Discussion: REV3 Cowboy Tough Wyoming Expedition Race

I had heard some rumors of this race taking place next summer. Here is the website...

http://www.rev3adventure.com/race/rev3cowboytough/

The format of it being a stage race (16-24 hours) for teams that choose to do the minimum and a non-stop race for teams wishing to get as many optional CPs as they can seems interesting but has the potential for disaster. It is going to be a point to point from Cheyenne to Casper which is pretty flat (no mountains) so the distances are long and seem to be bike heavy.

The $10,000 in cash/prizes and the dates interest me, but I don't want a treasure hunt, mis placed CP's, or a stage race...

The race organization has their act together in the triathlon world, but I am not totally convinced they have it together on the AR front. If I remember correctly, there were some 'issues' with their 24 hour races on the east coast in the past. I think they had some gimmicky team challenges that involved two by fours.

Can anybody more experienced with REV3's ARs and their organization shed some light on this event?

i've been poking around on this event as well, and basically have come to your same conclusions...impressive prize list but potential for endless biking or trekking legs with little nav or route choice required.

i'd love to hear more from people in the know! i'm hoping the east coast folks will have some thoughts.

I don't know about the organizers other than they get back to me promptly. I would be wary about thinking it is flat. There will be a lot of up and down. Remember everyone thought PQ in the Black Hills would be flat and paid the price.

'Flat' is relative I guess :). My scale...
2009 PQ = flat
2008 PQ and ARWC 2012 = not

I participated in their 2011 Epic AR. They basically posted a course (which seemed impossible for permits) prior to the race which left little room for a surprise. When it came to the race brief we found out they didn't have permits and the course would be drastically different.

Epic rainfalls leading up to and during the race made them cancel the paddle and with an already shortened course we finished the race in 13 hours. I must say though there was an AMAZING orienteering course and they also had a pretty good MTBO.

This year I did not race but it went on as scheduled. No course description before hand. There was an insane amount of choices to be made about what to do and when. Basically about 1/2 way in you had no idea who was in the lead. Teams were going in all different directions. I think it got the point where it was a little too much but you would have to get first hand impressions. This is also a preference thing.

They did have a "team building" section in the 2011 version but it was fairly easily accomplished in less than 30 minutes by any team not fighting. I wouldn't be too worried about that. Both years they have had great prize purses including $2500 to the winning team. Both years they have also held a simulataneous Sprint/Family AR which is great for expanding the sport, especially when you bring in the market they have from triathlon.

As for my expectations of this race:
I have heard a little about it already. Not too many details. I wouldn't know exactly what to expect but they usually do get big input and support in course design from their racers. I believe some were out in that area this summer scouting and such. I would be hesitant to think they can pull it off perfectly the first year but I wouldn't expect a disaster. Still a much bigger commitment then a 1 day so leaves less room for risk.

I hope to try and talk with some of their course designers to see what is up. Not sure if any of them have ever done a true Expedition Race before though.

Well reasoned and said.

Hey Tico, Joe McGinley from Racing With Giants might have some useful info. He lives in WY now and according to him, he has been involved in getting this race off the ground by involving the state politicos. Hani or I (and maybe others) have his contact info and could email it to you. I don't know how Rev3 runs a race but since RWG asked me to join them and Joe's working the sponsorship angle, I'm in for the ride. But it does sound like it could have a bit of road riding, which doesn't sound like fun...though maybe a close encounter with a pronghorn deer could make it interesting.

Yeah that race sounds interesting. I reckon it will be a series of rogaine style sections. The faster you are the more you can complete.

I did the Rev3 Epic 24h 2012 in Virginia and felt it was very well organized. Lots of choices. Sections had to be done in specific order, but CPs in the sections could be done in any order. I was racing solo, and the 'special obstacle like tasks' took me about 30min, so not too much.

My race recap (in french but you should be able to translate) http://teamkinetic.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/racing...

Rev3\Mountain Khakis recap: http://rev3adventure.blogspot.ca/2012/04/rev3-epic...

Bossy Goat and I are still on the hunt for our first multi-day and she came across this race earlier today (she is not on Attackpoint much). My initial read of it gave me thoughts that this could be interesting, but as mentioned lots of bike. I then opened the racer handout and read through that and the last paragraph on cancelations and refunds + what I have just read above gives me pause. They are clear that there are no refunds if choose to cancel, but you can postpone your entry to next year which is fair. But if THEY cancel for whatever reason there are NO refunds at all.

Considering it is almost 28hrs to get there from here (if we drove)... tough call...

I'm pretty sure I saw a route description on here earlier today. Anyone else? Where did it go?

maybe on the event page??

http://www.ar.attackpoint.org/eventdetail.jsp/even...

It was definitely posted here. Something to the effect "it will be anything but flat" and then listed the areas the course was heading through.
From what I remember I liked the sounds of it.

The distance between Casper and Cheyenne is 180 miles. It will definitey not be flat. The official web site lists the following distances.
What are the lengths of the different disciplines?

Day 1
10-15 miles trekking
20-30 miles single-track biking
40-50 miles road biking
60-100 miles fire road biking
Ropes section designed and sponsored by (NOLS)
Total distance = 130-185 miles

Day 2
20-30 miles fire road biking
Cowboy Challenge
30-40 miles trekking and orienteering designed and sponsored by (NOLS)
20-30 miles flat-water paddle
Total distance = 70-90 miles

Day 3
60-80 miles fire road biking
20-30 miles road biking
20-30 miles trekking
Total distance = 100-140 miles

Day 4
20-30 miles road biking
10-20 miles trekking
15-20 miles paddling
3 miles of whitewater kickboarding
Total distance = 45-70 miles

Grand total distance = 320-485 miles