Volunteer
Valkyrie is a seven-sport relay that takes over a whole corner of Durango for a single day. Trail runners leave in the dark. Paddlers cross Lake Nighthorse in the middle of the morning. The last runner comes up the river trail in the evening. None of it happens without the people standing at the corners, the tables, and the water edge.
Why people come back
See the parts nobody else sees
Spectators watch a finish line. Volunteers watch a swimmer come out of the lake, find their bike, and go. You get the whole machine, from the inside.
One day, one job, done well
You are not signing up for a season. You are giving one block of one Saturday to something your town does once a year.
Meet the people who make it work
Race crews are small and the same faces come back. It is a genuinely good way to know your own community better.
Seven sports. One day. One team at a time.
A Valkyrie team hands off from one discipline to the next, all day, across trails, roads, a lake and a river. Every one of those handoffs happens in front of a volunteer.
A day that starts before sunrise
Shifts are built so that nobody has to cover the whole thing. Most volunteers work one block and are done.
Six places, all going at once
Santa Rita Park
The hub. Start, finish, expo, boat staging, and most of the exchanges. The busiest place to be and the easiest to get to.
Horse Gulch
The trail network above town, where the running and mountain bike courses run. Trail junctions and an aid station.
Lake Nighthorse
The water venue. Swim and paddleboard start and finish, plus the beach and the transitions between them.
Oxbow Park
Where the road ride ends and the paddle leg launches onto the Animas.
The road corridor
Intersections and aid along the cycling route north of town. Dispersed, mobile, and radio-connected.
The river trail
The final leg route back into town, with crossings and an aid point along the way.
Ways to help
Some roles want you in the middle of everything. Some want you at a quiet corner with a radio and a good view. Both matter.
Race and expo logistics
Setup, teardown, signage, course marking, and keeping supplies moving between venues.
Traffic management
Directing parking and guiding people safely across trail and road crossings.
Race safety
Course sweeps, radio relay from the remote sites, and getting help to where it is needed.
Expo event services
Packet pickup, bib and bracelet issue, merchandise, and the expo floor.
Athlete services
Aid stations, hydration, nutrition, gear bags, and the finish area.
Transition zone referees
Witnessing and recording every handoff. The role the results depend on, and the one with the most training.
Social media agents
Capturing the day as it happens, from all six venues.
Photography and videography
Shooting the venues, the transitions, and the finish.
Event hospitality
Volunteer check-in, the break tent, and looking after staff, sponsors and guests.
Come on your own, or bring everyone
On your own
Most volunteers arrive not knowing anyone. You will be put with a small crew under one captain, told exactly what your post covers, and looked after all day.
As a group
Teams, clubs, student groups, service organisations and workplaces are some of the best crews a race can have — people who already know each other, covering a venue together. Group details will be posted here once the 2027 programme opens.
Lead a venue
Captains are the backbone of race day. A captain owns one venue or one stretch of course, runs a crew, and is the person their volunteers actually turn to. It asks more than a single shift — a walk-through beforehand, training, and a long day — and it is the most interesting job on the course. If you have run crews before, in any setting, we will want to talk to you when recruiting opens.
What you can expect from us
A real job, clearly explained
You will know your post, your hours, your supervisor, and what to do if something goes wrong — before race day, not on the morning.
Training before you are needed
Nobody is handed a task they have not been shown. Roles that carry more responsibility carry more training.
Never out of your depth
You will not be asked to do anything you are not trained and permitted to do. That boundary is fixed.
Looked after all day
A check-in, a break, somewhere to get out of the weather, and a named person you can reach.
What we will never ask you to do
Some jobs at this race are done by trained and licensed professionals, and only by them. In-water rescue, medical treatment, and controlling live highway traffic are not volunteer roles and never will be. If you volunteer with Valkyrie, you will be told exactly what your post covers, who supervises you, and who to call. You will not be handed something you were not trained for.
Volunteering by race
Volunteer opportunities are published race by race. Nothing is open right now.
What this is for
A race like this only works because a town lets it happen — on its trails, its roads, its river and its lake. Volunteering is the most direct way to be part of that rather than have it happen around you. We are building a way to measure what the race actually gives back, and we will publish that when it is real rather than estimated.
Volunteer questions
Can I volunteer to help the event?
