watchers are seeing most te

Adventure racing really is... well... an adventure. Teams are out on trek, bike and paddle across part of Ontario's wilderness. Want to get a feel for what they're up to? What kind of crazy they've signed up for (and are excited for to boot)? Check out this great little video to get a feel for what's ahead for the racers.

The race officially went off at 10am. One member from each team volunteered (or perhaps was 'voluntold', drew the short straw, or was chosen through another most excellent decision-making process) to run the Prologue. The prologue is a 2km marked running loop from the start line. Once the runner returns, the team regroups and starts on their first trekking segment. First teams off the prologue ran a blistering pace for a technical trail run, coming in around 8min. There was a

There is an excited buzz and chatter across teams gathered for the pre-race briefing and (most exciting) getting their first look at the race maps and the course that lays ahead of them. Teams will spend the next hour pouring over the maps, planning their routes, identifying where 'tricky' sections will be and make plans for managing their efforts across the kilometers. At this point, it all seems exciting and 'not too bad' - the inevitable rose coloured glasses of the pre-ra

Want to know how to find success at Wilderness Traverse adventure race? If you want to take home Bob the Beaver as WT Champion, here’s some advice from two guys that have done it. Former champions Pete Cameron and Alex Provost will miss WT this year as they take on the world at the Adventure Racing World Series championship in Corsica, so we asked them for some advice. It’s good stuff, whether you’re pushing for the podium or just trying to have your best race. Follow this ye