how we evaluate
THIS IS HOW EVERY EVENT EARNS ITS PLACE.
01
Every event listed has been attended in person — by a member of The Pursuit team or a verified field reviewer — before it appears on the platform. We do not evaluate from desk research, press coverage, or online reputation. Attendance is not optional. It is the starting point.
02
An athlete should be able to make an informed commitment before registration closes. That means the format is documented — structure, divisions, judging standards, equipment requirements. The specific programming may be withheld by design — in some formats, the unknown is the point — but that should itself be stated clearly. What we're ruling out is events where athletes can't answer the basic questions before they sign up.
03
Events are assessed on the gap between what they promise and what they deliver. Adequate judging. Clear athlete communication. Organisation that holds up on the day. The events that fail this standard aren't in the system — they're why the system exists.
04
Commitment to an event extends beyond competition day. We assess the venue, the organisation, the atmosphere, and the experience around the event — because an athlete isn't just entering a race, they're investing in a full day, weekend, or trip. Events that deliver on paper but fall apart in practice don't qualify.
05
The organiser must be building something with intention. A first-edition event can qualify — the standard isn't longevity, it's investment. What we're ruling out is events with no infrastructure, no forward planning, and no evidence that they'll still exist next season. Athletes commit time and money to these events. The organiser should be doing the same.
Every event on The Pursuit has been assessed by someone who was there. Our field reviewers are athletes, coaches, and competitors who have attended, competed in, and evaluated events against our standards. Their assessment feeds directly into every format page.
The ‘reviewed by’ name on each listing isn’t decorative — it’s the person whose assessment determined whether the event earned its place.