Captain Thurmond's Challenge
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Event Overview
Captain Thurmond's Challenge is a three-sport adventure race held in Fayetteville, West Virginia, within the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve. The event is a 32-mile loop that starts and finishes in downtown Fayetteville in front of the county courthouse.
Course Details
The race consists of three distinct segments completed in the following order:
- Mountain Bike: A 16.5-mile segment. The route starts downtown, climbs toward Town Park, and uses trails including the Town Park Loop, Fayetteville Trail, Dalton, Craigs Branch, and Kaymoor Trail, finishing at the Cunard River Access.
- River Section: A 7-mile whitewater paddle on the New River from Cunard to Fayette Station. This stretch features Class III–IV rapids. Allowed watercraft include kayaks, packrafts, canoes, and rafts. A helmet and a minimum Type III PFD are required.
- Run Section: A 9-mile trail run. The route goes from the Fayette Station take-out, up to Kaymoor Top, into the Arrowhead Trails for a lap of the Clovis Loop, and continues via Butcher’s Branch, Long Point, and Timber Ridge trails before returning to Town Park and the downtown finish.
Event Formats
Participants can compete in several formats:
- Solo: Individual competitors (Men's Solo, Women's Solo).
- Relay: Three-person teams where each member completes one leg (Men's Relay, Women's Relay, Mixed Relay).
- Raft Team: Teams of 4–6 participants who complete the entire course together (Men's Raft Team, Women’s Raft Team, Mixed Raft Team). Registration for raft teams can include a raft, a certified guide, and safety gear, or teams may provide their own.
Logistics & Spectators
The event provides gear transportation for mountain bikes, kayaks/canoes, rafts, and personal gear bins from transition areas back to town. Shuttle reservations for this transport will open closer to the event date.
Spectators can view the race at the start/finish line in downtown Fayetteville, the Kaymoor Miners Trail parking area, Cunard River Access, and Fayette Station River Access. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
