RV OLYMPICS
THE ORIGIN AND BACK STORY
After being on the road and camping for 2-1/2 months, we finally decided to do absolutely nothing for the day. Our plans changed when John had to do some work and I was left to my own devices with a lot of time to kill!! My mind often wanders, sometimes on a fairly straight path and not so on other times. Like when writing the attached. I promise that there was NO alcohol involved.
Here’s how this went. We were camped in a very large, open campground with 250 sites pretty close to one another in a National Park in Canada. Up until 11:00 at the check-out time, I watched fellow campers packing up and leaving. I started thinking that they were RACING to see if they could get near the front of the line at the dump station or to be fast at dumping when there are 5 people waiting in line behind them. I also watched someone trying to hitch up his travel trailer, apparently without the aid of a back-up camera or a spotter. It took 11 tries before being successful. That’s when TEAMWORK would be in order. His partner seemed to have no interest or desire to help.
Then the next round of campers arrived. While watching them parking or trying to park, I thought about the times when John had to back into a difficult campsite with numerous people watching. I also remembered times when the roles were reversed. We've often joked about having 1-10 SCORE CARDS, like in GYMNASTICS, to grade their parking.
This is about the time I went off into the deep end combining my thoughts.
Race + Gymnastics + Scoring + RV's = RV Olympics.
RV OLYMPICS PURPOSE:
The purpose of the RV Olympic Games is to promote RV’ing and highlight that the normal, mundane and often unpleasant tasks of RV’ing can be fun. As in all sports, athletes who learn good techniques, have proper training, practice often, and have a good attitude, can be winners.
CONTESTANTS, CATAGORIES, AND CLASSIFICATIONS:
All Contestants must be owners or operators of an RV. The RV Olympics Categories are Trailer, Motorhome, Pop-Up, or Truck Camper. All categories are separated into Full-timers or Vacationers classifications. Some events may have additional classifications. There are both individual and team events.
THE RV OLYMPIC CHOCK:
The top three finishers in each RV Olympic event will be awarded a trophy. The trophy is designed in the likeness of a wheel chock. The Stainless Steel “Chock” will be awarded for first place, The Wooden “Chock” for second place, and The Yellow Plastic “Chock” for third place.
OLYMPIC TRIALS:
The trials are held daily throughout the year at any public campground in the country.
HAPPY CAMPER:
Dog Shows have ‘Best in Show’. Beauty Pageants have ‘Miss Congeniality’. The RV Olympics have the “Happy Camper” award. It is awarded to the Olympian who travels more than 2 weeks per year, participates in each event (winning not necessary), enjoys the journey as much as the destination, remains calm through adversity, feels like the RV is ‘home’, and offers advice and/or assistance to a fellow RV Olympians.
THE EVENTS:
HOLDING TANK ELIMINATION: Timed event starting with RV in position at the Dump Station followed by several other RV’s waiting for their turn. Challenge is complete when both tanks are empty and hoses are rinsed and stored. Any spillage will result in a disqualification.
Current record is 8 minutes.
TOWING: This is a timed event of maneuvering an RV a specified distance through an obstacle course consisting of (1) narrow streets with parked cars on both sided (2) streets with a designated number of POP’s (Phone Obsessed Persons who never take their eyes off of their cell) who have pedestrian right-of-way according to a City Ordinance and choose to cross anywhere they choose without taking their eyes off of their phones (3) streets with a designated number of HTD’s (Hazards To Drivers – persons on bikes and scooters who drive on the road and/or the sidewalk and do not obey any traffic rules), and (4) A designated amount of on-coming traffic consisting mainly of rental Class C’s driven by amateur drivers. Any contact by the RV, toad, or tow vehicle with any object or the receipt of a traffic violation issued by a law enforcement agent will result in disqualification. Current world record is held by John Howard.
CAMPSITE ARRIVAL: This is a timed event starting with the RV positioned on the road in front of the designated campsite. Campsite has a 90-degree turn and is at a 6% incline with trees on each side and a picnic table in the back. Challenge is complete when RV is positioned properly in the campsite and the tow vehicle or toad is parked properly. Any contact by the RV, toad, or tow vehicle with any object will result in disqualification. There will be separate classes for RV’s with and without back-up cameras.
