Maine Summer Adventure Race
Maine Summer Adventure Race Launches 24 Hour Event
Press Release / 10.01.2018
The directors of the Maine Summer Adventure Race have announced the race date for 2018 – and the launch of a 24-hour category designed to be the premier one-day race in New England.
Now in its third year, the Maine Summer Adventure Race will take place on June 16, 2018. As in years past, the race will be based out of the Midcoast Conservancy's Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson, Maine. In 2018, interested racers will have three options to choose from: a 24-hour race, which will be a USARA National Championship Qualifier, an 8-hour intermediate race or a 3-hour race for beginners and families.
Adventure racing involves teams of two, three or four competing in a nonstop race that includes trail running or trekking, road and mountain biking, sea kayaking and orienteering. Teams will have to combine athleticism with strategy and navigation to guide themselves to as many checkpoints as possible within the race’s time limit.
More than 80 people on 30 teams took part in last year’s 10-hour race, which began in Boothbay Harbor and finished at HVNC. Another 60 people took on the 3-hour race at HVNC, which included paddle boarding, fat biking, and Amazing Race-style challenges.
“We’re upping the ante,” race co-director Cliff White said. “People who are tired of doing the same obstacle courses or who are looking for their next big challenge can find it in adventure racing, right here in Maine.”
The precise course will not be revealed until the morning of the race, but as in past years, the 2018 race will visit scenic and remote areas of Midcoast Maine. In the 24 hour race, participants can expect 10 to 20 miles of challenging, off-trail orienteering, 30 to 50 miles of biking including technical mountain biking, and 15 to 25 miles of tidal sea kayaking. The 2017 USARA national champions, Pennsylvania-based Rootstock Racing, have already committed to the race.
For those looking for a more manageable challenge, the 8-hour course will be structured so that all teams will be able to experience the full, base course, with advanced racers challenged by additional checkpoints. Racers can expect approximately 3 to 8 miles on foot, 15 to 25 miles on bikes, and 4 to 8 miles of paddling.
The 3-hour race is designed for beginner racers and for those looking to get the entire family outside for a day in the woods. The 3-hour race will combine hiking, canoeing and Amazing Race-style challenges and is designed to be possible to complete and enjoyable for participants of all ages and abilities. Racers can do as much or as little of the course as they choose and special prizes will be given for the top family team.
“Midcoast Maine is a fantastic host location for this small but growing sport, which is perfect for anyone with an interest in exploring the outdoors,” White said. “We’re confident this year’s race will be the best yet.”
Registration will open in January. Registration fees for all races include race t-shirt, swag bag, maps, boats, paddles, PFDs, prizes and giveaways, facility and land-use fees, and a post-race feast, including local fare, vegetarian and gluten-free options and a featured local microbrew from Oxbow Brewing.
The Maine Summer Adventure Race is directed by the members of Strong Machine Adventure Racing, a nationally ranked adventure race team based in Portland, Maine. All proceeds from the race will benefit the Midcoast Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting and promoting healthy lands, waters, wildlife, and people in the Midcoast Region through conservation, education, and recreation. More information on the race can be found at www.MaineSummerAR.com or by searching for the Maine Summer Adventure Race on Facebook.
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