Overview

Put some ADVENTURE in your weekend!  The annual AR Tune-Up event is a great way for you and your friends to test your outdoor endurance by trekking, biking, and paddling your way checkpoint-to-checkpoint on our wilderness adventure course.  This teamed-based challenge will involve navigation, camaraderie, and both physical and mental endurance.

 

For seasoned adventure racers, this race will feel like a sprint distance course allowing you to hone your skills for the 2016 season.  For beginners, this 3-4 hour race is the perfect way to get your feet wet in the awesome sport of adventure racing.

 

Don’t know what to expect?  Let us walk you through:

• Running/Trekking:  5 to 8 miles of running or hiking through the woods to locate checkpoints that are identified on a map.  (If you’re new to orienteering, don’t worry!  The course is designed to be beginner-friendly.)

• Biking:  15 to 20 miles of biking on trails and roads that are accessible to mountain bikes and cyclocross bikes.  And don’t worry -- you won’t need to navigate hardcore mountain bike trails.

• Paddling:  2 to 3 miles of paddling to pick up checkpoints that are only accessible by water.  Canoes, paddles, and PFDs are provided and are covered in your registration fee.

• Special Challenges:  We also have several ‘special challenges’ along the way which will incorporate both physical and mental activities.  We keep these a secret until you’re out on the course.

• Navigation:  Teams are given a series of maps and will be expected to use their map reading skills to proceed from checkpoint to checkpoint.  Maps are typically a combination of USGS maps, aerial photography, and/or orienteering maps.

 

And perhaps the best part of the AR Tune-Up is its price.  We’re one of the cheapest adventure races in the Midwest!  To make that happen, we’ve eliminated all of the swag -- there’s no awards, no prize money, and no fancy t-shirts.  We're focused on fun, friends, and the forest!

 

Still need convincing?  The AR Tune-Up even uses an ‘e-punch’ timing system which tracks the splits of all participants checkpoint to checkpoint.  We publish these results online so you can see how you scored against other teams on a split-by-split basis.  This helps you analyze your results and tweak your strategy for future races.

 

Don’t have any teammates?  We’ve got you covered.  Add your name to our Teammate Finder or find others to form your own team.

 

So what are you waiting for?  Signup now and start off your 2016 season with some ADVENTURE!

 

Pricing

• Price through May 1st: $40/Person

• Price after May 1st: $50/Person

 

Schedule

• 9:00 - Check-in

• 9:15 - Orienteering Basics for New Navigators

• 9:45 - Pre-Race Meeting and Map Distribution

• 10:00 - Race Start

• 2:00 - Course Closure

• 2:30 - BBQ, Announcements, & Social

 

Training/Preparation

We’re typically asked what type of training or preparation should be done prior to this event, so here’s some info that will cover the basics:

• Navigation: At least one team member should have prior experience with map navigation at a typical orienteering or adventure race.  And we encourage all teammates to come out and try one of our standard orienteering events to gain experience.  This will definitely give your team a leg-up on what to expect on race day.  Also, keep in mind that we have some awesome Permanent Orienteering Courses (POC) which can be done at your team’s leisure.

• Running/Trekking: All team members should be comfortable with running or trekking 5-8 miles through wooded terrain.

• Biking:  All team members should be able to comfortably ride 10 miles on a bike.  Our AR Tune-Up course is roughly 15-20 miles, so a minimum of 10 training miles is a good starting point.  Note that you don’t need to be a hard-core cyclist; many of our participants use standard ‘hybrid’ or mountain bikes.

• Paddling: We know it’s difficult to get in paddling time early in the season, so any type of upper-body strength training is recommended.  Also, at least one of your team members (per boat) should know the basics of how to steer.

• Clothing/Equipment:  Along with the Required Equipment listed below, check out our What To Wear page for info on clothing.

 

Required Equipment

Participant:  Each PARTICIPANT must have the following personal equipment:

• Mountain or Cross Bike (no road bikes allowed)

• Helmet

• Whistle

Team:  Each TEAM must have at least one of each of the following items:

• Compass (available to rent at the event for $1)

• Water-proof Map Case

• Watch

• Pen and/or Pencil

 

Teammate Finder

Need help finding a team?  Check out our Teammate Finder!

 

Location

From the Twin Cities, take I-94 east to Menomonie. Turn right on Hwy 25 (exit 41), go about 1/4 mile south, and turn left on Pine St. Follow Pine Street to Wakanda Park.

 

Volunteer

It takes a handful of volunteers to make each of our events successful.  If you would like to learn more about volunteering, please see our Volunteering page.  And as a reward, you'll get a free race entry the next Regular event you choose.

 

Race Results

Race results are usually published within 24 hours of the event.  View our Race Results page to see the results.

 

Race Management

• Race Director: Tom Lacksonen and Shawn McKinlay

 

Questions

If you have any questions or comments about this event, please feel free to Contact Us.