We are holding our first Adventure Race this summer on Saturday, August 23, 2025. The course will have trekking, biking, and paddling sections all while orienteering. If you don’t have a boat, no worries, there are rentals available.
If you are familiar with the Castlewood 8 Adventure Race this will be very similar but only 4 hours long. Held in a single park, the race setting will be great for beginners but still a challenge for those competitive racers. We expect a great field of teams to be out that day and hope to have new racers who have not experienced the amazing joy of adventure racing giving it a try for the first time. The course will take you on the park’s mountain bike trails, into the woods, and of course, paddling on Creve Coeur Lake, all while orienteering and strategizing how to gather checkpoints in the allotted time. There is nothing like an adventure race!
The above image is a SLOC map of the park from 1985 by Mats Karlsson and Martin Opplinger. This is not the race map but still pretty cool to compare to the maps you will recieve on August 23rd.
Date:
Saturday, August 23, 2025, 7:00-11:00 am
Contact:
contourline@stlouisorienteering.org
What is Adventure Racing:
Course:
We are offering a single course geared for all skill sets. The time limit is 4 hours. While all teams will receive the same information and be able to obtain any checkpoint they want to attempt, teams wanting to compete for the podium will have to obtain the additional “advanced” points which will require greater navigational skill, strategy, and plotting by UTM.
Team Options:
- We have a 100 person limit
- We are accepting solo, 2, 3 or 4 person teams
- Three team division/gender categories: all-female, all-male, or mixed gender.
- In addition, a single master’s division will be for teams where all members are age 55 or over. A single juniors division will be for team with all members under age 18.
Fees :
- Registration for non-SLOC members is $75 per person
- Registration for SLOC members is $65 per person
Each racer must register for themselves using our on line system.
USARA National Championship Series:
This event is a USARA-sanctioned/affiliated race so teams will earn points toward the United States Adventure Racing Association (USARA) National Championship Point Series.
USARA Membership:
A $35 annual membership to USARA includes high-quality medical insurance at USARA events; discounts with USARA-affiliated AR coaches; discounts from more than 200 top outdoor brands; and the knowledge that you’re a part of USARA’s efforts to support racers and racer directors as we work together to build and improve the sport of adventure racing. All fees go directly toward the operational costs of USARA, ensuring that the organization can best serve the AR community.
SLOC Memberships:
The greatest deal in St. Louis outdoor sports! A $100 annual subscription membership gets you entry into every SLOC orienteering meet for the year – that is 12-18 events per year. In addition, you get access to members only special courses during the year and discounted entries into our special events like the Creve Coeur 4 Adventure Race.
Age Restrictions:
Teams that have any members under 13 years old must have at least one team member over 21. For any racers under age 18, their parent or legal guardian must sign their USARA liability waiver.
Location:
Race check-in and pre-race meeting will occur at the Branwood Shelter at Creve Coeur Park. The main parking lot is across the street at the Bootleggers Trailhead. Teams are allowed no more than 2 vehicles in the lot – PLEASE CARPOOL. You can find additional parking in other areas of the park for extra vehicles. Do not park in restricted areas or on the grass.
Schedule:
- 5:00am check in/bike drop/boat drop opens/map distribution
- 6:30am pre-race meeting (mandatory)
- 7:00am race start
- 11:00am cutoff
- 12:00pm awards and cheering
Checking In:
All racers must check in between 5-6am. Maps, clues sheets, passports, and further instructions and a little swag will be distributed.
Pre-race Meeting:
Pre-race meeting will occur at 6:30am at the Branwood Shelter, at least one member must be present but all team members should be there to hear important information.
Any information that alters the course or any part of the rules that is conveyed during the pre-race meeting is your responsibility to incorporate into your race strategy.
Bike Drop:
The bike drop is just north of the parking lot. You may leave anything you want (within the rules) at the bike drop and access it at any time during the race.
Boat Drop:
The boat drop is near Creve Coeur Lake Rentals. You may leave anything you want (within the rules) at the boat drop and access it at any time during the race.
Post Race:
Post-race food and beverages will be provided at the finish line. Racers are encouraged to bring a chair and cooler to enjoy the post race awards and cheer.
Disclaimer:
All of this info is subject to change. There may be subsequent pre-race updates via email as the race gets closer, so stay tuned, and make sure the email address you supplied is accurate!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What kind of bike should I bring?
