Yes, it's that time of year again. The Ordnance Survey Outdoors Show descends on the NEC, Birmingham, from 16th to 18th March, with hundreds of gear brands, inspirational speakers, a whole range of 'have-a-go' opportunities, and much more. Here are the latest additions to the programme...
Speakers
The show's latest recruit is award-winning action sports filmmaker, rock climber, skydiver and adventurer, Leo Dickinson. His first of over fifty adventure films documented an ascent of the infamous North Face of the Eiger, back in 1970, and he's since gone on to climb the North Faces of the Piz Badille and Matterhorn, reach over 24,000ft on both sides of Everest and lots more. You can hear him talk about his adventures at 12:15pm on Friday, March 16th in the World Theatre.
Other top speakers include Brian Blessed, Bill Oddie, Ray Mears, Alan Hinkes, Leo Houlding, Baz Roberts, Mick Fowler, Colin Prior, Simon Yates, The Arctic Foxes and Tim Emmett.
The Brands
OK, so most of these have been planning their appearance for a while, but as they've got a number of exciting new geary bits and bobs up their sleeves, we'll recap anyway. First of all, Alpkit will be on hand in waterproof day sack mode to prove the new Gourdon drybag really is drip proof even in the fiercest of, erm, Midlands storms. Paramo will also be thinking dry thoughts with their new Velez Adventure Smock and Fuera Peak windproof jacket. Lowe Alpine, meanwhile, are busy watching their backs with the new advanced TFX back system.
Add to that the new range of Berghaus footwear, the 'common threads recycling programme' from environmentally-aware brand Patagonia, and, if gadgets are your thing, Sprayway's iPod-tastic jackets. All sounds good to us.
Have-a-go...
... at most sports you've ever wanted to try, and some you haven't. The fun and games centres on the Climb Zone, where top boulderers will be battling it out at the IFSC European Bouldering Championships and seeking Guininess Book of Records fame for the world's largest dyno. If that sounds too hard-core, they promise to leave plenty of time for us amateurs to pootle up slabby climbs too.
The hands-on part of the show doesn't start and finish at the four climbing walls either. You can also try out paragliding, survival skills, caving, diving, canoeing, surfing, crate climbing, mountain biking and orienteering, which is quite an impressive range considering that the show's indoors.
Think Irish Thoughts
And what do you do when it's all getting a bit too much for you? Well, the Discover Ireland stand at the show isn't just about convincing us of the beauties of the Irish countryside - it's also about Celtic jigs, Irish musicians and Dublin parades. Yes, the truly Irish experience of St Patrick's day hits Birmingham via live screenings from across the Irish Sea. So if the Gore-tex versus eVent dilemma is getting you down, you could, erm, watch footage of lots of very green people looking rather happy:-)
Ticket Offer
Tickets cost £12 per day (£14 on the door) but you can buy them for £10 per person by quoting promotional code MAGIC2. Just go to the OS Outdoors Show web site at www.theoutdoorsshow.co.uk and click on the 'Book Tickets' link.
Don't forget, we also have free tickets up for grabs in our Outdoors Show competition.
See you on at the NEC on 16th, 17th, or 18th March!
