OH YEAH! It's almost END-SPAR time again!
2012 race is a Checkpoint Tracker event!
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 2010 and 2011 races were held in and around Turtle River State Park about 30 miles west of Grand Forks, North Dakota. Subsequent races will be held in the same vicinity, although each year the course will change entirely and new mystery challenges will be presented. Registration is now open!
Please note - returning teams (with at least one racer who has previously participated in and ENDracing event) are given registration priority through Monday, March 5th. If you're a new team you can go ahead and register before then - in the unlikely event the race fills up (capped at 30 paying teams) with returning teams you will be refunded the full registration price. Registration is $40 per person - your team isn't registered until you're paid or make special arrangements. Online prices via paypal (scroll to bottom) will be a couple bucks higher per person to cover what they take out. Payments by check should be made out to Ground Up Adventures and sent to:Andy Magness
2524 8th Avenue North
Grand Forks, ND 58203
Checks postmarked by Monday, May 5th will be treated as priority registrations.
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.
Disciplines: Every race will include running/trekking, mt. biking (including single-track), and map and compass navigation (all points for END-SPAR will be pre-plotted). Additional disciplines, depending on the year's course, might include climbing/rope work (tree climbing, rope ladders, two and three wire bridges, tyrolean traverses, rope swings, etc), pack-rafting, swimming, or canoeing.
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.
2012 race details: Date - April 28, 2012. It is open to teams of two or three, either single gender or coed, with three person coed being the premier category. The race will involve running/trekking, mt. biking, pack-rafting, navigation, and tough mystery challenges. I feel like I'm forgetting something though..... oh, right, there might be a little bit of mud too (this is of course a requirement for all ENDracing events with above freezing temps). Registration opens March 1st. Please note - this is one of our most popular events - last year we sold out (we cap at 30 teams) - so spots might go quick!
Register Now!
2011
Videos: movie 1
2010
