Adventure Racing Ontario is excited to announce the addition of three new events to its 2016 roster and points series. Over the next few weeks, we will be doing a series of blog posts about each of these events, starting with the South Coast Adventure Race (SCAR).
In its third year but new to the Adventure Racing Ontario points series for 2016 is the South Coast Adventure Race (SCAR), a 6-8 hour sprint adventure race being held on June 18th in the Windsor-Essex region that features trekking, biking and paddling and is open to solo racers as well as teams of two or three. Hosted by the Essex Region Conservation Authority and the Rotary Club of Windsor St. Clair, the South Coast Adventure Race has been a long time dream for race directors Danielle Stuebing, Rob Pula and Andrew Pula, who wanted to create an event that would showcase the natural biodiversity and hidden gems of the Windsor-Essex region, as well as build an adventure racing community in the area. Stuebing acknowledges that while the area isn’t one that is often associated with adventure racing, participants will be surprised by the beauty of the region’s Carolinian habitat, which boasts more rare and endangered species than any other area in Ontario.
Fun fact: because of the presence of a number of rare and endangered species in the area, SCAR race directors work with a Conservation Biologist in scheduling of the race to ensure that it doesn’t do any damage to the habitat of species at risk.
Based this year out of the Holiday Beach Conservation Area in Amherstburg, the South Coast Adventure Race is designed for racers of all athletic and experience levels. While seasoned racers will find themselves challenged by advanced checkpoints that feature a higher level of navigational difficulty and increased distance, with its relatively flat topography and the priority placed on racer safety, the SCAR race is also very well-suited to beginner and novice racers. Event management goes the extra mile to ensure that newer racers feel well-prepared for the event by offering orientation and training sessions leading up to the race. In anticipation of this year’s event, race directors are hosting a free information night on March 24. Anyone interested in finding out more about the event or adventure racing in general is welcome to attend and registration for the seminar can be found here: https://raceroster.com/events/2016/8360/south-coast-adventure-race-seminar
To support the development of the next generation of adventure racers and encourage an active lifestyle, the SCAR race features a unique Youth category for those 13-17. Extra safety measures, such as a mandatory parent chaperone who drives to designated checkpoints on course to meet up with and check in on their team, are put into place to ensure that these younger racers have a challenging yet fun experience.
Fun fact: the youngest racer to finish the full course of the SCAR race was 11. The oldest was 74.
In order to keep things interesting for returning racers, this year’s event will take racers into areas not explored in previous events and features a brand new paddling section. The course is always thoroughly tested by race directors to ensure that it is both achievable for new racers and challenging for experienced ones. SCAR veterans will be pleased to hear that one thing that will be the same as last year is the awesome post-race party that greets racers right at the finish line, where they can swap stories, refuel, and celebrate the day’s accomplishments!
This year’s SCAR race is capped at 300 competitors and is expected to sell out. Don’t miss your chance to participate in this great event and explore an area of diverse landscapes and natural beauty by bike, boat and foot. Registration information can be found at: https://raceroster.com/events/2016/7173/south-coast-adventure-race-2016
Still need a little nudge? Check out Get Out There magazine’s review of the 2015 event.