Revision of Extreme North Dakota Spring Primer Adventure Race (END-SPAR) from Thu, 11/14/2013 - 19:23

 
 
Race Summary:   

The Extreme North Dakota Spring Primer Adventure Race (END-SPAR) - it's our annual sprint distance race designed to provide a means for those new to adventure racing to get their feet wet (and muddy and possibly blistered!) without committing to a longer race.  That said, it's no picnic and could probably be accurately billed as the 'second hardest race in North Dakota'.  The 2014 race will take place in and around the Pembina Gorge, based out of Walhalla, North Dakota.  Each year the course will change entirely and new mystery challenges will be presented.

Besides being a great entry point into the sport of AR, it is also an opportunity for experienced teams to hone their skills for the coming season and/or develop new skills that will prepare them for longer races.  I like to think that when racers who are well acquainted with (and able to complete) the ENDracing series do other races they will happily realize that their ability to comfortably be 'out of their comfort zone' is more than a match for most events.
 
Details: Racer updates via our Facebook event page.
 
Date: May 17, 2014
 
Time: Race start 10 am.  Pre-race meeting, 9:40 am.  This is a 9-hour race (cutoff is 9 hours, teams will finish in between 7 and 9 hours).
 
Cap: Race will be limited to 40 paying teams.  Teams receiving free entry will not count towards this cap.  The race is expected to fill up.
 
Registration fee:  $60 pp (before March 1), $75 pp (after February 2nd) Why the price increase? The race has moved from a six hour event to a nine hour event  You're actually paying the same per hour for your suffering!
 
Location: Pembina Gorge, near Walhalla, ND
 
Entry Includes:  Maps, all mystery challenge equipment, post race meal, premiere prize pool (the race is a prestige race for the North American Adventure Race Series).  ENDracing swag will be available for purchase during registration for dirt cheap if you want it.
 
Categories: 3/4 person coed (premiere), 3/4 person all male (open), 2 person open, 2 person coed.  There will be additional categories created for 3/4 person all female and 2 person all female teams if we recieve 3 or more entries in each category.  If there are fewer than three entries then these teams will compete in their respective coed categories for category prizes and placings.
 
Disciplines:  Every race will include running/trekking, mt. biking (possibly including single-track),  and map and compass navigation (all mandatory points for END-SPAR will be pre-plotted).  The 2014 event will also feature packrafting on the Pembina river.  Please see the FAQ's if you have questions about packrafting.  ENDracing does have several Alpacka Scout Models available for rent ($25 ea) for teams who don't want to get their own boats.  These can be reserved on a first come first served basis. 
 
Scoring:  Teams collect a point for each checkpoint (CP) they visit during the course.  Some CP's are optional so that slower or less experienced teams can still complete the course by opting out of these as they see fit.  Teams are ranked based on score.  Teams with the same score are ranked based on finish time.

Refund Policy: Sorry, there are no refunds of your registration fee if the race happens.  In event of severe weather, a modified course may be offered on the same day or an alternate date chosen.  Registered racers unable to make the new date would be offered credit towards another ENDracing event in an amount equal to 75% of the registration cost.  If the event is cancelled entirely due to weather or natural disaster, all registered racers will receive the 75% credit.  In the extremely unlikely event that the event is cancelled for other reasons (lack of participant numbers, for example), full refunds will be provided, of course.
 
Other Details: Gear list (coming 2014) 
 
Past Races
 
2013 ResultsPhotos, Videos (1, 2), Press  (1, 2)
 
2012 Results, Photos, Videos (1, 2, 3)
 
 
2010 Results, Videos (1, 2)

All profits from this event - and all ENDracing events - will help support Ground UP adventures, a local North Dakota non-profit dedicated to bringing adventure to the region's youth and larger communities.