Yes — the race runs on volunteers. At past races, roles included Race & Expo Logistics, Traffic Management, Race Safety, Expo Event Services, Athlete Services, Transition Zone Referees, Social Media, Photography/Videography and Event Hospitality. Volunteer sign-up for the 2027 Durango race will be announced here once it opens — or email info@valkyrierelay.com now and we will keep you posted.
Accessibility
We want this to be volunteerable by as many people as possible. Roles vary a lot in what they physically ask — some are a full day on uneven ground, others are seated, sheltered and social. When the programme opens, every role will publish what it actually requires so you can choose accurately, and there will be a way to tell us what you need.
Volunteer sign-up for 2027 pending
If you volunteered at a previous Valkyrie race, you will hear from us here first.
Register interest now
Volunteer interest form
Submitting this form expresses interest only. Volunteer positions, qualifications, schedules and assignments are not guaranteed and will be confirmed separately.
* required
Durango
Colorado
United States
Valkyrie Relay — Durango
Wasatch Back
Utah
United States
Valkyrie Relay — Wasatch Back
Coeur d'Alene
Idaho
United States
Valkyrie Relay — Coeur d'Alene
Tahoe–Truckee
California
United States
Valkyrie Tahoe–Truckee
Transylvania
Romania
Valkyrie Relay — Transylvania
Columbus
Ohio
United States
Valkyrie Relay — Columbus
Seaside / Cannon Beach
Oregon
United States
Valkyrie Relay — Oregon Coast
Bellingham
Washington
United States
Valkyrie Bellingham
Boise / Eagle
Idaho
United States
Valkyrie Boise
Bend
Oregon
United States
Valkyrie Bend
Asheville
North Carolina
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Valkyrie Asheville
St. George
Utah
United States
Valkyrie St. George
Hood River
Oregon
United States
Valkyrie Hood River
Bozeman
Montana
United States
Valkyrie Bozeman
Sandpoint
Idaho
United States
Valkyrie Sandpoint
Leavenworth
Washington
United States
Valkyrie Leavenworth
Redding / Shasta
California
United States
Valkyrie Redding
Whitefish
Montana
United States
Valkyrie Whitefish
Santa Fe / Los Alamos
New Mexico
United States
Valkyrie Santa Fe
Steamboat Springs
Colorado
United States
Valkyrie Steamboat Springs
Lake Havasu City
Arizona
United States
Valkyrie Lake Havasu City
Vernal
Utah
United States
Valkyrie Vernal
Glenwood Springs
Colorado
United States
Valkyrie Glenwood Springs
Lake Chelan
Washington
United States
Valkyrie Lake Chelan
Mammoth Lakes / Bishop
California
United States
Valkyrie Mammoth Lakes
Taos
New Mexico
United States
Valkyrie Taos
Huntsville
Alabama
United States
Huntsville
Anchorage
Alaska
United States
Anchorage
Bentonville / Rogers
Arkansas
United States
Bentonville / Rogers
Litchfield Hills (Torrington)
Connecticut
United States
Litchfield Hills (Torrington)
Wilmington
Delaware
United States
Wilmington
Ocala / Silver Springs
Florida
United States
Ocala / Silver Springs
Blue Ridge / Ellijay
Georgia
United States
Blue Ridge / Ellijay
Hilo
Hawaii
United States
Hilo
Rockford
Illinois
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Rockford
Bloomington
Indiana
United States
Bloomington
Des Moines
Iowa
United States
Des Moines
Lawrence
Kansas
United States
Lawrence
Louisville
Kentucky
United States
Louisville
Covington / Mandeville
Louisiana
United States
Covington / Mandeville
Bridgton / Sebago Lake
Maine
United States
Bridgton / Sebago Lake
Deep Creek Lake / McHenry
Maryland
United States
Deep Creek Lake / McHenry
Greenfield / Deerfield
Massachusetts
United States
Greenfield / Deerfield
Traverse City
Michigan
United States
Traverse City
Duluth
Minnesota
United States
Duluth
Oxford
Mississippi
United States
Oxford
Springfield
Missouri
United States
Springfield
Omaha
Nebraska
United States
Omaha
Reno
Nevada
United States
Reno
Conway / Lakes Region
New Hampshire
United States
Conway / Lakes Region
