Eighteen people who make this race make sense
Valkyrie is a seven leg team relay in Durango, Colorado. The next one is September 18, 2027.
The founding cohort will be eighteen ambassadors. Founding status is awarded once and never again.
Founding Ambassadors are the first cohort of the ambassador program. They are not the Founding Teams - the first entries in each race - and not the race’s founders.
Why this program exists
Most people who would love this race never get to the start line. Not because they are not fit enough, but because nobody ever explained how it works, or they could not picture getting six people together, or they did not know where to get a paddleboard.
Ambassadors are the people who fix that. The mission is simple: give every prospective racer a person they already trust who can turn “that looks impossible” into a team at the start line.
Who this is for
We are not looking for the largest audience. We are looking for people who can get ten friends to show up on a Saturday morning.
· You are genuinely part of a community already
· You have organised people before, offline, and they came
· You follow through on things that take months
· You can explain something complicated without making anyone feel stupid
· You are welcoming to beginners
PICK YOUR IDENTITY
Most of the founding cohort will come from people who have already raced, captained or volunteered with Valkyrie.
Six kinds of ambassador
Team Captain Ambassador
The heart of the program. Helping captains go from interest to a complete team at the start line.
Discipline Ambassador
Athletes who champion one of the seven legs and help teams fill the legs they cannot fill.
Club or Community Ambassador
Running, cycling, triathlon and paddling clubs, gyms, shops, and recreation groups.
Corporate or Workplace Ambassador
Employers, wellness programs, and professional networks that field teams together — and compete for the Brunhilde Trophy, the traveling corporate cup you see in our race photos. The winning workplace takes it home and defends it at the next race. Corporate ambassadors recruit the local employers who field teams to challenge for it.
Regional Ambassador
One person who owns a city or region our teams come from. They are the local face of Valkyrie there — they know the captains, clubs and workplaces nearby, coordinate the other ambassadors so recruiting is organised instead of scattered, and host the club’s group rides in their area.
Retail or Gear Ambassador
Shops and gear communities that solve the equipment problems that stop teams before they start.
Club rides
Valkyrie Club Ride Leaders
Valkyrie Club Ride Leaders host group rides and runs for the Valkyrie Relay club on Strava, one leg of the course at a time. It is a lighter role than a founding ambassador, open beyond the founding eighteen, and any ambassador can lead rides too. Durango first, with more areas as the club grows.
What it takes
- You are 21 or older
- You know one leg of the course and the trails or roads around it
- You enjoy riding or running with people of every pace
- You can host one club ride a month in season and post a short recap in the club
What you get
- Your name on the club page and on every ride you lead
- A direct line to the people running the race
- First call to help record the official course segments when the 2027 course is final
What it is not
- It is not the founding eighteen, so it does not carry the Founding Ambassador designation, mark or certificate
- It does not include the entry discount founding ambassadors earn
- You can apply for both
What ambassadors will be asked to do
· Explain the race to people who are curious and unsure
· Help would-be captains build a team
· Connect solo athletes with teams that need their discipline
· Solve gear and logistics problems that stop teams before they start
· Tell us what people are actually asking
In practice that means one real activation in your own community each quarter, one captain conversation a month, and a short monthly note on what you are hearing.
Milestones we celebrate publicly: your first captain introduction, your first team formed, three teams, five teams. Beyond the floor, ambassadors host club nights, present to employers, solve gear barriers, connect solo athletes to teams, produce content, recruit Wingmates and mentor each other.
What founding ambassadors receive
Founding status
The Founding Ambassador designation and mark, awarded once, never again, with a certificate to show for it.
Recognition
Your profile on this site, public credit for the teams you help create, and acknowledgement at the race.
Access
Early access to announcements, ambassador-only briefings, and a direct line to the people running the race. Valkyrie is small enough that this is genuinely true.
Influence
Real input on the course, the format, and how the race is run.
Support
A complete tool kit, a named human contact, and replies within two business days, every time.
Meaningful involvement
A real part in building the 2027 race and the community it draws from, with your work visibly acknowledged.
Your entry, earned down
Ten percent off your own registration for every complete team you bring in with your ambassador code. Bring ten teams and your entry is free.
The tool kit behind you
Accepted ambassadors are onboarded with a complete kit: a welcome guide, a team captain guide, an equipment access guide, conversation scripts, an approved facts card, a ready-to-give club presentation, and printed materials for your own community. Every piece is provided during onboarding.
Time and communication
· Two to four hours a month, honestly stated
· One term, from acceptance through about a month after race day, renewable by mutual agreement
· Once you are accepted, a named human contact, with replies inside two business days, every time
· A monthly cohort call, with a recap if you cannot make it
How selection works
1 — Apply or be invited
Most ambassadors come from people who have already raced, captained or volunteered.
2 — A conversation
We talk about your community and what you would want to organise.
3 — Agreement and onboarding
A short written agreement and a session covering the race, the brand, and what you can and cannot say for us.
4 — Your first activation
Something real in your own community, with our materials behind you.
The road to race day
· Selection and invitations — the founding eighteen are chosen across the six categories
· Onboarding — agreement, orientation, and each ambassador names their first activation
· Team-building season — activations, club nights, and captain conversations through 2027
· Race week — September 18, 2027, Durango, Colorado
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a big social media following?
No. Audience size is close to the least important thing about an ambassador. We care whether real people in a real community show up when you organise something.
Do I have to have raced Valkyrie before?
Most of the founding cohort will come from past racers, captains and volunteers, because they can speak about the race from experience.
Is this a job?
No. Ambassadors are independent volunteer advocates, not employees or contractors. What ambassadors receive is exactly what is listed above: founding status, recognition, access, influence, support, and meaningful involvement.
Do ambassadors get paid?
No. There is no commission and no cash. You get ten percent off your own registration for every complete team that registers with your code, up to a free entry - the unit is a team, not a person. Everything else is recognition, access and influence.
How much time does it take?
Two to four hours a month. One activation a quarter, one captain conversation a month, and a short monthly note.
How long is the commitment?
One cycle, from acceptance through about a month after race day, renewable if both sides want to continue.
When do applications open?
Applications are open - use the form on this page.
How are the eighteen chosen?
Across the six categories, the seven race disciplines, and the communities the race actually draws from — through a conversation, not a follower count.
What is a Valkyrie Club Ride Leader?
A volunteer who hosts one group ride or run a month for the Valkyrie Relay club on Strava, on one leg of the course. Leaders are 21 or older. It is separate from the founding eighteen, and any ambassador can also lead rides. It does not carry the Founding Ambassador designation or the entry discount.
Apply to be an ambassador
One form for every kind of ambassador, including Valkyrie Club Ride Leaders - tick every kind that fits. We read every one of these ourselves. We are a small team, so a reply is not instant, but it comes from a person who has actually read what you wrote.