This year's Ordnance Survey Outdoors Show is due to arrive with the first hints of spring in March, here are some provisional details of what's going to be the biggest and best so far...
A
gentle pre-minder - yes, we invented that word - that the Ordnance
Survey Outdoors Show is back for 2005 and not that far off
either.
This year's dates are 18-20 March and the venue is, once again,
the NEC in Birmingham. The organisers are still confirming
exhibitors, but we can tell you already that it looks like the show's
going to the the biggest ever and stretches right across a wide field
of outdoors stuff.
There are five exhibitions incorporated into the main show this
year: Canoe 2005, Climb 2005, Go Diving, Adventure Sports and
Adventure Travel and as well as some of the features we've got used
to over the past few years, some new, interesting looking stuff as
well.
Among the old faithfuls are the Craghoppers Adventure Travel
Theatre, with a schedule of experienced travellers talking about
their cutting-edge experiences, the BMC Mountain Theatre with TGO
featuring 'world-renowned climbing experts, the Berghaus Theatre with
its stream of star speakers and for underwater types, a Watersports
Theatre.
There'll also be a load of exhibitors from gear companies, through
adventure travel operators and toourist information bodies through to
extreme technologies like the Bananaguard, no really.
Things we're looking forward to include the Freestyle Ice Wall and
Polar's AXN Fitnessi Challenge. We're not exactly sure what the heck
that is, but it promises all sorts of competitve nastiness. And while
we're talking about competitions, some of the world's top boulderers
will be stretching their tendons in The North Face UIAA-ICC
Bouldering World Cup.
Rather more practically there's going to be a Have-s-Go Zone,
where you'll be able to try out the latest gear from major outdoors
brands. Oh, and last but definitely not least, Jennings will be
running the 'Cumberland Arms', a 'great British pub' it says here, or
check out the Merrell Beach Bar with 'Britain's best inland beach' -
it says here - and appropriate refreshments.
National Outdoor Week - 12-20 March
The Show also coincides with National Outdoors Week which includes
a range of outdoor events right across the country including The
Big Walk a series of fund-raising events in support of Comic
Relief's Red Nose day. Details at www.nationaloutdoorweek.org.uk
More Information and Advanced Tickets
The OS
Outdoors Show web site is already up and running with information
on events and a list of exhibitors confirmed so far. You can also
save £3 on the cost of an adult ticket by pre-booking via the
web site, or watch this space for a possible OM ticket offer.
Sign up on the site and you could win a Casio PreTrek solar-powerd
altimiter, which is nice.
