Last week, members of the OutdoorXpo team traded the office for the Jurassic Coast, taking part in the Youth Adventure Trust's Hike Bike Paddle challenge in Weymouth. Raccoon Media Group, organisers of OutdoorXpo, were proud to support the event as a partner, joining teams from across the sports and outdoor sector for a day that mixed friendly competition with a genuinely good cause.
It's the kind of event that sits naturally alongside what OutdoorXpo is all about: an industry that spends its working life championing the outdoors, getting out into it together, and using that shared passion to help young people who don't yet have the same access to it.
Rebecca, Kristian and Nathalie from team OutdoorXpo took on the hike part of the day while members of the ISPO team took on the cycle, before all teaming up for the last stretch of the day, a 2km team paddle.
About Hike Bike Paddle
Hike Bike Paddle is the Youth Adventure Trust's flagship team challenge for the sports and outdoor industry. Teams take on three disciplines in a single day: a hike across the Isle of Portland, an on and off-road bike leg, and a 2km stand-up paddle to finish. This year's event was based at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on the Jurassic Coast, with teams able to tackle the full challenge or split it as a relay.
Beyond the team building and friendly competition, every team taking part is fundraising for the Youth Adventure Trust, a charity that supports vulnerable young people through outdoor adventure programmes. The Trust works with children facing difficult circumstances, using activities like these to build confidence, resilience and connection, often for young people who would otherwise never get the chance to experience the outdoors in this way.