The Winching Challenge: All About Competition Winching
The Winching Challenge: All About Competition Winching
What do worm charming, extreme ironing, air guitar, and winching all have in common? All four are skills you can use to win in competition. Not surprisingly, the similarities end there. As interesting as competitive worm charming sounds, winching is the only skill in the group that has a legitimate, real-world application. Sorry, worm charmers.
Winching is a survival skill, hobby, sport, and bonding activity all rolled into one. Off-road drivers who master the skill of winching can explore terrains that are off-limits to everyone else. The experienced wincher can confidently tackle trenches, mud holes, craggy trails, and densely wooded areas.
In some regions of the world, experienced winchers can also show off their skills in competition. These competitions, known as winch challenges, are popular in Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. Some have official sanctioning bodies, while others are less formally arranged by off-road clubs.
Generally, a winching challenge is a race. The entrants are teams of two, one of whom is the designated driver. The event might have timed stages or it might involve only one starting and ending point. Either way, the course will cover terrain that is not navigable without a self-recovery winch. When competitors get stuck, they must winch their way out as fast as possible to avoid falling behind in the race. The fastest start-to-finish times win, but competitors can incur penalties that impact their score. For example, a competitor might be penalized for poor sportsmanship or actions that could damage the environment.
Vehicle modifications for winch challenges
To compete in a winching challenge, you need a vehicle that's set up for extreme, off-road driving. Each sanctioning body will have its own rules on allowed modifications, and some require competing vehicles to be street legal. In the highest levels of competition, a hydraulic winch is preferred over an electric winch.
Skills required for competition winching
Not everyone who's good at using a self-recovery winch is going to be successful at a winching challenge. Yes, you need to know the mechanics of using your winch. But you and your teammate also need to have great communication and teamwork skills. You also need to think on your feet and implement creative solutions, fast. Consider the last time you used your winch. Did nature provide you a suitable anchor point in exactly the right place? A winch challenge course tests your ability to solve problems under pressure.
Getting started in competition winching
An easy first step is to visit YouTube and search for winching challenge videos. These will give you an idea of what's involved in competition winching. These events are tough to watch in person as a spectator, because they're often held in restricted areas. But if you can find an event near you, contact the sanctioning body and ask about volunteering as a marshal. The next step would be to convince an experienced competitor to let you ride shotgun.
As of this writing, some ongoing winch competition series are the Scotia Winch Challenge in Scotland and the Mickey Thomson SSS Winch Challenge and the ARB Xtreme Winch Challenge in Australia.
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