REGISTRATION OPENS FRIDAY Dec 2 @ 7AM PST

Date: Saturday May 7th (solo) & Sunday May 8th (relay), 2022
Distance: Solo Saturday or Relay Sunday (Teams of 3) - Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) / Gravel Biking / Trail Running

• Courses are entirely flagged, no navigation needed, no maps or compasses provided. Follow the flagging, start to finish.
• SUP only; no kayaks, canoes or surf-skis allowed
• Mountain bikes are allowed, but gravel and cyclocross bikes are much more efficient for these courses. Using a mountain bike will place most people at a disadvantage, however, the bike course has a few steep uphill sections off the start (you can expect a few short hike-a-bikes if you're not super experienced), and a few steep downhill sections into the finish (nothing crazy, we promise). A gravel bike will be faster, but some people may be more comfortable on a mountain bike.
• Winning times are expected to be in the 4 hour range (+/- 30 mins)

Conquer the Vedder is a new multisport race with a twist. We only allow standup paddleboards and the course favours gravel bikes. Courses are entirely flagged with zero navigation undertaken by participants.

Both of us - Gary Robbins and Geoff Langford (the RD's behind CMTR) - got our starts in the adventure racing / multisport world, so it gives us great pleasure to finally be presenting a genuinely unique multisport racing concept that we’ve been working on for a few years now.

Cultus Lake and Vedder Mountain offer unparalleled trail and water access. There are hundreds of kilometers of singletrack trails all over Vedder Mountain, and Cultus Lake is a favourite summer destination for watersport lovers. 

Many in the trail running world have dipped their toes in the SUP and Gravel Biking scene over the last few years, and we look forward to presenting you with a great option to either put all your new sports gear to the test, or to link up with a few friends from different sports scenes to have a blast as a relay team!

Start/Finish: Smith Falls (West Side) BC Parks group camp sites at the end of Parmenter Road.

• SUPs and bikes have to be dropped off either the night prior (security provided) or by 6:45am (hard cut) on race morning.
• Crew, family, or friends can walk to and from the start/finish, or use the regular shuttle service.
• Road access to the start/finish will only be granted for these specific windows of time:
  Friday 4pm – 7:30pm (solo competitors drop off)
  Saturday 5am – 6:45am (solo competitors drop off)
  Saturday 3pm – 7:30pm (solo pickup and relay drop off)
  Sunday 5am – 6:45am (relay drop off)
  Sunday 3pm – 6pm (relay pickup)

Accommodations: Find hotels, cabins and camping options

Parking & Buses: Cultus Lake pay parking Lot D (behind the waterpark). No parking is available at the start/finish. Shuttle services will be provided at no cost between the parking area and the start/finish on the following schedule each day:

• 5:30am departing from Lot D, and every 30 mins (10 min trip to the start/finish).
• 8:30am last drop off at Lot D.
• 8:30am - 2:00pm shuttles by request.
• 2:00pm departing from the start/finish, and every 30 mins (10 min trip to Lot D).
• 5:00pm last departure from the start/finish.

Water Stations: There will be a water station set up at each discipline transition area. One water station will be provided on course for solos, at the bike to run to bike transition area. For the relay, there will be one water station on course, at the bike turnaround point.

Bag Check: There will be a tent at the start/finish area to leave a bag, but it is not monitored so please label your bag and do not leave any valuables.

Cupless: In our effort to reduce waste, all our races are cup-free, meaning you'll need to pack along your own cup for water stations.

Poles (hiking / trekking / running poles) are NOT ALLOWED in any disciplines.

Cutoffs: 8.5 hours, both days

10 Essentials: We encourage everyone to always carry the 10 Essentials for backcountry safety in your pack - whether you’re out training or adventuring on your own or with friends, or participating in one of our extensively marked races, you can never predict what might happen. Learn more about the 10 Essentials in this article by North Shore Rescue.

You must provide all your own gear for each stage of the race. We do not provide either paddleboards or bikes. There will be a water station set up at each discipline transition area.

Standup Paddleboarding:

• Standup Paddleboards only! No kayaks, no surf-skis, no swimming, no prone paddleboarding.
• Only single blade SUP paddles allowed. No kayak paddles or double-bladed paddles allowed.
• Coast Guard OR Transport Canada Approved PFD or life jacket (type III or better) OR self-inflating belt style life preserver. These must be worn at all times while on the water. You are not allowed to simply attach your life jacket or self-inflating belt to your board while paddling, it must be worn upon your body at all times while on the water.
• Red flashing lights x2. One for your Coast Guard Approved life jacket, and one for your SUP. These will be used if fog is an issue on race morning.
  
• Whistle. Must be attached to you and within easy reach.
• Leash. You must be leashed to your SUP at all times while on the water.
• No kites or board alterations of any type allowed. It’s your arms, your lungs, your SUP, and your single blade paddle; anything else will get you disqualified.
• You are allowed to use a sit down back support for your SUP board if you like, but you are still only allowed a single blade paddle.
• Once off the water, you must transport your SUP gear to the approved holding area, as directed by our course marshals. Any boards strewn about and not following the course marshals’ directions shall see the person and/or team disqualified. 
• Please see here for a list of SUP rental locations in the Lower Mainland

Biking:

• Gravel bike, cyclocross bike, or mountain bike, in good working order.
• NO e-bikes allowed. No motors or assistance of any type allowed. It’s your legs and the pedals; anything more will get you disqualified.
• Bike helmet (certified CSA or equivalent).
• First aid kit that includes: regular bandages / antihistamine tablets (wasp sting) / anti-inflammatory tablets / tensor (ace) bandage.
• Whistle. Must be attached to you and within easy reach.
• Solo racers must transport their running shoes throughout the course. The run stage is in the middle of the bike stage. We recommend a backpack or attaching the shoes to your handlebars with ski straps. Practice before race weekend.
• Solo racers can leave all bike supplies with their bike while out on the run stage. Once you depart the bike stage for the finish line, you must carry everything back. Leaving gear out on course will result in a disqualification.

Trail Run:

• First aid kit that includes: regular bandages / antihistamine tablets (wasp sting) / anti-inflammatory tablets / tensor (ace) bandage.
• Whistle. Must be attached to you and within easy reach.
• No course cutting, no switchback cutting. Follow the flagging exactly as it is laid out. Course cutting and/or switchback cutting will get you, you guessed it, disqualified!
• Solo competitors can leave all their bike supplies with their bikes while they are out on the run stage. 

2022 Results

Solo Photos by Ty Holtan

Relay Photos by Ty Holtan

Solo Photos by Scott Robarts

Relay Photos by Scott Robarts

1. $5 donation per participant to local trails through the Vedder Mountain Trails Association
2. 1 tree planted per participant (x3 for relay teams)
3. CTV branded finisher shirt, high quality cotton/poly blend (x3 for relay teams)
4. CTV branded finisher medal (x3 for relay teams)
5. CTV branded beer glass (x3 for relay teams)
6. CTV branded shoe bag (x3 for relay teams)
7. CTV branded sticker (x3 for relay teams)
8. Finish Line BBQ and social area

REGISTRATION OPENS FRIDAY Dec 2 @ 7AM PST