Revision of Extreme North Dakota Adventure Race from Thu, 12/06/2012 - 19:51

 
You want tough?  You got tough.  
 

General Information:  Registration Opens April 1st, 2013

END-AR24 is hands down the hardest race in the state of North Dakota. It is an extreme challenge of team-work that involves biking, trekking, and possibly paddling through some of the most difficult terrain in the entire state for up to a full day. Many races like to tout themselves as hard but don't deliver.  As a racer myself, I hate that.  As a race director, I never want to 'be that guy'.  That said - a good race isn't just comprised of insanely difficult obstacles or ungodly distances - at the end of the day it needs to be both a memorable and rewarding experience for the racers - whether or not they finish.  And of course, it needs to be tons of fun (although the 'type' of fun may vary between participants...).  So that's my goal in putting on this event.  It won't be for everyone.  It will be tough.  Not sure if it's for you?  Ask around - find someone who's done it (or email me and i'll put you in touch with former racers) and see what they thought, and then decide how you want to spend your last weekend in August next year. --Andy Magness, Race Director

Details:
 
Date: August 25th/26th, 2013
 
Cap: Race will be limited to 30 paying teams.  Teams receiving free entry will not count towards this cap.  The race is expected to fill up.
 
Registration fee:  $125 pp (before June 1st), $140 pp (before July 25th).  $150 (after July 25th).  Registration closes at midnight on the 22nd of August or when the cap is reached.
 
Location: Pembina Gorge, near Walhalla, ND. 
 
Entry Includes:  One Heck of a course, all mystery challenge equipment, swag, post race meal, and a fantastic prize pool.  
 
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.
 
Schedule: Race check in from early, Saturday.  Race start is 2 pm on saturday.  Finish is at 2 pm on Sunday.  Civil twilight lasts until 9 pm and begins at about 6 pm.  So get ready for nearly 9 hours of darkness!
 
Disciplines:  All three main AR disciplines (trekking, biking, and paddling) will be well represented. We're trying to get back to the roots of AR - minimizing the logistical circus that often accompanies races these days.  Paddling will be via -  pack-rafting; teams will get first hand experience with why these boats, even the cheap ones, are such versatile pieces of adventure equipment. Teams will be required to provide their own mountain bikes, as well as pack-rafts, paddles, and PFD's. For those unfamiliar with pack-rafting, check out some of the 'videos we like' on the right sidebar.  Pack rafts come in a range of prices (like everything else), from the bare-bones Walmart version ($15) to the virtually indestructible and featherweight Alpackas ($500+).  Whatever version you're going to use - get one soon and start using it - figure out its strengths and weaknesses.  

 

Paddling will be on a river with mostly moving flat water but some class I and possibly a few sections of easy class II whitewater.

 

Mt. Biking will be a mix of gravel road, double track, snow-mobile trail, and ATV trail.  Much of this may effectively feel like single track.  There will be a very limited amount of pavement (less than 5%, possibly none at all).  There will be a fair amount of elevation gained as you climb in and out of the gorge - although most will be limited to climbs of less than 400 feet (the depth of the gorge).  There may be a few short sections of hike-a-bike as well, although depending on your riding level, you may be hiking more or less than other teams. 

 

Format: The race will have the same format as past races in that it will allow both novice and experienced teams to challenge the same course.  There will be a time cut-off at a CP about two thirds of the way through the course.  Teams not meeting the time cutoff will be short-coursed, skipping a 4 hour section.  Teams who are short-coursed will be ranked behind all teams that get any checkpoints on the full course. There will be a number of optional CPs on the full course loop.  Experienced teams gunning for the podium will need to visit all of the CPs on the full course. Newer teams just hoping to complete 'the hardest race in North Dakota', may end up doing the short course, or just some of the full course.  See below for scoring information.

 
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: TBD
 
Past Races
 
 
 
2010* Results, Photos (Set 1, Set 2), Video (one, two), Race Description
 
2009* Results, Photos
 
*9 hour events
 

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.