Description

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 30-40 miles of trekking, 14 miles of paddling on the Shenandoah River, and about 40-50 miles of mountain biking on some uh-mazing trails. For this year's edition, we go a little heavier on the trek sections with some advanced navigation, including a mix of Rogaine and traditional Orienteering course styles. 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!

Location

Race Start/Finish: 
Hazard Mill Farms
1481 Hazard Mill Rd, Bentonville, VA 22610

Categories

• Soloist
• Two-person team
• Three- or Four-person team

Distances

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

• VIP  and super early registration $275.00 per team member & $300 for soloists until December 31, 2023.
• Early registration $300 per team member & $325 for soloists until February 29, 2024.
• Regular registration $325 per team member & $350 for soloists until March 31, 2024.
• Late registration $350.00 per team member & $375 for soloists until close at midnight on April 10, 2024.

An $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, choose April 20, 2024, as the start date for your membership.

Registration platform fees also apply.

Schedule

Friday, April 19, 2024
Downriver Canoe Company
884 Indian Hollow Rd, Bentonville, VA 22610
4:00 pm-8:00 pm: Packet pickup & Paddle Gear Drop

Saturday, April 20, 2024
Hazard Mill Farms
1481 Hazard Mill Rd, Bentonville, VA 22610
7:00 am: Map distribution
7:00 am-8:45 am: Packet pickup
7:00 am-8:45 am: Transition setup
09:00 am: Race Start

Sunday, April 21, 2024
Hazard Mill Farms
1481 Hazard Mill Rd, Bentonville, VA 22610
09:00 am: Race finishes
09:30 am: Post-race food and awards ceremony

Packet Pickup

Downriver Canoe Company
884 Indian Hollow Rd, Bentonville, VA 22610
Friday, April 19, 2024
4:00 pm-8:00 pm: Packet pickup 
or
Hazard Mill Farms
1481 Hazard Mill Rd, Bentonville, VA 22610
Saturday, April 20, 2024
7:00 am - 8:00 am

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 and SWAG. USARA fees of $8 for a one-day race membership, $35 for a yearly membership, or proof of USARA member

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.

Paddle

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. Canoes do not come with a middle seat. You will not need to portage the canoe for any great distance, and you will not need to carry your paddle gear for any distance.

Bike

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 roads, 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. No eBikes.

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. All
points will be pre-plotted. Maps will be distributed at 07:00 on April 20 at the race start location. You will be required to navigate using various types of maps. Map and compass skills are necessary to locate most of the checkpoints. 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 previous year maps as a sample.

Race Rules

Click here for the General Race Rules.

Who's Racing?

Who's your competition? Click here to find out.

Volunteers

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!  Volunteer signup will be available closer to the race date.

Live Tracking & Timing

We're providing live tracking. 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

We are able to offer up rustic camping at Hazard Mill Farms. It is a beautiful spot at the water’s edge of the Shenandoah River.
Watch the stars and listen to the lap of water against the river bank as you drift off into your pre-race slumber without a worry in the world :). Camping is $10 per vehicle and can be paid for at packet pickup. The camping area is located at the start and finish location for the race

Shenandoah River State Park
Address: 350 Daughter of Stars Dr, Bentonville, VA 22610
Phone: (540) 622-6840

Low Water Bridge Campground
Address: 192 Panhandle Rd, Bentonville, VA 22610
Phone: (540) 635-7277
 

Post Race Food

A post-race breakfast will be served to help you refuel after your 24-hours in the woods.

Photos and Media

We'll have a photographer on the 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.

Waivers & 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 registration. For one-day memberships, select April 20, 2024, as the date of registration for your membership start date.

Cancellations and Transfers

Click here for information.

FAQ

We have posted an extensive list of Frequently Asked Questions on the Adventure Enablers website. Please check this page if you have any questions regarding the race. If you don’t find the answer or need clarification, feel free to email info@adventureenablers.com.

Affiliate 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.  

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.