Pocket Gopher extreme

USARA Regional Qualifier 2025!

OVERALL 1ST PLACE TEAM WILL RECEIVE 800$ USD AND A GUARENTEED SLOT TO THE 2025 USARA NATIONALS

Racing the 48hr PGE counts as one race toward the lottery for free entry into the Adventure Racing World Championships 2026. Teams must participate in at least two regional races to be included in the lottery. Many more prizes are to be added!

Welcome Adventure Racers. The Pocket Gopher Extreme 48 will be insane this year! The PGE is both an ARWS North America Regional Race and a USARA national qualifier for 2025 and that is just the beginning. This year we are taking the PGE to extremely new heights with a 48hr expedition style race that is sure to challenge any team. If you have ever wanted to try an expedition race but have been afraid to try this is the race for you. We will be following the same format that is used by ARWS expedition races all over the world with a slightly shorter format. Teams will see amazing MTBing sections, beautifully rugged paddling sections and orienteering sections that are the most rugged MN has to offer. There will also be at least 2 mystery challenges that will be explained in detail as we get closer to the race date. This 48hr race is designed to challenge advanced Adventure Racing teams/soloists. I want to stress this is an advanced race!! However, there are so many amazing events packed into this race I will not deny any team even if you have no experience from trying it. I just want you to know what you are getting into. If you think you have what it takes go for it!! If 48hrs scares you the PGC will be tough but for a shorter duration. Like all of our races, we welcome teams of 2,3, or 4 and soloists.

PGC Series Partners

Distances

Bike: 80-100 miles

Trek/Orienteering/Land Navigation: 20-35 miles

Paddle: 10-20 Miles

*Distances are estimates and subject to change

Disciplines

PackRafting

Road/Mountain Biking

Orienteering

Trekking Land Navigation

Rope Work (TBA)

Divisions

3-4 person coed team

3-4 person all male

3-4 person all female

2 person coed team

2 person all male

2 person all female

Solo Male

Solo Female

RACE DAY SCHEDULE

48 HR Race Schedule

17 July 18:00 Race HQ Open

17 July 18:00-20:00 Race Check in, Bag and Bike Drops

17 July 18:00-20:00 Open style Dinner

17 July 20:00 Mandatory Race Briefing

18 July 06:00 Map and GPS Hand Outs

18 July 07:30 Last Minute Race Meeting (CPT’s Only)

18 July 08:00 RACE START

20 July 08:00 Winner Expected Time

20 July 18:00 Course closes

Early registration (ends 17 May)

Team: $300/per racer

Soloist: $400/ per racer

Regular registration (ends 30 June )

Team: $350/per racer

Soloist: $400/per racer

Late registration (ends 12 July*)

Team: $400/per racer

Soloist: $400/per racer *The last day to guarantee t-shirts in 23 J

PackRaft

TBD Placeholder

Mountain Bikes

It is not our goal to limit the type of bike that you choose to race with. The 6/12/48hr course will be a combination of blacktop, gravel, double track, and single track.

Having said all that we do have a few requirements/suggestions.

Suggestions for 6/12/50hr Race

We highly recommend that you DO NOT use a Cyclocross bike. You will see single-track trails on the course and if you choose to go Cyclocross it will not go well. If you are hell-bent on using one they are permitted.
We also recommend that you DO NOT use a gravel bike. Again, they are not designed for single-track trails
We DO recommend mountain bikes. This is the best bike for this course. There are a ton of options out there but they all come down to personal preference.
We also DO recommend fat bikes. Again more of a personal preference but we have used fat bikes on all the course trails as well as mountain bikes.