Navigation Training for Spirited Women Adventure Race
Preparing for Spirited Women Tekapo 2027
Navigation Training for Spirited Women Adventure Race
Navigation Training for Spirited Women Adventure Race
Preparing for Spirited Women Tekapo 2027
Published: 17 Mar 2026
With the Spirited Women Adventure Race heading to Lake Tekapo in 2027, navigation will be one of the most important skills for teams wanting to move efficiently through the course.
Adventure racing is about much more than fitness. Teams that navigate well often gain a huge advantage by choosing better routes, avoiding unnecessary climbs, and keeping momentum when other teams are relocating.
As a previous Spirited Women competitor and long-course winner, and a former Godzone Adventure Race competitor leading an all-women’s team, I’ve seen first-hand how strong navigation skills can transform a race experience.
I’ve spent many years navigating in the mountains through alpine guiding, expedition travel and adventure racing. I’m one of only a handful of female IFMGA-qualified mountain guides in New Zealand and have guided professionally since 2011, as well as assessing NZMGA guide candidates since 2019.
These experiences shape the way I teach navigation, focusing on simple strategies that work in real terrain under pressure.
Why Navigation Matters in Adventure Racing
Navigation Wins Time
In many adventure races, the fastest team physically isn’t always the team that wins.
Strong navigation allows teams to:
• choose faster routes between checkpoints
• avoid unnecessary elevation gain
• keep moving confidently when others stop to relocate
• stay calm when the course becomes complex
Even small navigation mistakes can cost 10–30 minutes, which can make a big difference in race results.
Common Navigation Mistakes
Navigation Challenges Many Teams Face
Many adventure racers practice on highly detailed orienteering maps or rely heavily on GPS during training, but find traditional navigation with less detailed topographic maps more challenging in races.
Common issues include:
• struggling to visualise terrain from contour lines
• difficulty maintaining direction across open terrain
• uncertainty about relocation when off-course
• slow decision-making at route choice points
These are all skills that can be learned and improved with practice.
Why Tekapo Is Perfect for Navigation Training
Training in the Tekapo Landscape
The terrain around Lake Tekapo is ideal for learning navigation skills.
The open tussock landscapes of the Mackenzie Basin make it easier to understand how contour lines relate to real terrain features.
Participants can clearly see:
• ridges and spurs
• shallow valleys and drainage lines
• slope angles and terrain shape
This makes it one of the best places in New Zealand to develop terrain interpretation skills.
Navigation Training Courses
Navigation Courses for Adventure Racers
To help competitors prepare for Spirited Women Tekapo 2027, Alpine Recreation offers practical navigation courses in the Tekapo region.
Our courses focus on:
• map and compass skills
• terrain interpretation
• route choice strategy
• relocation techniques
• navigation exercises in real terrain
These skills translate directly to adventure racing navigation.
Women’s Navigation Courses
Women’s Navigation Training
We also run women’s only navigation courses designed to provide a supportive learning environment for female adventurers wanting to build navigation confidence.
These courses are taught by experienced female instructors and focus on practical, easy-to-understand navigation strategies.
Learn Navigation Skills for Your Next Adventure Race
If you are preparing for the Spirited Women Adventure Race or simply want to develop stronger backcountry navigation skills, our Alpine Navigation Fundamentals Course is a great place to start.
Courses are held near Lake Tekapo and combine short explanations with practical navigation exercises in real terrain.
