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.
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, and they coordinate the other ambassadors in their area so recruiting is organised instead of scattered.
Retail or Gear Ambassador
Shops and gear communities that solve the equipment problems that stop teams before they start.
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.
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.
Previews of the founding ambassador profile design and campaign artwork. Illustrative only.
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
· 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
Application opening will be announced on this page.
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.
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?
The application is being prepared now. The opening will be announced on this page, and you can email us today to be considered when it does.
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.
Apply for the Founding Cohort
Applications are not yet open
Get in touch
info@valkyrierelay.com — tell us about your community and say you are interested in the ambassador program.