Dakota Rogaining Championships return to Custer State Park
Press Release / 21.03.2012
On August 18th and 19th, the 2012 Dakota Rogaining Championships will again be based in Custer State Park. A Rogaine is a long-distance cross-country navigation race for teams traveling on foot by map and compass. The object is to score points by finding checkpoints (orienteering flags) within the specified time frame. Organized by Peak Assurance with course design by Rick Emerson, the host club is the Black Hills Orienteering Club.
Where the deer and the antelope roam, the Park is also home to herds of buffalo and elk - with wildlife like Rocky Mountain big horn sheep and goats, plus a few mountain lions thrown in to boot.
The Champs will be sanctioned-applied by the OUSA and will include the 24-hour championship, a 12-in-24 hour intermediate race, and a 6-hour short course for beginners and juniors. Registration is open for up to 40 teams. Teams may consist of two to five members and OUSA rules of competition will apply. Start times will be staggered so most participants will finish Sunday noon. The intent is to have the juniors and beginners finish alongside the Champs navigators so they experience the same rush.
An award ceremony and dinner will be held mid-afternoon to acknowledge all participants and recognize class winners. Teams are divided into categories of Men, Women, and Mixed. Within each category, there are divisions by age – Junior, Open, Veteran, and Super-Veteran.
The 2012 Dakota Rogaining Championships incorporate a new area to test athletes - the Black Hills National Forest. The International Rogaining Federation awarded the Black Hills of South Dakota 12 WRC 2014 and 2012 will provide a teaser of the Forest. This third edition promises to provide a test worthy of the best. Outdoor recreation in western South Dakota is world-class - Custer State Park and the Black Hills National Forest attest the fact. Come see what it’s all about!
Contact Rick Emerson at info@peakassurance.net to learn more about competing or sponsoring this annual event substantiating outdoor recreation opportunities in western South Dakota.
