Department of Parks
Kentucky State Parks Hosting Adventure Race Series

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky State Parks will host the 2012 Unbridled Adventure Race Series, four adventure races that will test participants’ physical and mental skills for beginners and veteran racers.

The series is being conducted at Kentucky State Parks in partnership with the Kentucky Office of Adventure Tourism and Flying Squirrel Adventures. 

Each race will include mountain biking on trail and road, trekking on and off trail, paddling on flat or slow-moving water, and navigation with topo map and compass. A given race may also include a short life-jacket-assisted swim or other discipline for which no special expertise is required.

Races are open to individuals or teams of two, three or four people. All races are United States Adventure Racing Association-sanctioned and qualify for points in the USARA national standings. Additionally, Unbridled Adventure is a series that qualifies for additional points under the new USARA points guidelines.

The dates and locations of the races are:

-          June 9, General Butler State Resort Park in Carrollton, four-hour race.

-          Aug. 11, Barren River State Resort Park near Glasgow, six-hour race.

-          Sept. 15, Carter Caves State Resort Park, Olive Hill, eight-hour race.

-          Nov. 3, Natural Bridge State Resort Park at Slade, 12-hour race. (This race, called the Fig X, is not recommended for inexperienced racers.)

These would be excellent races for any beginners who would like to get started in adventure racing. There will be a free navigation clinic on Friday night before the first three races in the series. Registration fees range from $80 to $135 per racer. Winners of individual races will receive prizes, and top finishers in the series will receive cash awards.

For more information and registration, visit www.flyingsquirreladventures.com Registration closes two weeks prior to race day.

Those who register will receive a wicking-fabric race shirt, post-race meal, quality waterproof maps, event insurance with medical coverage, course vetting, race bibs, door prizes, and awards. The entry fee for the first three races in the series also includes your boat (with paddle and life jacket).

The Fig X is a regional qualifier for the 2013 USARA Adventure Race National Championship. If you are not a current USARA member on race day, you will need to purchase either a one-day membership ($8) or annual membership ($35). For more information about USARA and what membership and sanctioning mean, visit the USARA website at: www.usara.com

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The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 51 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our website at http://www.parks.ky.gov