Qualifying Team Rules:

When a team qualifies for the USARA Adventure Race National Championships, it is actually the team captain (the team member named as captain for that individual qualifying race) that qualifies and retains the qualifying slot. If the team splits up, the team captain retains the qualifying slot. The team captain is allowed to build their team, including substituting different teammates for the National Championship race. If the team captain cannot attend the National Championship race, the team may name a new captain who would now retain the qualifying slot for the National Championship race. In order to name a new team captain after a team has qualified, the decision must be unanimous and the person named as the new captain must have raced in the qualifier.

Team members that have already qualified for the National Championships may race with another team captain in a later qualifier.  If they qualify in the later race, the captain from the later race would now have a qualifying slot for Nationals.

The National Championship consists of three person teams. The intent of the following rule is to prevent qualifying team members from being left out of Nationals. Teams that qualify at a regional qualifying event on a four person team will be allowed to form a second team for the National Championship. (Example: Team USA qualifies at an event with the following four person team: Bob, Sue, Mike & Sally. Team USA can bring two teams to national championships as long as the captain for each of the teams was one of the four members from the qualifying team -Bob, Sue, Mike or Sally).

Pro Teams:

The USARA Adventure Race National Championship is the premier amateur adventure racing event in the United States. No professional adventure racing teams will be allowed to compete in the USARA Adventure Race National Championships. Teams' amateur and professional status will be determined by the USARA Executive Board.

USARA Citizenship Standards:

Teams must consist of three US citizens to compete for the USARA Adventure Race National Championships.

Citizenship Exception A: Non US citizens who are currently living and competing in the US and have either a work or student visa or a permanent resident green card are eligible to compete in the USARA Adventure Race National Championship. Non US citizens who meet the citizenship exception requirements will race as a US team.

Citizenship Exception B: A team with two US citizens or two members with Citizenship Exception A status and one foreign member may compete as long as the foreign team member competed on the actual team when the team qualified for the USARA Adventure Race National Championship.

If a team qualifies and does not consist of US citizens or meet either citizenship exception A or B, they may compete as an exhibition team representing their country. This exhibition team would not be eligible to win the USARA Adventure Race National Championship.

National Ranking Points:

All coed and coed masters teams will be grouped together for USARA National Ranking Points regardless of the category they are registered in at the USARA Adventure Race National Championship. (Example: Team USA wins the Coed Masters division at the USARA Adventure Race National Championship but comes in fourth overall at the race. Team USA will receive fourth place USARA National Ranking Points.

Race Rules:

