ASEC 2025 Round-Up
A Day of Shared Wisdom, Real-World Insight & Genuine Collaboration
ASEC is organised in association with the Kendal Mountain Festival, by Shane Ohly of Ourea Events and James Thurlow of Open Tracking. It is the only industry conference aimed specifically at those who organise adventure sports events and will next be held on Friday 20th November 2026.
Last week, close to one hundred adventure-sports event organisers gathered for ASEC 2025. The day was characterised by candid discussion, practical learning and a strong sense of community responsibility.
Once again, the conference demonstrated the true strength of this sector: organisers who are willing to share openly, support generously and collectively raise standards across the UK.
As Sam Heward of Ultra X observed:
“Attendees showed up to learn, contribute and share. No egos. No protecting of insights. Just genuine collaboration and a collective push to move the industry forward.”
From the opening session to the final workshop, this ethos was consistently evident.
Key Insights and Presentations
Marc Laithwaite
The Spirit and Culture of the Lakeland 100
Marc delivered a compelling, note-free presentation exploring how the Lakeland 100 has grown from a 60-person start line into one of the sport’s most cherished events. He emphasised that passion, storytelling and a carefully developed culture are central to building long-term loyalty and a strong event identity.
Ross Worthington
Raising the Bar for Charity Adventure Challenge Events
Drawing on decades of operational experience, Ross highlighted the scale and importance of the charity challenge sector. With more than 300 supported events each year and over 800 staff members, RAW Adventures demonstrates how effective planning, professional competence and well-trained teams underpin safe and successful outdoor experiences.
His examples underscored the crucial role of collaboration and trusted partnerships.
James Elson
Independent Events and the Power of Global Collaboration
James provided a thoughtful assessment of the pressures on independent organisers, including rising costs and audience competition. His reflections on joining the World Trail Majors illustrated how shared learning and international collaboration can elevate nationally significant events and strengthen the organiser community.
Anna Ridewood
Demystifying Access, Law and Stakeholder Relationships
Anna’s highly practical session addressed common misconceptions about land access and permissions. She offered clear guidance on what is legally permissible under access law, when consultation is required and how to develop constructive stakeholder relationships. The strong interest from delegates following her talk demonstrated the value of this clarity.
Panel Discussion: The Future of Trail Running
Moderated by Matt Walsh of TrailMix and featuring Lucy Ham (Inov-8), Sam Heward (Ultra X) and James Elson (Centurion), this discussion explored changing participation culture, commercial trends, and the role of major brands. A recurring message was that collaboration and shared standards will be essential as the sector continues to evolve.
Regulatory and Sector Updates
Dr Natalya Kennedy (Shelter Stone) provided an important update on forthcoming changes to event medicine regulation, clarifying expected implications and encouraging organisers to remain fully informed as developments progress.
Shane Ohly then outlined early work exploring the potential formation of a representative body for adventure-sport event organisers. While initial feedback was positive, further progress will rely on volunteer leadership. Delegates were also encouraged to consider the existing support offered by the Trail Running Association (TRA).
Industry Survey Results
James Thurlow presented findings from the pre-conference organiser survey, giving visibility to current sector priorities. Key challenges identified included insurance and land-access complexities, alongside an encouraging readiness for deeper collaboration and shared solutions.
Scenario Workshop
A late programme adjustment introduced an interactive workshop that proved extremely engaging. Delegates worked in groups to address three realistic operational scenarios, including adverse-weather build conditions, volunteer management issues and crisis communication challenges.
The exercise prompted active debate, shared perspectives and practical learning that many participants described as a highlight of the conference.
Looking Ahead to ASEC 2026
This year’s programme had a notable focus on trail running, reflecting both the audience profile and some late changes to content. The core principles of safe, well-managed events apply across all adventure-sport disciplines, and the intention for 2026 is to broaden the scope and representation of the programme accordingly.
ASEC remains committed to evolving with its community, strengthening shared understanding and supporting organisers across the wider adventure-sports landscape.
Resources mentioned in the conference:
Outdoor UK challenge events - Chartered Institute of Fundraising
The TRA: https://www.tra-uk.org