Adventure Women, Do You Know What the Benefits Are to Doing Situational Training and Tours, Especially Lead By Women?

By Shalmarie Wilson

When women are trying to learn a sport or are being led by men there is a bit of a disconnect.  Men do not have the understanding of our challenges because they do not experience those challenges themselves.  When women SEE other women doing things, they can relate better because there is an even playing ground.  There is great value to having more female instructors and ride guides, as many female riders appreciate learning from a female instructor/guide, because of this same playing ground.  

SheADV has a few situational trainings and tours scheduled for 2021.  Events like Dirty for Good and the ADVWoman COBDR Situational Training Tours, we often start the event with 1-2 days of training and then we hit the trails.  We find that training just prior to the multi-day tours are very beneficial for the riders and coaches alike.  Riders get to freshen up on their skills, especially if they have not been practicing.  And the coaches get to assess the riders prior to hitting the route.  It is scientifically proven we lose 80% of what we learn if we do not practice it within 48 hours.  Multi-day tours will uplevel skills several degrees.  

Because many riders don’t practice throughout the year, it’s always great to have a coach right there while they run through some drills so they can have immediate feedback and get to correct or fine tune their skills with proper direction.  When we don’t practice often, we tend to forget little details that could make all the difference in the world.  Having a coach give that feedback is very valuable.  The more you take training, the more you can add to your skills toolbox.  Remember, skills are perishable, so you still need to practice after the training and practice often.

So, if you ever get the opportunity to do an event such as Dirty for Good or the  ADVWoman Situational Training and Tours, I, along with many riders who have participated in such tours, highly recommend doing it.  You get 1-2 days of training to work on the skills and practice in a closed-circuit area and then you get to take that information right away into a multi-day tour where everything is reinforced often.  

I love this bit on female support, that I came across from #LeanInTogether, “Women accomplish amazing things when we support each other.  When a woman helps another woman, they both benefit.  And when women celebrate one another’s accomplishments, we’re all lifted up. Together women can do more, go further, and change the world.”

If you would like to read a participant’s own account of a 5-day backcountry situational training tour visit: My SheADVenture

If you are interested in setting up your own personal or small group situational training and/or tour, visit shalwilson.com