Sussex County / Sparta
New Jersey
United States
Sussex County / Sparta
Lake Placid
New York
United States
Lake Placid
Bismarck
North Dakota
United States
Bismarck
Tulsa
Oklahoma
United States
Tulsa
Jim Thorpe / Lehigh Gorge
Pennsylvania
United States
Jim Thorpe / Lehigh Gorge
Providence / Arcadia
Rhode Island
United States
Providence / Arcadia
Greenville
South Carolina
United States
Greenville
Rapid City
South Dakota
United States
Rapid City
Chattanooga
Tennessee
United States
Chattanooga
Austin
Texas
United States
Austin
Waterbury / Stowe
Vermont
United States
Waterbury / Stowe
Roanoke
Virginia
United States
Roanoke
Fayetteville / New River Gorge
West Virginia
United States
Fayetteville / New River Gorge
Madison
Wisconsin
United States
Madison
Casper
Wyoming
United States
Casper
Bellingham
Washington
United States
Valkyrie Bellingham
Boise / Eagle
Idaho
United States
Valkyrie Boise
Bend
Oregon
United States
Valkyrie Bend
Asheville
North Carolina
United States
Valkyrie Asheville
St. George
Utah
United States
Valkyrie St. George
Hood River
Oregon
United States
Valkyrie Hood River
Bozeman
Montana
United States
Valkyrie Bozeman
Sandpoint
Idaho
United States
Valkyrie Sandpoint
Leavenworth
Washington
United States
Valkyrie Leavenworth
Redding / Shasta
California
United States
Valkyrie Redding
Whitefish
Montana
United States
Valkyrie Whitefish
Santa Fe / Los Alamos
New Mexico
United States
Valkyrie Santa Fe
Steamboat Springs
Colorado
United States
Valkyrie Steamboat Springs
Lake Havasu City
Arizona
United States
Valkyrie Lake Havasu City
Vernal
Utah
United States
Valkyrie Vernal
Glenwood Springs
Colorado
United States
Valkyrie Glenwood Springs
Lake Chelan
Washington
United States
Valkyrie Lake Chelan
Mammoth Lakes / Bishop
California
United States
Valkyrie Mammoth Lakes
Taos
New Mexico
United States
Valkyrie Taos
Huntsville
Alabama
United States
Huntsville
Anchorage
Alaska
United States
Anchorage
Bentonville / Rogers
Arkansas
United States
Bentonville / Rogers
Litchfield Hills (Torrington)
Connecticut
United States
Litchfield Hills (Torrington)
Wilmington
Delaware
United States
Wilmington
Ocala / Silver Springs
Florida
United States
Ocala / Silver Springs
Blue Ridge / Ellijay
Georgia
United States
Blue Ridge / Ellijay
Hilo
Hawaii
United States
Hilo
Rockford
Illinois
United States
Rockford
Bloomington
Indiana
United States
Bloomington
Des Moines
Iowa
United States
Des Moines
Lawrence
Kansas
United States
Lawrence
Louisville
Kentucky
United States
Louisville
Covington / Mandeville
Louisiana
United States
Covington / Mandeville
Bridgton / Sebago Lake
Maine
United States
Bridgton / Sebago Lake
Deep Creek Lake / McHenry
Maryland
United States
Deep Creek Lake / McHenry
Greenfield / Deerfield
Massachusetts
United States
Greenfield / Deerfield
Traverse City
Michigan
United States
Traverse City
Duluth
Minnesota
United States
Duluth
Oxford
Mississippi
United States
Oxford
Springfield
Missouri
United States
Springfield
Omaha
Nebraska
United States
Omaha
Reno
Nevada
United States
Reno
Conway / Lakes Region
New Hampshire
United States
Conway / Lakes Region
Sussex County / Sparta
New Jersey
United States
Sussex County / Sparta
Lake Placid
New York
United States
Lake Placid
Bismarck
North Dakota
United States
Bismarck
Tulsa
Oklahoma
United States
Tulsa
Jim Thorpe / Lehigh Gorge
Pennsylvania
United States
Jim Thorpe / Lehigh Gorge
Providence / Arcadia
Rhode Island
United States
Providence / Arcadia
Greenville
South Carolina
United States
Greenville
Rapid City
South Dakota
United States
Rapid City
Chattanooga
Tennessee
United States
Chattanooga
Austin
Texas
United States
Austin
Waterbury / Stowe
Vermont
United States
Waterbury / Stowe
Roanoke
Virginia
United States
Roanoke
Fayetteville / New River Gorge
West Virginia
United States
Fayetteville / New River Gorge
Madison
Wisconsin
United States
Madison
Casper
Wyoming
United States
Casper