Backpacker Bushwhacker Adv – Nov. 15, 2015

Welcome to the 2015 Backpacker Bushwhacker Adventure Race. Team Backpacker Adventure Racing is at it again! Come out and join them for the 4th and final stop in the Louisiana Adventure Racing Series. The course is designed for teams of three members and features trail running, a ropes course, mountain biking, special tests, and some pretty basic orienteering. Of course, they will throw in a few unexpected challenges along the way. If you competed in any of their other events, you probably think that you know what to expect. Well, you don’t. This is a new course in an awesome venue and it’s made up of all the things we love – and hate – about adventure racing.
When: Sunday, November 15th at 8:00 a.m.
Where: The Start and Finish will take place in West Feliciana Sports Park in St. Francisville, Louisiana.
Course Design: The course will include 5-9 miles of running, 9-13 miles of mountain biking, NO PADDLING, a ropes course, and some other really cool special tests along the way. This race will not be as long as our races have typically been.
Each team member must provide their own mountain bike and a CPSC approved helmet. We will provide any required climbing gear, such as harnesses, slings, ropes, carabineers, etc. Any additional information you might need, including descriptions of gear or equipment, whether required or recommended, will be detailed in the Pre-Race Letter to be posted here and e-mailed to each team in the last couple of days leading up to the race. That letter will contain important information, so read it carefully.
If you’re new to navigating, don’t worry. We promise to keep it pretty simple. Also, watch for updates on the website. There is NO race day registration.
We have decided to remove the paddling sections from the series finale in St. Francisville. After a series of meetings with town officials and those familiar with the waterways available to the public, it is clear that we wouldn’t be able to provide the kind of fun and challenging experience that adventure racers have come to expect. To those of you who enjoy paddling, we hope you aren’t too terribly disappointed about this. To those of you who do not enjoy paddling, we hope this will encourage you to come out and experience the rest of the course. We’ve worked very hard to design a fun and challenging course and we’ve thrown in a few new surprises to make up for the loss of the paddling sections.
Early registration fee is $70 per person plus $5.50 one-day license and includes your team canoe, paddles, life jackets, maps, t-shirts and a great post race party with food, drink, and music! There is NO race day registration. Limited to the first 100 teams. Race in one event, or in the entire series. Send your entry form in early to reserve your team’s spot.
Thank you to all the teams that came out to Backpacker Bushwhacker Adventure Race this weekend. It was a great day for adventure racing. Results are posted below by division and overall. Also, check out the point series standings by clicking the link below to see how your team finished in the 2015 Louisiana Adventure Racing Point Series. See you in 2016…
Click Here for Results – 2015 Backpacker Bushwhacker Adventure Race – By Division
Click Here for Results – 2015 Backpacker Bushwhacker Adventure Race – Overall Results
2015 Point Series Champions
http://www.laadventureracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/2015-St-Francisville-Race-Roster-RESULTS2.pdf
Since this is an “urban race” can participants use a road bike?
No, all races require the use of a Mountain Bike. Feel free to use the tires of your choice, but the bike itself must fit a Mountain Bike Profile.
Is a hybrid bike acceptable? Where will the race finish?
Hello Josh. Yes hybrid bikes are allowed. Just no road bikes with the curved ram-like handlebars. It’s for safety as it is harder to see cars coming at you on a road bike. Hybrids are no problem. Thank you for checking. The race will start and finish at City Park in New Orleans. Dave
so we don’t have to change our mountian bike tires? is there a thinner tire (but not road tire) that previous Adv Racers generally swap out to so they aren’t riding on the big fat ones?
Racers often use semi-slick tires like IRC Mythos semi-slicks which have a smooth surface in the middle and knobbies along the sides. For urban races, slick road tires give minimal resistance and work great.
Dave
Hello Randy. Thanks for checking on hotel options. The race starts and ends at City Park in Mid-City which is a few miles from Louis Armstrong Park and the French Quarter. Not sure why the map is pointing to that location. We posted a few hotels on this New Orleans Urban race page which is within 10-15 minutes of City Park and reasonably priced. But, any hotel in the downtown/French Quarter area would also be about 15 minutes from the race start. I hope that helps. Dave
So how exactly does one of these Urban Adventure races work….I’ve done sprint triathlons, but not quite sure the “flow” of these Urban Races. I know they involve challenges throughout,etc, but is the whole team running, biking, canoeing together the whole time
(I tend to get lost) or do we head off on our own …just give me a brief description so I know what I’m up against
Hi Anne. Thanks for asking about the New Orleans Urban race. Teams of 3 travel together throughout the city while biking, paddling, and running. The teams aren’t split up. We break up each discipline into many small sections. So, no long running or biking at any one time. We also add some fun mystery challenges during the event. Teams last year searched a wax museum and carried drink trays to Pat O Briens and Tropical Isle. It’s a fun event and I know you’d have a blast. Let me know if I can answer more questions. Dave
A few more questions….
1. Could I register for the New Orleans Urban Adventure Race if I haven’t participated in any previous events? I run, bike, and kayak recreationally but have never done anything like this so I would basically like to see what it’s all about.
2. What is the best way to join/form a team? I don’t know many others who would be willing to join me.
3. When is the deadline for registration?
Urban races are great fun. They combine the same fun techniques as as normal Adventure race (Biking, trekking, canoeing). The race will take place in the City of New Orleans, and you will be amazed at some of the places you get to bike or trek in. All three team members are required to complete each phase, and must stay within 50 feet of each other at all times. Come join the race, you will be hooked!
I’d LUV to do this 2015 Backpacker Bushwhacker Adventure Race but would like to find a couple of other 60+ year old racers (I’m 66, have done an urban adventure race once before, a few years back and have been doing CrossFit the last 4 years) to form a team – any combo … 2 guys, 2 gals, or guy & gal. Email lesswork2do@gmail.com