1. All racers are expected to be examples of good sportsmanship. Racers must treat fellow racers & race staff with courtesy and respect. 
   PENALTY: Strict penalties will be assessed for unsportsmanlike behavior based on the infraction.
2. Teams must assist fellow teams in need of medical attention.
   PENALTY: Strict penalties will be assessed for non assistance based on the infraction.
3. Teams must always remain within ten meters while on foot and thirty meters while on bike of all teammates and within visual contact at all times (unless otherwise specified).
   PENALTY: First offense -- four hours.  Second offense -- DQ.
4. All team members must check in together at each checkpoint and TA. If one member must leave the course, they must do so at a manned CP or TA and notify race management. If a team leaves a teammate out on the course that team will be immediately disqualified and not allowed to continue unofficially. Incomplete teams may continue unranked. A single person must join with another team who commits to staying with that new racer. Incomplete or single racers must carry the mandatory team gear.
5. Maps, Passports, Rules and Instructions must be carried the entire race. 
   PENALTY: For lost map, rules or course instructions -- no penalty. Lost passport -- DQ.
6. Race numbers must be worn on the outside of clothing at all times. Race numbers do not have to be worn over packs or PFD's.
   PENALTY: One hour per offense.
7. Teams must punch passport in correct space at each CP.
   PENALTY: Incorrect punch or failure to punch -- team will not receive credit for that CP. Teams will receive credit for 1 swapped passport punch for the entire race. Example: Team USA accidentally punches CP 4 in the CP 5 spot on the passport. When Team USA gets to CP 5 they must punch it in the CP 4 slot as the CP 5 slot has already be used. Teams must inform race personnel of the swap when they turn in passport. Team USA would not receive credit for any additional misplaced punches.
8. All CPs must be obtained in order UNLESS SPECIFIED. If a team misses a CP, they may or may not be allowed to go back and get the CP, This will be specified in the instructions.
9. Teams that miss a CP will be ranked after teams that obtain all CPs provided that all CPs are in the correct spot. Teams will not be penalized for missing a CP if the missed CP is over 10 meters from the correct location of the CP. Correct location is where UTM's given to racers plot the CP.
10. Race officials reserve the right to alter time cut-offs or the course itself to accommodate changing conditions and to ensure that teams finish on time.  If your team is re-routed or there are other course changes, teams must sign the check-in sheet to acknowledge they understand the course change.
11. Mandatory gear must be carried at all times and will be checked on the course.
    PENALTY: Two hours for each piece of missing gear.
12. No GPS of any kind. No distance measuring devices can be used while walking / trekking.
    (examples: pedometers, measuring wheels, range finders, GPS, GPS pedometers).
    PENALTY: DQ
13. Race officials will provide watercraft, PFD's & Paddles. No personal watercraft will be allowed. Teams may bring their own paddles, extra seats and Type II or higher PFD's but they will be required to carry them until they return to the TA. Teams may only give paddles, extra seats or PFD's to friends or spectators at the main TA area.
    PFD's must be worn at all times while paddling.
    PENALTY: For not wearing PFD -- DQ.
    PENALTY: Four hour penalty for giving paddle, extra seat or PFD to friends or spectators outside main TA.
14. No modifications may be made to the boats during the event. This includes but is not limited to skegs, wooden bottoms, sails, or kites attached to the boats.
    PENALTY: For modifications -- DQ.
15. CPSC certified bicycle helmets are required at all times during the bicycle and when specifically directed by race officials.
    PENALTY: For not wearing helmet -- DQ.
16.  Racers must follow Rules of Travel as outlined in Course Instructions. Where no specific path is designated, teams select their path between CPs.  When instructions designate a specific route, teams must follow that path.
    PENALTY: For travel on forbidden roads or violating Rules of Travel: First offense -- four hours. Second offense -- DQ. (UNLESS SPECIFIED OTHERWISE).
17. Rear bike lights must be on at all times after dark. Front lights must be on when entering and departing TAs. Front lights must be mounted on the bike. Helmet lights are permitted but if a racer is using a helmet light, they must also have a front light mounted to the bike. You will not be allowed to leave a staffed CP/TA if your bike lights are not functioning properly.
    PENALTY: No rear light -- one hour per infraction.
18. Race officials may provide water at some CP's or TA’s. There is no Food / Gear Drop unless specified by Race Officials.  Teams may purchase food or water from stores along the course at any time. Athletes may not receive outside assistance including food or water except from Race Officials & other registered teams. PENALTY: DQ.
19. NO LITTERING!  Leave no trace! This race is supported by ARFE (Adventure Racers for the Environment).
    PENALTY: four hours per infraction.
20. Use of cellular phone is for emergencies only. No other use is allowed.
    PENALTY: DQ.
21. Any time penalties will be added to the team’s finishing time, except for the Top ten placing teams which will be served on the course if possible.
22. All Bonus Prizes are awarded at the post-race ceremony. Only teams that officially finish the race (either full or alternate course) are eligible to win bonus prizes.
23. Race officials reserve the right to remove a team from the course for health, safety or other reasons, at the discretion of race officials and medical personnel.
24. Any team withdrawing from the race must notify a “live” person by checking in with a CP or TA volunteer or by calling the race director. Failing to notify race officials will result in that team being responsible for all search and rescue expenses.
25.  Teams may skip CP's (except designated mandatory CP's) at any time during the race. Teams may take any route to the finish line as long as their route does not travel on forbidden roads or through forbidden areas. All teams must be checked in at the finish line within thirty hours. Race clock is stopped when teams place passport on check in table. Teams will lose one CP for each full minute after thirty hours.
    Example:
    Team USA gets to the finish line at 30:00:59 - no loss of CP's
    Team ABC gets to the finish line at 30:02:48 - loss of two CP's

   *If a team arrives at the finish line before the thirty hour cutoff and receives a time penalty which puts their team over thirty hours, in addition to the time penalty the team will lose one CP. 
           Example: 
         Team USA arrives at the finishline with twenty CPs at 29:00:50 
         and receives a penalty of two hours. Team USA's final ranking would
         be nineteen CP's with a time of 31:00:50.

1. Any protest must be filed in writing within one hour of the team’s finish and will be reviewed by the Race Committee.
   
   IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR DO NOT UNDERSTAND ANY OF THE RULES PLEASE CONTACT THE USARA.