2008 Race Information

Detailed venue and race format information will be posted as they are known. Raceday timeline (check in, start, course closure times) may change slightly as race dates approach.

Previous seasons archived here: 2007, 2006, 2005

Dash Point State Park, Federal Way, WA. Check in and start at the campground.
Disciplines: mountain biking (4-8 miles), trekking/orienteering (2-4 miles), special surprise task(s).
Check-in 5:00-6:00 p.m. Start 6:30 p.m. (Sunset 7:33 p.m.) Course closes 8:50 p.m.
Required gear
Driving directions

Dust off your gear, put some fresh batteries in your lights, and come hit the trail for the BEAST season opener! The course will feature biking and trekking/orienteering, with some fun surprises to keep you on your toes. This early season warm-up will also be an excellent introduction for novices, since the course will be very basic. And for those looking for more of a challenge, we'll have an optional pro course extension for the front-running teams.

South Whidbey Island, Langley, WA. Check in and start at Putney Woods. Nearest airport: SeaTac (SEA)

Due to permit problems, we've had to shorten the course and change to a stage race format.
Disciplines, 15-Hour: mountain biking (13-18 miles on trails), sea kayaking or canoeing (11-13 miles), trekking/orienteering (9-14 miles, mostly on trails), special surprise task(s).
7-Hour: mountain biking (6-9 miles on trails), sea kayaking or canoeing (6-8 miles), trekking/orienteering (5-7 miles, mostly on trails), special surprise task(s).

Tentative schedule:

Stage 1 (15-Hour: Mountain biking and trekking)
• 6:00-7:30 p.m. -- team check-in Sat.
• 7:45 p.m. -- Pre-start briefing
• 8:00-8:30 p.m. -- Stage 1 start
• 8:25 p.m. -- Sunset
• 10:00-11:45 p.m. -- Teams finish
• 12:15 a.m. -- Course closes

Stage 2 (7-Hour and 15-Hour: Kayaking)
• 5:47 a.m. -- Sunrise Sunday
• 6:00-6:45 a.m. -- Unload and prepare boats (15-Hour)
• 7:00 a.m. -- 15-Hour teams start
• 7:15-8:00 a.m. -- 7-Hour team check-in and boat staging
• 8:30 a.m. -- 7-Hour teams start
• 9:20-11:00 a.m. -- Teams finish
• 11:30 a.m. -- Course closes

Stage 3 (7-Hour and 15-Hour: Trekking and mountain biking)
• until 11:00 a.m. -- Check-in open at Freeland Park
• 12:00-12:30 p.m. -- Check-in open at Fort Ebey State Park (TA to bikes and finish)
• 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. -- Stage bikes at transition and finish area
• 12:15-1:00 p.m. -- Remote parking and walk to start
• 1:00 p.m. -- Wave starts for teams not in chase
• about 1:30 p.m. -- Chasing start for leading teams
• 3:45-4:30 p.m. -- First teams finish
• 7:30 p.m. -- Course closes

Renton, WA. Exact start location to be announced, within 1 mile of downtown Renton.
Disciplines: mountain biking (7-10 miles), trekking/orienteering (3-6 miles), possibly optional floating/paddling, special surprise task(s).
Check-in 5:30-6:30 p.m. Start 7:00 p.m. (Sunset 8:40 p.m.) Course closes 10:30 p.m.
Required gear
Driving directions

Join the fun as the BEAST series heats up with race #2!

Union Bay (Seattle). Start at UW Waterfront Activities Center.
Disciplines: canoe orienteering (2-3 miles), road biking (7-10 miles), trekking/orienteering (2-4 miles), special surprise task(s).
Check-in 5:15-6:30 p.m. Stage 1 (canoeing) start 5:30-7:00 p.m. Stage 2 start 7:30 p.m. + your time from stage 1 (Sunset 9:01 p.m.) Course closes 10:30 p.m.
Required gear
Driving directions

Come make a splash as the BEAST Series takes to the water in race #3! The channels, islands and swampy alcoves of Union Bay are the perfect place to put canoe orienteering into the mix, along with the usual bike and foot sections. As usual, the course will be designed to be friendly to newbies but will have some special twists just for the experts. And the navigation will be easy enough, as long as you're paying attention.

The course will be different this year but will use the same prologue/chase format as the last three years' BEAST #3. In other words, the race will be in two stages with a break between them. You can then return the canoe without being in a big hurry, before preparing for the chasing start: Your start time for the second stage will be 7:30 p.m. plus whatever your time is for stage 1, the canoe orienteering. For example, if you take 55 minutes to complete the canoe orienteering course, you will start stage 2 at 7:30 p.m. + 0:55 = 8:25 p.m. You may start the canoe orienteering course as early as 5:45 p.m. or as late as 7:00 p.m., and teams' start times will be separated from one another rather than mass or group starting.

For the teams that could use a little more time to get around the course, we'll probably offer a folded chase start, where we start these teams earlier, with some of the faster teams, rather than them waiting for their chase start time.

Information on the rest of the events will be posted later. They'll be similar to the other BEAST races, but each with their own flavor.