Shenandoah
EPIC
April 15-16, 2023
Included:
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Live tracking with instant leaderboard
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ePunch timing for fast, accurate results
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Waterproof maps, two sets per team
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Post-race food
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Sweet SWAG
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Boats
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24 hours of racing through some of the most beautiful, rugged, and tough terrain on the East Coast at a perfect time of year
SOLD OUT
Registered teams can fill out their current roster through March 15th. At that point, any spare spots will open up to the waitlist.
Click the waitlist button to be added to the waitlist
Description
The 2023 Shenandoah Epic Racer Guide is here. Everything you need to know to prepare for your epic adventure.
Click here for the 2023 Shenandoah Racer Guide
Join us for our favorite race, and put your skills to the test for a full day of hard-core racing.
Racers will have 24 hours to cover up to 100 miles via kayak/canoe, foot, and mountain bike over rugged and beautiful terrain, picking up checkpoints along the way in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in the spring. You'll tackle approximatly30-40 miles of trekking, 12-16 miles of paddling on the Shenandoah River, and about 40-50 miles of mountain biking on some uh-mazing trails. You'll feel challenged for sure, but you'll have a great time doing it...and that finish-line feeling? Come feel it for yourself!
We will be capping any new team and soloist registrations once we reach 275 participants. After that, any team that has already been created will be able to fill out their roster.
Categories
Soloist
Two-person team
Three- or Four-person team
Distance
We are finalizing the design of the course, but you can expect:
12-16 miles of river paddling
30-40 miles of trekking
50-60 miles of mountain biking
Fees
Super early registration is $275.00 per team member & $300 for soloists until November 30, 2022
Early registration is $300 per team member & $325 for soloists until January 31, 2023
Regular registration is $325 per team member & $350 for soloists until March 31, 2023
Late registration is $350.00 per team member & $375 for soloists until close at midnight April 14, 2023.
Early VIP registration opens on October 1st. VIP registration is open to past participants. VIPs will be notified on how to register on October 1st. Open registration start November 1st.
An additional $8 race day fee (or proof of USARA membership) is required by USARA and can be purchased during registration. If you are purchasing 1-day membership, chose April 15, 2023, as the start date for your membership.
Registration platform fees also apply.
Schedule
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
7:00 pm - Racer Guide Review - Facebook Live
Sunday, April 9, 2023
7:00 pm - Pre-Race Brief - Facebook Live
Friday, April 14, 2023
Location - Skyline Ranch Resort
4:00 pm-8:00 pm: Packet pickup, map distribution & Gear Drop
Saturday, April 15, 2023
Location - Skyline Ranch Resort
6:00 am-8:00 am: Bike drop - (Location provided during packet pickup)
7:00 am-8:00 am: Late arrival packet pickup
7:00 am-8:45 am: Transition setup
09:30 am: Race Start
Sunday, April 16, 2023
Location - Skyline Ranch Resort
09:30 am: Race finishes
10:00 am: Post-race food and awards ceremony
Packet Pickup
Location - Skyline Ranch Resort
To make sure your zen and chi are intact on race day, we highly recommend packet pickup on Friday night.
During packet pickup, you will receive race numbers, maps, and SWAG. USARA fees of $8 for a one-day race membership, $35 for a yearly membership, or proof of USARA membership are required during registration and can be purchased here or during the registration process.
Gear
Supplied Gear
Canoes, paddles, PFDs, race maps, race passport, ePunch, GPS Tracker, rules of travel.
Mandatory Gear
Mandatory gear will not be checked during check-in. Random checks on gear will be performed during the race. Penalty points will be assessed for any missing items. These items are not all-inclusive of items you will need to complete the race. You will be out in the elements for up to 24-hours. Bring other equipment as appropriate to get through the event.
At all times during the race each racer must have in their possession the following equipment unless otherwise stated in the rules of travel:
Pack to carry gear
Enough food for replenishment
Hydration system (hydration pack, water bottle, etc. with capacity to carry at least 2 liters)
Headlamp with extra batteries
Whistle
Knife with a minimum 2.5-inch blade
Emergency blanket or bag
1 long-sleeve wool blend or other type of insulated top (no cotton)
Fleece/wool hat/buff
Waterproof jacket
Closed-toe shoes must be worn during the entire race (no bare feet or open-toe sandals)
While biking each racer additionally must have:
Bike
Helmet (CPSC, ANSI, or SNELL certified)
Rear light (must be capable of blinking)
A front light with enough battery power to last 12 hours.
While paddling each racer additionally must have:
PFD Class III non-inflatable (provided by Adventure Enablers)
Per team:
ePunch (Provided by Adventure Enablers)
GPS tracker ((Provided by Adventure Enablers)
Race maps (Provided by Adventure Enablers)
Rules of Travel (Provided by Adventure Enablers)
General Race Rules (Provided by Adventure Enablers)
Compass
Lighter
Fully charged cell phone in a watertight bag
Dry bag or method of keeping equipment dry in the event of bad weather and during the canoe section
Bike tool kit and at least one spare bike tube
Emergency First Aid kit – Teams may use the Adventure Medical Kit Ultralight 0.7 or build their own kit as long as the kit contains the following listed required contents. (8) 2x2 or 3x3 sterile dressing, (2) 3x4 non adherent sterile dressing, (1) conforming gauze bandage, (4) 1x3 adhesive bandage, (3) knuckle adhesive bandage, (1) tape ½”x 10 yards, (1) swift wrap elastic bandage, (8) 200-mg ibuprofen, (2) antihistamine (Diphenhydramine), (2) afterbite sting relief, (1) moleskin, (5) towelettes, (3) antibiotic ointment, (1) tincture of benzoin, (3) butterfly closure bandage, (2) pair nitrile gloves, (1) tweezer,(3) safety pins, (1) duct tape.
