“For far too long, in many walks of life, women haven’t been treated as equals. I’m glad I can say that the adventure community, consisting of open minded souls, has acted on this heinous crime.
The Women’s Adventure Expo is back in Bristol for the second year. It’s grown, no, flourished! I’ve seen this first hand. Being a celebration of women in adventure. you might think it’s not for guys, but you’re wrong. It’s here to motivate and inspire women, through the standout female adventurers who have been pushing limits regardless. That doesn’t mean it’s a non-guy event. Last year, there were a few guys (including me, obviously) and the difference from the normal “chest beating explorer” talks was remarkable. We weren’t spoken at; there was no “look at me” pedestals to celebrate individual selfishness. Just straight talking keynote speakers sharing information and promoting that all these huge trips from cycling the world to running the length of countries was tough but totally possible. Yes even for the guys…
Don’t be kidding yourself that it’s not cool to get along, I felt far more relaxed, and felt the openness to ask questions, learn new things and just be at one with begin a human.
So, please put your testorone aside, and should you think there’s nothing to learn by attending, at least you read this and consider there’s a chance you could be wrong. Come along, share the passion that a few hundred women have for adventure. We’re all the same after all, we’re just sometimes in need of a different type of motivation and encouragement. You know the “it’ll be alright” thing that guys have? Well, women are calculated and caucus. Women plan, train, learn and grow before entering into something. Guys, we just skid up and crack on. Is this better? Different? No judgement, we all have our different ways of tackling our challenge.
Guys, we’ve plenty to learn about how we approach everything in life, not just adventure. The Women’s Adventure Expo, is here for all. It’s the last adventure expo of 2016 and your chance to learn and develop new skills. There’s no silly questions here - just answers we’re all in need of.
Come along, take off the manly hat we wear, let’s hug it out, talk adventure and share. This is the one show of the year where information is inclusive for all….”
Russell Smith, A Bearded Male Adventurer
@Russ79Smith
At 18 Russell quit work with the ideology of “Be brave, take risks, nothing can substitute experience“. A supporter of anyone bettering themselves, who believes nothing is more important than doing what makes you happy. Russell has a wealth of adventures under his belt, from space hopping to kayaking, 1,000 mile endurance journeys and completing LEJOG on a Swifty Scooter! Coming into his 20th year of outdoor experience, his trip focus is to inspire and make people smile, whilst planning personal firsts in swimming and European multidiscipline trip for private clients.
Autumn 2016 sees Russell set about training for his biggest challenge yet: learning something new and building a bomb proof body whilst growing into his new found passion of presenting Outdoor & Adventure festivals. Russell believes we should all have an Everest in life, a project we’re working on and be open to change.
