This racer guide has all the most up to date information about the race – schedule, mandatory gear, and so much more!
Description: The Hard Fall Adventure Race is a 24 hour multi-sport event for teams of two, three and four. The 2024 race will be held the weekend of August 17th, with Mt Snow resort serving as our host location. We’ll get your team out into the woods and on the water, doing different activities, navigating with a map, and going to places you never would have otherwise. You’ll have an incredible, unique experience with other teams there to do the same.
Disciplines: Racers can expect lake and whitewater (class I and II) paddling, fun and tricky single track, treks to mountain lookouts, and several surprises which will hopefully keep things fresh and interesting for even the most seasoned competitors (don’t worry, there won’t be any surprise 1000ft rappels). You’ll also be continually navigating, and you’ll be doing this for up to 24 hours, managing your effort through an entire night and navigating in the dark. We are known for being able to really challenge experienced teams while providing a great race for the first-timers, and we expect this to hold true for our 24-hour events.
Categories: UPDATE 3/31/24: We had previously planned to be hosting a packraft and non packraft division – however, due to a large number of packraft category signups, and being able to source a sizable number of additional rafts, the Hard Fall race will be 100% packraft for all teams! Therefore you’ll find 2 main sign up options – One for racer supplied packrafts, and one for race org supplied packrafts. We’ll have the usual categories for 2-4 person teams – male, female, and mixed. The 3-4 person mixed teams will be our “premier” categories.
What’s included with registration:
- Live tracking and leaderboard
- Waterproof maps
- Post race feast
- Awesome prizes for top teams in each division plus a raffle for all racers
- Boat rental fees for non-packraft division
- USARA qualifier
- All permits, insurance and safety staff
- T-shirt (for racers registered by Aug 1st)
Disciplines
The 2024 race will likely feature the following disciplines (but we’re not revealing any secrets yet!):
- Navigation with topographical map and compass
- Mountain Biking (Singletrack, fireroads, etc, nothing SUPER Technical, but definitely some awesome riding)
- Hiking / Trekking (Primarily off trail travel, some limited sections of trails, practice that Nav!)
- Paddling (Flatwater and light class I/II whitewater
- Other surprises as announced
Keep in mind that these disciplines can occur in any order, and you could have multiple sections in the course for each activity. We’ll sometimes surprise you with other disciplines too – but nothing you wouldn’t be prepared for.
Directions
To be shared when we’re ready. Don’t worry, navigating to the start line should be fairly straightforward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a good race for a team new to adventure racing?
One thing we do really well is providing a enjoyable experience for the new teams. Make no mistake – 24 hours is a long time. However, if you want to put in the time to learn and get ready, you will have a unique and memorable experience!
Can team members split up and go do different sections of the race? Unless the race rules specifically allow you to separate for a portion, you will be together as a team at all times.
How are teams ranked? Teams are ranked by the number of checkpoints they successfully find. In the event of a tie, the team which did it faster is ranked higher.
So you’re saying I should stay out in the woods till I find all the checkpoints, no matter how long it takes? We’d really rather not have to send out a search party. Plus, you lose checkpoints for being late, so your plan won’t actually work. Nice try, though!
Are maps provided or do we have to bring our own? All maps will be provided, and will be pre-marked with the secret checkpoint locations.
Will we be plotting UTM coordinates?
No. We use pre-plotted maps. We made the decision as an organization that in a race of this length it made more sense considering the number of new teams we see. Never fear – the navigation will be challenging enough without this extra step.
Will water be available at transition areas? Yes, we plan to have a limited supply of water available for you in transition areas.
Will we have access to gear we leave in our vehicles after the race starts? Nope. Plan to bring everything you think you may need for the duration of the race.
Can we leave personal gear we don’t need behind, such as our PFD when not on the paddle section or bike helmet when not on the bike section?
With the exception of paddle gear, assume the answer is no. We will be transporting 1 paddle bag per team, but beyond that your best bet is to practice carrying everything and adjust based on the specifics of the course. You can leave water bottles attached to your bike, but you can’t leave your helmet and shoes behind unless specifically told otherwise.
Do I need a real mountain bike for this race?
Our courses typically feature all sorts of terrain, including technical trails, forest roads, paved roads, and even hike-a-bike sections. We want people to be safe and that means at minimum, no road bikes or road bike tires. If you show up with a road bike or skinny/slick road type tires, we won’t be letting you race. While we STRONGLY encourage bikes with front suspension, gravel or cyclocross bikes are now fair game (though your arms and backside might not appreciate the decision).
Can we add a team member to our team after we register? Probably! Please email us and we’ll edit the team registration.