SET UP IN ADVERSE CONDITIONS: This is a timed event starting with the RV arriving in the campsite during a heavy thunderstorm. Challenge is complete when RV is level side to side and front to back, chocks are in place, stabilizers are down, the RV or toad is unhitched and properly parked, and hook ups for electricity, water, and sewer are connected. Classifications will be broken down between manual and automatic leveling & stabilizing.
MOSQUITO STANDOFF: This is another timed event starting when the Athlete removes a lawn chair from its storage, places it outdoors at sunset. Challenge is complete when Athlete has withstood a massive swarm of hungry female mosquitos. Any use of repellants, artificial substances, or foul language will result in disqualification.
WILDLIFE SIGHTING: Be able to spot wildlife along the road or in the woods while traveling, obeying the speed limit, and photograph the wildlife. This is a team sport. Any contact with the wildlife, a pedestrian, or vehicle and stopping traffic will result in disqualification.
NEWBIE RECOGNITIION: Be the fastest to determine that your campsite neighbor is a ‘newbie’ to RV’ing.
CAMPGROUND DESIGN: Be the fastest to determine that the campground and or campsites were laid out or designed by someone who had never towed a trailer.
BORDER CROSSING: Timed event to cross the border between the US and Canada (either direction), passing inspection, and maneuvering through the booth with inches to spare and not hitting anything. Current Record for the Event is 5 minutes held by John Howard going from Canada to Alaska in 2019. The official record is under review as it may have been broken on 7/26/26 again by John Howard crossing from Canada into Montana.
CONVERSIONS: Timed event converting Celsius to Fahrenheit, kilometers to miles, liters to gallons, and foreign currency to US dollars.
BOONDOCKING: Successfully and comfortably camping for 5 days without hook ups for electricity, water, sewer or generator, no access to cell service or internet, and with temperatures ranging from a low of 38 and high of 85.
REFRIGERATOR PACKING: Event involves loading an RV refrigerator for a lengthy trip. Loading only multiples of a single item (such as beer) results in a disqualification. The winner is determined by the lowest amount of vacant space in shortest period of time. Classes will be divided by size of refrigerator. In the event of a tie, the most number of meals contained with determine the winner.
SIX-MONTH LOGISTICS: Timed event to plan a 6-month trip. Requirements include destinations, the route planned with campsite reservations made, highlights, events, or features at the destinations researched and suggested, and a budget prepared. The 3,3,3 rule (do not travel more than 300 miles in one day, arrive before 3 pm and stay for 3 days) will be applied. Exceptions to the 3,3,3, rule must be approved by a partner or spouse or disqualification will be imposed. There will be a required number of national and state park campgrounds and at least two 3-day holiday weekends are required to be included. Bonus points can be obtained if all campsites have at least electrical hook-ups. Current world record holder is John Howard.
FUTURE EVENTS UNDER CONSIDERATION:
MOSQUITO STANDOFF: This event, in the future, may be divided into several different levels, such as ‘mild’, ‘severe’, or ‘ruthless’
CAMPFIRE BUILDING: Build campfire with only the natural elements provided. Use of any foreign matter or propellants will result in DQ. No tools such as hatchets, axes, splitters, or saws may be used.
R&T: This event is based on having the knowledge to make a necessary Repairs and having the necessary Tools on hand.
AWNING RETRACTION: a timed event of stowing the awning. Electric and manual classes are proposed.
ENTERING A POPULAR NATIONAL PARK: The challenge is to pass through the entry gate quick enough to have time to enjoy the park. Overnight parking and the entry gate and over an hour wait will probably earn a disqualification.
GPS PROGRAMMING: Setting the GPS for the prescribed destination along with 3 additional stops to avoid unpaved roads, ferries, and other specified avoidances. Restrictions as height and weight will also be included. The event is complete with the driver exhibits complete faith in the GPS and follows it exactly and arrives at destination happily and relaxed.
SKILLET DINNER: How many recipes for a meal that can be made in one skillet can be remembered and the ingredients purchased in an unfamiliar, small, and crowded grocery store without the aid of any technology within a set period of time.
NOTE: Anyway, more than anything, I hope fellow RV’ers (and campers), get a chuckle out of this. Many of these events are easily relatable to the sailing world too.