Challenge the Shield Adventure Race
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About the race
The Challenge the Shield Multi-Sport Adventure Race is a points-based, team event held near Parry Sound, Ontario at Nine Mile Lake Beach. Teams of two have a six-hour limit to visit as many of the 28 checkpoint challenges as they choose on routes across the Canadian Shield. The overall points available total 2,500, with a mandatory three-part prologue worth 500 points. The prologue and checkpoint challenge distances include: - Prologue distances: ~3.5 km run, ~2 km paddle, ~7 km bike. - Checkpoint challenge distances: trekking ~10-12 km, paddling ~10-12 km, biking 20-25 km. After the prologue, teams navigate to marked and backcountry checkpoints that include additional marked-route challenges such as an MTB Relay, an Island Challenge, a mystery checkpoint, and a final swim-run checkpoint.
A penalty of 100 points is deducted for every minute or part of a minute over the six-hour limit. The race format is updated for 2026; four backcountry checkpoints are included. Categories are teams of two in Coed, Male, Female, Masters (total age over 100), and Juniors (ages 13 to 18). Registration is limited to 82 teams.
Entry fees are tiered (Early $199, Regular $229, Late $259) with junior teams at half price. Entry includes customized race maps, host site day-use fees, event swag, a participation sticker, insurance, and a post-race pizza for each team; it does not include transaction fees, HST, or canoe rentals. Canoe rentals are available through a partner on a first-come basis.
The event has applied to be an official race in the Adventure Racing Ontario Series. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