I’d love to do this race, but I’m having trouble finding teammates, can you help? We’re happy to try and connect individual racers. Email us your name and what your experience level is. We also recommend posting the request on our facebook group page.
I’m new to adventure racing, where can I get more information about this sport? We recommend checking out the United States Adventure Racing Association website for all things AR, and the “New to AR” page specifically for tips on getting into the sport.
Documents
Please take a moment to review the required gear list.
There are a number of other documents and policies you can review ahead of time:
- The official USARA Waiver
- A synopsis of the GMARA Photo Policy and Release
- Our official Race Rules
- Our policy on using Electronic Devices during the event.
- We'll have you fill out this Emergency Contact and Medical Form at registration.
Schedule
Due to the nature of the sport, you must be punctual. All race activities will start on time whether your team is there or not. Set multiple clocks, hire a wakeup service, buy a rooster, do whatever you have to do to get up and be on time.
Schedule:
Updates
Here's the latest news about this race:- July 3, 2024 - Hard Fall Race Update #3 and Pre-Race Briefing
- June 24, 2024 - Team Fill Deadline 7/17/24
- May 24, 2024 - Hard Fall Racer Guide/Deadlines
- May 6, 2024 - Hard Fall Racer Update #2
- April 6, 2024 - 2024 Hard Fall Race Update #1
Teams
| Team # | Division | Name | Racers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 4C | Fire Breathing Rubber Ducky Fun Machine | Kasia Wegrzyn, Amanda Martin, Kyle Auger, Emily Moreshead |
| 19 | 4M | Goose AR | Timothy Ratowski, Robert Feissner, Tim Howland, Ben Schmidt |
| 31 | 4M | Sweaty Sock Gnomes | Austin Planz, justin planz, William Leviness , steven saunders |
| 2 | 3C | VERT | Matt Cymanski, Alyssa Godesky, Will Luppino |
| 4 | 3C | 4050 Adventure | Shari Hymes, James Mernin, Bert Rothenbach |
| 7 | 3C | Uphill Both Ways | Frances Hiscox, Todd Sunko, Matt Clements |
| 22 | 3C | Rootstock Racing | Abby Perkiss, Karyn Dulaney, Jim Driscoll |
| 24 | 3C | We AR Having Fun | Cayla Marvil, AC Jones, Brian Sirkia |
| 28 | 3C | Strong Machine Dev Squad | Annie Chang, Brian McLeod, Jason Avis |
| 27 | 3C | Strong Machine AR | Cliff White, Evan Moreshead, Kit Vreeland |
| 30 | 3F | Fragile Flowers | Olga Huber, Alyson Courain, Michele Weiler |
| 10 | 3M | DDG Expeditionary Strike Group | Justin Davis, Joey DorwartCrane, Seth Grant |
| 26 | 3M | Some Assembly Required | John Farley, David Farley, Rick Keilty |
| 8 | 2C | Why Not? | Neale Lunderville, Megan Moir |
| 13 | 2C | Electric Mayhem | Kate Ballantine, Jason Andras |
| 18 | 2C | UltraBambi | Brian Staveley, Alicia Clemente |
| 35 | 2C | InSomeKneeAches | John McKinnon, Brenda Rose |
| 20 | 2F | 24 hours?! I thought you said 2-4 hours! | Brittani Barone, Jacqueline June |
| 3 | 2M | Airline Cycles AR | Greg Kolvoord, David Boudreau |
| 6 | 2M | Pork Chop Express | Tyler Barnes, Jefferson Gotheals |
| 11 | 2M | Fueled by Little Debbie | Gerben Scherpbier, Turner Shaw |
| 12 | 2M | NYARA | John Courain, Aaron Courain |
| 16 | 2M | Vandelay Racing | Jonathan Mulholland, David Mitrou |
| 23 | 2M | Delirium | Kevin Leary, Dave Connolly |
| 29 | 2M | Tectonic Pace | Mark Salas, Jeff White |
| 34 | 2M | Split State | David Coutu, Jack Yager |
| 32 | 2M | NH Trail Vets | Mason Holland, Rob Hillman |
| 33 | 2M | Overtaken | Michael Ferguson, Daniel Britton |
| 36 | 2M | The Thunderchickens | Kevin Marks, Jeffrey Hixon |
| 37 | 2M | North is Everywhere | Matt Schley, Ross Lieblappen |
| 38 | 2M | Bissfits | Dillon Bissell, Richard Bissell |
Totals: 2C:4, 2F:1, 2M:13, 3C:7, 3F:1, 3M:2, 4C:1, 4M:2
Registration
Hard Fall 27hr Adventure Race 2024 (runsignup.com)
If you’re not sure who your teammates are, you can still lock in the current rates and reserve a spot by registering today.