The Transition: AR News and Updates

Written By Bill Donohue

Friday, November 15, 2024

Supported by:

2025 USARA National Championship

The United States Adventure Racing Association is partnering with the Ozark Foundation to produce the 2025 USARA National Championship event, with support from Visit Bentonville and other community sponsors. 

Mike Spivey, Ozark Foundation President and CEO, commented, "We were excited to welcome adventure racing to Northwest Arkansas with Expedition Ozark, and look forward to showcasing more of the 400-mile award-winning trail systems and beautiful bluffs that make our part of the Ozarks a world-class adventure destination.” 

Although details of the course are top secret until the race starts, USARA Executive Director Michael Garrison shared that the Nationals course will be unique.

“Expedition Ozark was outstanding, but we understand racers want to explore new places. We also want to preserve the integrity of the National Championships by ensuring teams don’t have an unfair advantage for having raced here before.  Nearly all of the course will be over new terrain,” said Garrison. 

The 30-hour format will allow teams more opportunity to explore Bentonville before and after the race, and discover why the Wall Street Journal in 2023 dubbed the city a “new capital of cool.”  While adventure racers know Bentonville as a mountain biking mecca, the city is also home to the stunning Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Walmart Museum, Amazeum, and an eclectic culinary scene with award-winning chefs serving up farm-to-table menus and international flavors.  

“In addition to our renowned singletrack mountain biking, we also have a variety of locally-owned shops and boutiques, public art installations, live music venues hosting nationally-acclaimed artists, and a vibrant night scene, ranging from local breweries and neighborhood pubs to contemporary cocktail bars and speakeasies,” offered Alison Nation, Vice President of Communications & Marketing for Visit Bentonville.  “We’re also a kid-friendly city, with an award-winning children’s museum, a bike playground, watersports at Lake Bentonville, and hundreds of acres of parks, featuring splash pads, playgrounds, and beginner trails.”

The Gear Shed: Gear for Adventure Racing

A membership to USARA means big savings on gear at ExpertVoice!

REMINDER: A screenshot of the USARA membership from run signup will suffice for joining ExpertVoice. Directions are available on our membership page.

Have an adventure story, race report or an article to share with fellow adventure racers? Send it to social@usara.com for inclusion in the Transition.

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Bill Donohue
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