USARA Adventure Race National Championship Coming to Columbia County

The USARA Adventure Race National Championship is coming to Columbia County, Georgia, on October 14 & 15, 2016.

The USARA Adventure Race National Championship is the "Heart & Soul" of Adventure Racing in the United States. Teams of 3 compete in USARA regional qualifying events across the U.S. for a chance to battle it out for the title of USARA Adventure Race National Champion.

Teams are required to navigate a series of checkpoints using only a map and compass to guide them while transitioning between several disciplines such as: Trail Running/Trekking, Mountain Biking, Paddling and Orienteering.

These teams will have to push the boundaries of human endurance and teamwork just to finish. Winning will require extreme willpower, mastery of all disciplines, and a little luck.

 The USARA Adventure Race National won the Tour Southern & Eastern Kentucky's (TOUR SEKY) "BLOOM Award" for "Sporting Event of the Year - 2011." The BLOOM awards were created "to honor those who have gone above and beyond to make the visitor's experience outstanding." Nominations were made by tourism professionals across TOUR SEKY’s 47 county regions, in 11 categories.

Regional Qualifier Sponsorship: The 1st place or highest finishing coed team from each regional qualifying race will receive a $400.00 sponsorship, provided by the regional qualifying race, to be applied to the teams entry fee for the USARA Adventure Race National Championship™.

National Champions Prize Package: The top five teams in each category will receive awards and prizes. 

Coed National Champions Race Free: The Coed USARA Adventure Race National Championship team will receive free entry into all 2017 Regional Qualifying Events. (* Limited to 1 free event per promotion company. Expedition length races will provide a reduced entry fee). The USARA Adventure Race National Champion Coed Team will have their name & date plaque permanently placed on the USARA National Championship perpetual award. The Coed National Champions will also earn free entry for the following year's USARA Adventure Race National Championship.

Registration Information:
Coed and Open divisions must qualify at a USARA Regional Qualifier in order to register for the USARA Adventure Race National Championship. Teams that have qualified as a Coed team are allowed to race in the Open division, however teams that qualify as an Open team may not register in the Coed division.

Coed Division - Premier Division: The 1st place or highest finishing coed team from each regional qualifying race will receive a $400.00 sponsorship, provided by the regional qualifying race, to be applied to the team's entry fee for the USARA Adventure Race National Championship™. A team may only win one $400 sponsorship per year.

The top 4 teams from each regional qualifying race qualify to compete in the USARA Adventure Race National Championship. This is a roll down system: If one of the top 4 teams does not accept, the slot will roll down to the 5th place team, etc. until 4 teams accept. Teams have 14 days from the day the USARA sends the National invitation to accept and submit a deposit before the slot rolls down to the next team. 

Open Division: The top 4 open teams (all male or all female) from each regional qualifying race qualify to compete in the USARA Adventure Race National Championship. This is a roll down system: If one of the top 4 teams does not accept, the slot will roll down to the 5th place team, etc. until 4 teams accept. Teams have 14 days from the day the USARA sends the National invitation to accept and submit a deposit before the slot rolls down to the next team.

Coed Masters Division: The coed masters division at the USARA Adventure Race National Championship is open registration (masters teams do not have to qualify). All members of masters teams must be 45 years old by December 31. Contact the USARA to register your Masters team.

Collegiate Division: Collegiate teams wishing to participate in the USARA Adventure Race National Championship do not need to qualify. Collegiate teams have open registration. All members of collegiate teams must be enrolled in at least 1 college class during the year of the championship. (Example taking at least 1 spring, fall or summer class during the championship year would qualify you to compete in the collegiate division at that years Championship). Team members may be undergraduate or post graduate students and do not need to attend the same university. Collegiate teams will receive a reduced entry fee of $500.00. Contact the USARA to register your collegiate team.

Military Personnel: Teams that are completely comprised of active military personnel (all 3 members) may attend the USARA Adventure Race National Championship without qualifying. All team members must have been on active duty during the calendar year of the national championship (Jan 1 - Dec 31). Team members will be required to show Military ID or Certificate of Release DD Form 214. Contact the USARA to register your team.

For more information or to register for Nationals contact USARA by phone at 979.703.5018 or e-mail:  info@usara.com