Nation’s largest adventure race celebrates ten years under leadership

Nation’s largest adventure race celebrates ten years under leadership

Adventure racing requires teams of one to four people to work together to find their way through the unmarked course using their navigation skills.  Photo credit:  Ann + Lee Photography

Racers paddle, trek, bike, and partake in special challenges as part of the Rib Mountain Adventure Challenge.  Photo credit:  Ann + Lee Photography

The couple created and grew the Rib Mountain Adventure Challenge to the largest adventure race in the United States as a way to give back to the community, giving over $90,000 for student scholarships.  Photo credit:  Ann + Lee Photography

Each year, ages 7 through 70+ enjoy the challenge of finding checkpoints in the beautiful Central Wisconsin wilderness using a map and compass.  Photo credit:  Ann + Lee Photography

RIB MOUNTAIN – Race directors, Tim Buchholz and Anna Nummelin, are celebrities in the sport of adventure racing.  Not only is the couple perennial national contenders, but they have left a legacy as elite race directors.  When they decided to give back to the sport by organizing an adventure race, the Rib Mountain Adventure Challenge, it ballooned to the largest adventure race in the country in a few years.  After capping the Rib Mountain Adventure Challenge at 500 racers, Buchholz and Nummelin created a winter spinoff to quench the demand.  Now in its tenth year, the Memorial Day weekend event is an annual tradition for many racers including Lindsay Patterson, co-captain of Midwest Moxie, who have gone on to race events all over the country. “The Rib Mountain Adventure Challenge brings in and is run by the friendliest racers and volunteers in all the events we've entered,” said Patterson, participating in her fifth Rib Mountain Adventure Challenge.
 
In the sport of adventure racing, each team must stick together as they trek, paddle, and bike on the unmarked course using a map and compass.  Teams receive maps for the secret course after they check in on the day of the race and must work together to plan their route.  Often racers are bussed to a remote start location and have special challenges revealed when they arrive to a certain point on the course.
 
The Rib Mountain Adventure Challenge is among the best-in-class under the direction of Buchholz and Nummelin.  Their mindfulness and attention to detail is an asset as adventure racers and race directors. “The planning that goes into it from the location, race schematics, volunteers, and post-race celebrations makes everything flow so smoothly for how large an event it is,” said Patterson. 
 
Despite their accolades, the duo has remained conscientious of the obstacles to newcomers, mentoring and tailoring the short course to be beginner-friendly.  Their invitation is accepted with enthusiasm and last year half of the field participated in their first or second ever adventure race at the Rib Mountain Adventure Challenge.  The event is also suitable for all ages, with racers aged 7 through 78 participating.
 
To appeal to veteran racers, they expanded the Rib Mountain Adventure Challenge to include an overnight race in 2021.  Immediately, racers from across the country took notice, with racers travelling from 14 states, including past national champions.  Buchholz and Nummelin are racing and planning year-round, already scheming for the 2026 edition.
 
The endless planning shows through to racers as well.  “We always leave this race expressing how incredible the paddle sections are,” said Patterson.  “There are truly magical moments.”
 
Buchholz also chairs the Wisconsin Adventure Racing Series, a collaboration of local race directors.  The Rib Mountain Adventure Challenge is the third of ten races in the 2025 series.  It is also part of the Adventure Racing World Series (ARWS) - North America Circuit; a collection of the best mid-distance adventure races in the Northern Americas region.  To ensure safety, inclusion, and fairness to all racers, the Rib Mountain Adventure Challenge is sanctioned by the United States Adventure Racing Association (USARA).  Registration remains open through May 19 with volunteer positions also available.
  
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, May 24, 2025
- Location: Headquarters at Granite Peak Historic Chalet (227200 Snowbird Ave, Wausau, WI 54401) 
- Event info: https://www.ribmountainadventurechallenge.com/

Banner photo credit:  Ann + Lee Photography


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