The Frigid Infliction is a winter adventure race, sending fearless adventurers skiing and snowshoeing through the deep stuff since 2006.
The next race is scheduled for Saturday, March 2nd 2019 near Bolton Valley, VT. Expect a 10-hour challenge for teams of 2-3 racers. The race will feature several winter disciplines as well as requiring you to continually navigate.
If you have never done an adventure race before, this can be a great choice. This was the first adventure race for about a third of the participants the past six years, so don’t be intimidated! That said: You may want to Test Your Nettle if you’re not sure about a 10-hour event.
Teams do not need support crews for this event. Outside of what is provided by the race organizers, teams must be self-sufficient. This is an adventure, after all!
Check out some of our past racers’ comments. If you’re looking for teammates, check our contact page for suggestions.
Disciplines
This year’s race will probably feature the following disciplines:
- Navigation with topographical map and compass
- Snowshoeing
- Cross country skiing
- Perhaps a surprise – time will tell!
Keep in mind that these disciplines can occur in any order, and you could have multiple sections in the course for each activity. You do not need to have any rope experience (tyrolean, ascent, rappel, etc) to compete in this race; but it doesn’t hurt to familiarize yourself with the basics beforehand if you get the opportunity. Climbing gyms, including Petra Cliffs, are great places to pick up these skills.
This year’s race you’ll have quite a bit of control over the balance between skiing and snowshoeing. We’ll stick with our “choose your own adventure” format from 2017, hoping for more snow this time around. If you didn’t hear how that race was structured, take a look at the writeup from last March. No matter how the weather turns out, the adventure must go on! One bonus – in 2018 you won’t be forced to carry your skis at any time! They’ll either be on your feet or in a safe spot. You’re welcome.
Directions
Our host venue will be the Bolton Valley Resort. Registration will be on-site at the Nordic Center. Here are directions to the resort.
The restaurant and pub at the resort will be open Friday night as long as you don’t arrive too late.
<!–Dinner on Saturday will most likely be at the Ponds. This should be a pretty incredible meal & venue; a just reward after a day’s toil in the cold!–>
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a good race for a team new to adventure racing?
Absolutely. A 10-12 hour race is the standard length for a beginner adventure race. One thing we do really well is providing an enjoyable experience for new teams (as long as they come prepared).
Will we be plotting UTM coordinates?
No. We use pre-plotted maps. We made the decision as an organization that in a race of this length it made more sense considering the number of new teams we see. Never fear – the navigation will be challenging enough without this extra step.
What type of skis do you recommend?
Back country XC skis with metal edges are best, but regular Nordic touring skis will work. We do not recommend heavy duty tele or AT gear. Skate skis won’t work at all, as there will be travel off groomed trail.
Skins are sometimes helpful but not required, only a handful of teams ever bring them. Consider bringing them if you have them, but don’t run out and buy them for this race. If you have them, you’ll be carrying them through the entire race, not leaving them with your skis.
A few previous races have required carrying your skis for a time. You won’t know until race day if this is required, but you should be prepared for the possibility unless we specifically say otherwise.
Documents
For your reference – please take a moment to review these documents (not finalized yet for 2019), specifically the required gear list. Note that you have to actually bring all your gear to registration for a safety check. We need to be sure that we’re not sending you out unprepared, and that means looking at everything from water bottles and whistles to skis and snowshoes!
Race Rules
Mandatory Team Gear List
Mandatory Individual Gear List
Petra Cliffs Climbing Waiver
We try to do most of our waivers online, but you may still have to sign a few paper documents at on-site registration.
- You can review the online waivers before registering if you have any concerns.
- A downloadable copy of the USARA Waiver is here.
- The basics of the GMARA photo release are included on the Race Rules Page.
- You’ll have to fill out this Emergency Contact and Medical Form at registration.
- Bolton Valley has us fill out paper copies of their waiver at registration.
Any racers under age 18 on race day will need a parent or guardian to sign waivers for them – in that case, we’ll reach out with specifics.
