Congratulations to team # 163 CANADA ADVENTURE for their overall and Premier Coed Division victory at the 2024 Two Rivers Adventure Race, serving as the inaugural Adventure Racing World Series North America Regional Championship.

The lumberyard in Ralston PA is cold overnight but it’s surely colder for the teams still out on course. Race Director Brend Freedland gives us an update along with a few of the top finishers.

Newly minted Adventure Racing media pro Adrian Makurat was out on the final stage of the Two Rivers Adventure Race to check in with the teams as they wrapped up the monumental effort of a 30 hour adventure race.

Photos from the finish line arch

While the winning team crossed the finish line overnight in an astonishingly quick time, there was still plenty of time and soon daylight for the remainder of the field to cash in on the checkpoints hidden on the final stage. Legendary Randy was out at dawn to catch teams as they traversed this beautiful and challenging section.

Still photos from Stage F, by course photographer Adrian Makurat

The long and difficult final stage was the ultimate separator for the podium places. Difficult navigation, dense terrain and bitter cold seemed to delay all but the winning team from Canada.

An absolutely amazing waterfall that is cut out of the surrounding rock with areas of deep water, Rock Run is one of the more iconic points on the 2024 Two Rivers Adventure Race course. It was also one of the last spots that many teams hit on their way to the finish line in Ralston PA. Adrian Makurat was on course to check in with teams as they made their final pushes.

Due to historically low water levels, the paddle stage was no longer possible for the Two Rivers Adventure Race. While it was certainly a disappointment to miss out on a paddle, teams stayed fast and frosty on the alternate route that amounted to nearly 70 miles of biking on roads and trails

While on their way to TA 5 and the final trekking loop, teams had the opportunity to pick up three additional CPs on a small but difficult embedded trek section on Stage E. Adrian was on course with a camera to catch teams as they passed by CPs E2 and E4

After a fast start on Stage A, teams got to their bikes early and took off down road and trail to the remote Crystal Lake Camps. Photos by Nic Wynia

The final stage is a trekking loop that could take teams most of the night to complete. With some tricky navigation in the dark, this trek could be a late race separator for the top teams.

The long bike has a short embedded trekking section that may be deceiving to some teams. Brent explains what the racers are facing on the long bike

Tucked away at the top of an arduous climb is the Crystal Lake Camps. At this remote location that used to serve as a ski hill teams must visit at least 3 of the points that have been set out on the mountain bike trails in the park. The sun is going down quickly though and many teams will be on this stage into the darkness

Brent gives us an idea of what could be an extra tricky section for teams at the race today - Stage E and E(a). Top teams were already on this section by 6pm but many won’t see this part of the course until well into the night

Adrian went out to find teams at some of the more remote checkpoints of Stage A and he brought back some terrific video

Race Directors Brent Freedland and Abby Perkiss gave dot watchers at home the scoop on where teams are on the course and what they can expect in the coming stages.

Teams had to descend a treacherous dry waterfall at the end of Stage A in order to collect checkpoint 5

It’s a sight familiar to many adventure racers as they crash through trees and bushes in the remote wilderness: Legendary Randy Ericksen already standing there, camera in hand. It was a glorious Fall day for Stage A and Randy took a ton of great shots out there in Worlds End State Park.

Race director Brent Freedland explains what the teams will be facing when they head off on the first stage of the 2 Rivers Adventure Race.