wisconsin adventure racing series

The Wisconsin Adventure Racing Series, presented by 1st Basis Consulting, is Wisconsin’s premier race series featuring adventure races throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota, with cash prizes totaling over $2,000.

There is no fee to join the series, simply race any of the events and you’ll be automatically signed up.  The more races your team competes in, the better chance you’ll have of taking home prizes.  Compete in teams of 2-4 or as a soloist and see how you rank against others in the Midwest.

Compete in 3 races and automatically win our Adventure Junkie Award prize package, sponsored by GearJunkie!

Like our Facebook page for event details, series updates, and to connect with other racers.

what is adventure racing?

Adventure racing is an off-road multidisciplinary sport that involves biking, paddling, running/trekking, and other special challenges, all while navigating with a map and compass (GPS is not allowed). It is a team sport in which groups of 2-4 racers must stick together for the duration of the entire event and cross the finish line together. While some races do allow soloists, the premier division is usually comprised of 3-4 person mixed gender teams.

Every race course is different. Teams might do each discipline multiple times throughout a race and the order in which they are required to do them varies from race to race. Most often the official race course is kept a secret until the morning of the race, when racers arrive and are given maps detailing the locations (check points) they must navigate to, which order they must find them in, and which disciplines they will need to do during the event.

Races are measured in hours instead of miles, as the exact route each team takes will be different depending on their navigation. In order to win, a team must reach the most check points in the shortest amount of time, however, some race courses are designed so that no team will be able to obtain all of the check points and all teams will be racing the full duration of the allotted time. Shorter “sprint” adventure races can last anywhere from a few hours up to 24-48 hours of continuous racing, usually without sleep. Longer “expedition” length races are typically 3-7 days of non-stop “on the clock” racing, and it is here that sleep strategy becomes critical.

Adventure racing is unique in that racers must be proficient in may different disciplines, and strength and speed are not the only factors determining the race outcome. Elements of strategy, navigation, route choice, outdoor survival skills, knowledge of local terrain, and teamwork are equally important. Adventure racers are a unique group of people in that the fiercest competitors are often very close friends. The adventure racing community is both welcoming and supportive, and you’ll often find more experienced racers helping new teams out both on and off the race course.

SEE you outdoors!