A: Any non-motorized, non-electric bicycle is legal for the race. We encourage MTB’s. The course will include some technical trails that will be difficult for most riders to traverse on a hybrid or gravel bike. Do not bring a road bike.
Q: How far/long will I bike/paddle/trek and what will the course consist of?
A: The course is designed to test navigation and strategy. Teams can shorten the course if they choose to not pursue all of the checkpoints. To clear the entire course, estimate 6 miles on trek, 15 miles on bike, 4 miles paddling. The course may require you to go in a certain order on a certain section but you will also be permitted to skip points at any time without penalty. There may be instances where you have completed a section and cannot go back and get any points on that section. You will not have the entire course at the start and will have to check in to the transition area to receive additional information during the race.
Q: Can I make changes to my registration?
A: You can add or substitute registration choices until midnight on August 8th when registration closes by contacting us at contourline@stlouisorienteering.org. Once the August 8th deadline has passed, no refunds will be offered. Only registrations by August 8th will receive swag.
Mandatory Gear:
Racers may take additional gear as they feel necessary, so long as it does not violate any rules. All mandatory gear items must be functional and racers are expected to know how to make them function. Gear checks may occur on the course including functional/fit tests.
TEAM GEAR
(carried by the team at all times during the entire race)
Supplied by race organizer:
- Course maps
- Passport
- Clue sheet
Supplied by race team:
- 2 Compasses – NO GPS allowed! To include watches, phones, bike computers, etc.
- Cell phone in waterproof container with fully charged battery (for emergency use only)
- Tool or method for plotting UTM coordinates (optional but required to clear the course)
- Method for marking the map
INDIVIDUAL GEAR
(carried by EACH RACER during entire race)
Supplied by race organizer:
- Bib number, worn visibility on pack or person
Supplied by racer:
- Hydration pack or bottle (minimum 16 oz capacity – there are places to obtain water on the course)
- Nutrition/food
- Safety whistle
BIKING GEAR
(PROVIDED BY AND carried/used by EACH RACER at all times when riding your bike)
- Bicycle: Mountain bike strongly recommended. No motor assistance bikes allowed (e.g., electric bikes)
- Certified (CPSC marked) bicycle helmet
- Rear-mounted red blinking bicycle light (must be illuminated at all times while riding)
PADDLING GEAR
(required at all times when on the water)
During registration you will indicate if you are providing your own watercraft or if you are renting from Creve Coeur Lake Rentals. Registration fee includes use of a watercraft, oar/paddle, and PFD. You may also bring your own of any of these items. See Creve Coeur Lake Rentals page for options.
- Watercraft: Any non-motorized watercraft is allowed (individuals may supply their own, registration fee includes this)
- Oar/paddles (individuals may supply their own, registration fee includes this)
- Personal floatation devices (PFD) (individuals may supply their own type II or III PFD, registration fee includes this)
RECOMMENDED GEAR
The above is the minimum required gear list. You will need additional items to complete the race. For example, proper footwear, clothing, and a means to carry gear. You may also want some or all of these:
- Dry bag
- Rain jacket
- Long pants
- Layers
- Watch (GPS watches cannot be used for navigation during the race, they can be enabled for post racing tracking).
- Waterproof map carrying case
- Bike water bottles
- Map board for bike
- Bike computer (NO GPS)
- Bike tools to enable: chain repair, tube patch, adjustments
- Camera
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- Medications (epi-pen, etc.)
- First aid kit
Rules:
Rules may be added or changed at any time before the event, and communicated by race staff by email, at the pre-race meeting, or at the race start. Racers are responsible for knowing the rules and any changes.
The Race Director reserves the right to alter cutoff times, race start and finish times, or the course itself before and during the event based on conditions and/or flow of the racers along the course.
Competitive Ranking
Competitive ranking, for the purpose of awards, is determined first by:
- Finisher status, then by
- Points (checkpoints punched less penalty points), and then by
- Finishing time
Finisher status: The possible finish status designations are listed below, from highest to lowest/
- Competitive Finish: All team members arrive at the finish line together without transportation assistance and without being disqualified. Only competitive finishers are eligible for rankings and awards, including the USARA series points.
- Partial Team Finish: A subset of the original team arrives at the finish line together without transportation assistance and without being disqualified.
- Did not finish (DNF): The team receives transportation assistance to arrive at the finish line, or at least one team member communicates with race HQ accounting for the safety of all team members and indicating that their team is not completing the race.