There are a number of other documents and policies you can review ahead of time:
- The official USARA Waiver
- A synopsis of the GMARA Photo Policy and Release
- Our official Race Rules
- Our policy on using Electronic Devices during the event.
- We'll have you fill out this Emergency Contact and Medical Form at registration.
Schedule
Due to the nature of the sport, you must be punctual. All race activities will start on time whether your team is there or not. Set multiple clocks, hire a wakeup service, buy a rooster, do whatever you have to do to get up and be on time.
Please note: Registration includes a mandatory gear check for all members of your team. Bring all your required gear with you!
Bolton Valley Nordic Center Tennis Courts
(Not a 3.5 hour meeting, just a ~20 minute drop in)
Updates
Here's the latest news about this race:- January 27, 2019 - 2019 Frigid Infliction/Nettle – Update #1
- March 7, 2017 - Frigid Infliction 2017 Results
- January 5, 2017 - New for 2017: Test Your Nettle
- December 10, 2016 - 2017 Frigid Infliction – Important Update
- March 6, 2016 - OGE Frigid Infliction 2016 Results
Teams
| Team # | Division | Name | Racers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3C | Burrrple Cobras | Paul Manley, Jennifer Manley, Carl Richardson |
| 1 | 3C | Battle Boars | Stephen Shriner, Eric Wyler, Paige Warren-Shriner |
| 4 | 3C | Directionally Challenged | John Farley, Colleen Keilty, Dan Arpino |
| 5 | 3C | Untamed New England | Jason Urckfitz, Lamb Dave, Jenny Johnson |
| 3 | 3C | Chaos Machine/LifeStraw | Evan Moreshead, Rick Keilty, Kate White |
| 8 | 3M | Chris Smells! | Tim Howland, Tim Ratowski, Robert Feissner |
| 7 | 3M | Beers and Waivers | Brian Staveley, Philip Cody, Christian Lehner |
| 6 | 3M | Abominable Slow-men | Michael Fiacco, Chris Neumann, Brendan Dix |
| 10 | 3M | Moosetooth's Musketeers | Andrew LePine, Emmett Peterson, Conor Peterson |
| 15 | 2C | Vermont Fancy | Brenda Rose, John McKinnon |
| 13 | 2C | SMC Nordies | Samuel Fogg, Brianna McKinley |
| 12 | 2C | Pie Face | Emily Davis, Taylor Burt |
| 14 | 2C | Team Prickles | Elisabeth Fenn, Kevin Hudnell |
| 11 | 2C | Couple Stupid Animals | Barb Anderson, Brett Anderson |
| 16 | 2F | Mercatatas | Kit Vreeland, Ashley Eaton |
| 18 | 2M | Absolute Zeros | Sam Borchard, BRUCE KAPTEYN |
| 21 | 2M | North is Everywhere | Ross Lieblappen, Ben Deede |
| 23 | 2M | Some Assembly Required | David Farley, Shawn Gilbert |
| 9 | 2M | Bipedantic | Charles Dunn, Jeffrey Lou |
| 22 | 2M | Purple Haze | Kim Abell, Ethan Abell |
| 20 | 2M | Mercators | Scott Cocks, Jason Scott |
| 24 | 2M | The O Stars | Jeremy Colgan, Alan Young |
| 19 | 2M | Howard and Barker | Alex Ciccone, Bradford Berry |
| 17 | 2M | 100B7 without Lyne | Danny Chamberland, Martin Hardy |
Totals: 2C:5, 2F:1, 2M:9, 3C:5, 3M:4
Register
Registration is closed for the previous event and not open for possible future events. If you'd like to be notified when things are planned, sign up for email from the contact page.For reference, these were the rates for the previous event:
- Dec 02 - Dec 17: $105 per racer.
- Dec 18 - Jan 14: $126 per racer.
- Jan 15 - Feb 10: $141 per racer.
- Feb 11 - Feb 28: $144 per racer. No shirts included