Paddle Section
Boats will be provided. Two-person and three-person teams will get one canoe. Four-person teams will get two canoes. Soloists will get a kayak. Canoes will come with single-blade paddles. Kayaks will come with double-bladed paddles. PFDs will also be supplied. No outside canoes or kayaks are permitted. Outside paddles and PFDs are permitted. Canoes, paddles, and PFDs will be located at the canoe put in. You will not need to portage the canoe for any great distance, and you will not need to carry paddles or PFDs when you are not on the paddle section. If you bring your own PFD and paddle you will not need to transport them. Personal PFDs must be class III (non-inflatable).
Bike Section
Any style of bike is permitted. Racers must use the same bike throughout the entire race. In the event of mechanical failures, replacement parts can be used but they must be provided by the team, other racers, or an event official. No outside assistance is allowed. Bikes will not be checked for mechanical worthiness, but we recommend your bike be in good working order. The course contains a mix of gravel road, smooth single track, technical single track, and hike-a-bike. Choose your ride wisely. Front suspension is highly recommended. Full suspension will be quite nice to have.
Transitions
There will be multiple transition locations along the course. Logistics and transition staging will be released closer to the race date.
Maps
Maps will be at scales 1:24,000 with UTM grid markings along the edge of the map. Maps will be on waterproof paper. Nearly all points will be pre-plotted. You may have to plot some points using a UTM plotter at 1:24,000 to complete the full course. Maps will be distributed at packet pickup on April 14. You will be required to navigate using various types of maps. Map and compass skills are necessary to locate most of the checkpoints. No GPS units are allowed. Teams will receive two sets of maps. Solos will receive one set of maps. Maps are 11x17 double sided. Navigate to: https://bit.ly/3ARl02S for previoius years maps as a sample.
Volunteer
The heart of a great event is its volunteers. If you have a passion for helping out and are interested in volunteering, we'd love to have you join the fun! Volunenteer signup will be available in early 2023.
Live Tracking and Timing
We're providing live tracking for the Shenandoah Epic. Follow your faves the entire 24-hours. Also, with SportIdent ePunch timing, you will get results as soon as you crawl across the finish line. Post-race, pore over your split times for at least a week.
Awards
Prizes will go to the top 3 finishers in each division.
Solo Male & Female
2 Person Male, Female, & Coed
3/4 Person Male, Female, & Coed
Lodging & Things to Do
Looking for things to do or a place to eat while you or your fans are in town? Check out our handy-dandy guide to our hometown!
Lodging:
Skyline Ranch Resort is the host location and has varioius lodging options. We have secured special rates and have cabins and condos blocked out for participants to reserve through November 15th. After that, they will be open to the general public to rent.
Options are:
Cabins $80 per night plus tax (accomadates 4 people)
Chalets $150 per night plus tax (accomadates 6 people)
50-amp RV sites $50 per night plus tax
30-amp RV site $40 per night plus tax
Tent Camping $20 per night plus tax per tent
Please call Skyline Ranch Resort directly to make a reservation at 540-635-4169.
You can also check out Shenandoah River State Park for cabins, campsites, and RV hookups. A most excellent park to race and stay in.
Address: 350 Daughter of Stars Dr, Bentonville, VA 22610
Low Water Bridge Campground is about 4 miles from the race start. Lots of racers have stayed here over the years.
Address: 192 Panhandle Rd, Bentonville, VA 22610
Post Race Food
A post race breakfast will be served to help you refuel after your 24-hours in the woods.
Photos
We'll have a photographer on course trying to catch you wincing, smiling with mud on your teeth, or trying to read a map folded to the size of a postage stamp. 2022 race photos can be found here.
Waivers and Forms
All racers will be required to purchase a race-day USARA membership for $8.00, already have a valid USARA membership, or purchase a 1-year membership ($35) at the time of registrtaion. For one day memberships, select the date of registration for you membership start date.
Affiliated Series
The Shenandoah Epic is part of the following series. You will automatically earn points for each of the series by taking part in the Shenandoah Epic.
United States Adventure Racing Association (USARA)
The USARA National Points Series (NPS) provides an ongoing ranking of teams across the country, based on their race results at USARA-affiliated and USARA-sanctioned events. The calendar of included races is published and updated throughout the season.
Rankings are computed in three divisions: mixed-3/4; male-3/4; and female-3/4. At the National Championship each year, the top team in each division will be declared the winner of the National Points Series for the previous season.
There is no need to register for the series. All teams competing in affiliated and sanctioned events are automatically included in the rankings.
Adventure Racing World Series North American Circuit (ARWS)
The Adventure Racing World Series unites in competition the world’s best endurance athletes at the premiere adventure races around the world.
The series includes Qualifier expedition races of 3-10 days leading up to an annual Adventure Racing World Championship, and Regional races of 12-36 hours offering an accessible pathway into adventure racing, and the opportunity to progress to expedition races and the World Championship.
There are currently 64 races in the Adventure Racing World Series, with regional races in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania. All teams taking part are included in the ARWS world and regional rankings.
The first Adventure Racing World Championship took place in 2001 in Switzerland and this year’s World Championship in South Africa will be the biggest adventure race in the world. For more information see www.arworldseries.com