- Disqualified (DQ): The team is declared disqualified by the Race Director. Disqualified teams receive no points.
Points:
Each team will receive one e-punch stick. You will use the e-punch to obtain checkpoints by “punching” the control with the e-punch stick. If a section requires obtaining the checkpoints in a certain order and the team punches in the wrong sequence they lose credit for the CP obtained out of order. If the team discovers they have punched out of order they may obtain the next correct checkpoint in sequence and then return and re-punch any following checkpoints in their proper sequence and will receive full credit with no penalty.
Credit is only issued for punches on the e-punch stick. If a team loses the e-punch stick, the team can request a new blank e-punch at HQ and continue on as is it was the start of the race (no credit for punches on a lost e-punch). Extra e-punch sticks may be available but are not guaranteed.
Each checkpoint is worth one point unless otherwise stated on the Clue Sheet.
- There will be no penalty for a missed checkpoint.
- Deadline penalties will be strictly enforced based on the time recorded by the punches of the “start” and “finish” contols.
- Checkpoints must be approached using the mode designated on the Clue Sheet.
- Checkpoints may be punched in any order unless otherwise stated on the Clue Sheet.
Finishing Time:
Finishing time is the team’s arrival time at the finish line according to the official race clock.
Penalties
Violation of any of the following rules may result in point reduction, time penalty, or disqualification at the discretion of the Race Director.
- First penalty is at the first second over 4 hours. Each full additional minute is an additional penalty. Each penalty is -1 checkpoint.
- Race Director may enforce time or checkpoint penalties at their discretion based on the severity of any infraction of the rules. Time penalties will be added to the final time. Time penalties do not cause further checkpoint penalties if the time penalty takes a team over the 4 hour limit.
- Racers shall accept the direction and decisions of race staff, and bring any complaints to the race director no later than 12pm. Arguing with, cursing at, or challenging the authority of race staff and volunteers, or other unbecoming behavior will be penalized.
- Members of each team must remain within 100 feet of each other at all times during the race.
- All racers and spectators must follow a “Leave-No-Trace” ethic. No littering or defacing property.
- Teams must avoid all off-limits areas as marked on the map or described in the Clue Sheet.
- Private property is considered off limits.
- Teams must travel under their own power during the race. Accepting transportation assistance of any kind from anyone constitutes withdrawal from competition (DNF).
- Receiving support from anyone other than race staff or other racers (e.g., family or friends planted on the course or residences along the course) constitute withdrawal from competition. Teams MAY receive support from race staff at staff discretion.
- Racers must approach checkpoints using the transportation mode specified.
- Teams must carry all required gear throughout each segment based on transportation mode.
- Bib numbers must be worn visibly or be visible on a racer’s pack at all times.
- Each racer must wear a certified, CPSC marked helmet whenever mounted on a bicycle.
- Each racer must have a red blinking tail light whenever riding their bike.
- Each racer must properly wear a Coast Guard Approved Type II or III Personal Flotation Device at all times, whether in or out of a watercraft, while on water.
Disqualification
The following actions are specifically designated as grounds for disqualification, and possible suspension from future races.
- Separating from teammates during a race such that a teammate is out of immediate communication with other team members.
- Leaving the course and returning home without communication with race staff.
- Using satellite or cellular-based equipment (aka GPS) to aid you during the race. Electronic tracking devices (e.g. GPS watches, phone trackers) are permitted if they provide no assistance during the race. Watches, speedometers, odometers, pedometers, and altimeters are permitted for use in race only if they do not rely on satellite or cellular technology.
- Use of motors, engines, any other stored energy or power assist device on bikes or watercraft during the race.
- Use of electronic communication between team members during the race.
- Using illegal drugs or underage drinking during the race or at the event site before or after the race.
- Refusing to render emergency assistance to another team if requested or in a clear case of medical need. Teams that request and receive such assistance may be designated DNF status at the Race Director’s discretion.
- Pre-arranging outside assistance from non-racers to gain competitive advantage during the race.
- Placing unauthorized supply drops or navigation aids on the course prior to race start, other than in designated areas.
- Intentionally violating laws or government regulations to gain advantage on the course, including but not limited to trespassing.
- Unsportsmanlike conduct, as determined by the Race Director (e.g., extreme disrespect to staff/volunteers, intentional vandalism, other creative infractions not listed above).
