Emperor’s Challenge registration opens April 7th for August race

TUMBLER RIDGE, B.C. — Registration for the Emperor’s Challenge race will open on April 7th.

The race will occur at Babcock Mountain, located in the Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark, starting at the Core Lodge site.

Hosted by the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society, the 20-kilometre race will also feature two and four-kilometre races for kids aged 14 and under. There will also be a team competition featuring a variety of categories.

Participation in the 20-kilometre race is capped at 1,000 participants. Elevation at the starting point will be at 4,000 feet, rising 2,000 feet as runners reach the summit at 11 kilometres.

Water stations will be set up throughout the course as runners head to the summit.

Early bird registration began on Thursday for those with prior experience in half-marathons. Runners with 20 years of experience or more were allowed to register on April 4th, followed by those with 10 years or more who are eligible to apply on April 5th and five years or more on April 6th.

Those who qualify for early bird registration can contact event organizers via their Facebook page or email at contact@wmns.ca

Anyone who reaches the water station at the 14-kilometre mark after 1:30 p.m. on race day must withdraw from the competition and be transported off the mountain.

Those who finish the race in less than two hours will receive a gold medal, while those who finish between two and three hours will receive silver. Bronze will go to those who complete the race between three and five hours.

The race will begin at 9:00 a.m. on  South Core Lodge Road outside Tumbler Ridge on Saturday, August 10th.

For more information, visit the event’s website here.