Yes, if teams want to increase the challenge or are not able to field a full team of specialists, a single competitor may compete in more than one leg of the race. By special arrangement with Valkyrie Relay Organizers, athletes wishing to compete in the Ultra Division may do so with 3 or fewer for the Full Course and 1 or 2 for the Sprint Course. Those competing in the Ultra Division are still required to provide their own dedicated transport and equipment shuttle support (Wingmates) and a dedicated spotter for the Open Swim leg.

Yes. State Park regulations require that a swimmer’s ‘spotter’ be in the water in or on a watercraft. Our recommendation is, after tagging the swimmer, have your SUP competitor or other teammate keep pace with your swimmer, off-course, on the SUP board. This way you will not need to load/unload additional watercraft. Additional trained staff will also be on hand, in the water to assist in extraction and medical attention, if necessary.

Teams will pick up (2) Vehicle Access and Parking Passes (VAPP) for vehicles driven by registered Wingmates. They are transferable between vehicles. The VAPP is not an official government-issued credential, but does grant the vehicle select, controlled course access (e.g. exchange zones) and controlled course parking/staging privileges. It also grants access to the Valkyrie Bivouac grounds at no additional charge. Additional vehicles needing access and parking privileges at the Bivouacs with be charged a fee (amount TBD) at ingress.

You may decide with your Wingmate to share his/her contacts with family. Wingmates are likely to know competitors’ whereabouts in real time, and it would keep you focused on the race. You may also want to check out the Valkyrie Relay Course Hours in the descriptions of each leg on our website to assist in estimating when individual competitors might be on-course.

In short, while competing on the road sections of the race, competitors must obey all relevant pedestrian and cyclist laws of the community in which the course is located. For further study, please see the descriptions of each relay leg, "Course Rules & Etiquette"

Yes, you can change your teammates all the way up until packet pickup, the evening before the race. If this is the case, the new team member will need to sign all waivers and follow any other instructions the rest of the team is subject to at race packet pick-up. We do ask that you submit the most accurate list of teammates you can when you register so we can purchase the correct sizes of event shirts. Last minute changes may result in one of your teammates not having the correct size event shirt.

Yes, you can do this. The racecourse is a public accessed route comprised of State Park managed trail and reservoirs, State Highways and municipal roadways. Entry fees might apply to enter State Park areas.

Valkyrie Relay Team Captains can register a team for just the cost of their own participation this year instead of paying the full team registration - e.g. Early Bird price $85 for Full Relay and $75 for Sprint Relay. Valkyrie Relay Teammates register as a member of an existing team, for the same price as their captain.

For race-related communications, the short answer is no. Please consider the safety of others competing alongside you and refrain from using anything that would reduce your ability to openly communicate with other racers, course referees and law enforcement (i.e. headphones). For other personal communications and music listening, Race Rules and Etiquette discourages this in the interest of safety.

Participants should not have any expectation for a refund if the race is held, but your team does not participate. Valkyrie Organizers will hold the race, rain or shine, unless unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances and conditions compel cancellation (Force Majeure). In the case of Force Majeure cancellation, participants likewise should not expect a refund.

Planning and operating a race takes a collective contribution of all participants, who by registering, agree it is something to be done all together – or it wouldn’t be a race. Financing and spending for an annual race is critically different from an ongoing operation (like an accommodation, or amusement park). In order to be ready on race day, race organizers must spend well in advance on marketing, venue fees, service & workforce contracts, safety & emergency services, consumables, operating supplies & equipment, workforce & athlete welfare, and gifts & incentives – all for one moment we all agree to, collectively, with each registration.

You can outright change teammates all the way up until packet pickup. If a teammate must be relieved mid-race, Race Organizers will take steps to eliminate any unfair advantage from doing so. If a competitor is injured and requires a replacement, they must inform a course referee or race organizer directly. The replacement athlete must return to the start of that racer’s start of discipline (i.e. previous exchange), starting the leg over. The replacement MUST wear a bib that matches the team – either as an athlete from another leg or one who has taken the bib from the injured competitor.

Yes. Competitors and their Wingmate(s) will need to arrange their own communication schemes to address and respond to such circumstances, as they happen. Please consult course maps to learn safe locations for equipment switch-out and any restrictions or advice on approaching the racecourse. Unlike the rule for replacement of competitors (i.e. for reason of injury), switch-out of equipment can happen on course, without returning to the start of the race leg.

The registration process requires you to first select a team captain and the sport she/he will compete in and select the team name. Once completed, your other teammates can register under your team name and select the legs they will be racing. We understand that you may not have a whole team assembled at the time of registration, so we allow you to submit your team roster any time after registration up to two days before the race. Teams who submit their team roster before August 12th for the Durango, CO event will receive complete race packets, including T-shirts, but T-shirt sizes cannot be guaranteed. Teammates that register after August 12th will not be guaranteed an event T-shirt or finishers award. The "captain" designation only lasts as long as you need to assemble a team. Anyone on the team can be (re)designated "captain."

We have links to interested rental and retail outlets on our Gear page. Please visit this page to find a list of local retailers and rental companies that can help you find the gear you need.

Mountain Bikers and Road Cyclists should be prepared to make their own repairs along the racecourse, if they can safely move aside to do so and not obstruct the course. Mountain Bike repairs or exchange of parts or equipment requiring assistance must be done at the bottom of the racecourse or trail head. For Road Cycling, repairs or exchanges requiring assistance can happen at any safe and non-obstructing location, off the road/highway. Wingates should plan to keep on hand essential tools and competency to assist. Should designated repair/maintenance locations be determined, these will be communicated later.

It is unlikely that all gear can be accommodated on a single vehicle’s rooftop alone. If your team Wingmate plans to carry all gear at once we recommend a large van or pickup with crew/double-cab seating, and roof racks or trailer for the watercraft. Your team will be issued (2) Vehicle Access & Parking Passes for Wingmate support vehicles. You should be prepared to transport a minimum 3 competitors at once and the following equipment in stages or all at once: kayak or canoe, mountain bike, SUP board, Road Cycle, personal hydration/nutrition. Here you can scroll-down to find links to preferred van rentals.

The road sections of the race – Road Run relay leg (RDR) and Road Cycle relay leg (RCY) – will be governed by “Rules of the Road” policies of the communities the course passes through. Select portions of the course will be under traffic control, marked lane encroachment, or controlled crossing in the interest of the race and community. Water courses at Lake Nighthorse will be closed to competitors only and enforced by Park Officials. The Trail Run and Mountain Bike circuit will be closed for competitors only.

We would love to talk! Please contact us directly about it.

Logistical services and standard furnishings & equipment, live site staging and audio/visual backline, temporary staffing for event services, volunteers, food & beverage trucks, hydration and nutrition products, radio communications, support vehicle fleet, signage design & printing, timing, merchandising (product supplier), merchandising (transaction services), trade show concessionaires and exhibitors (learn more about the Endurance Sports Summit and regiter to exhibit).

YES!! You can register to be a volunteer for the Durango event here. We need volunteers to do the following things: Race & Expo Logistics, Traffic Management, Race Safety, Expo Event Services, Athlete Services, Transition Zone Referees, Social Media Agents, Photography/Videography, Event Hospitality.