Information Session: MiSCA Adventure Challenges

Free

We’re excited to continue our MiSCA Adventure events with MiSCA! Join Mark Ware, MiSCA’s Adventure Event Director, for an interactive information session on May 28th at 7:30pm. A second information session will build upon what was covered here, so plan to also join us on June 25th!

We’ll discuss these topics and more!

What’s new this year?
Where are the events?
What does a typical Adventure Challenge look like?
Do you need a Coach on your team?
Join us for the second session on June 25th

Learn more at www.miscabike.org/adventure. Registration is open for both events for 2026: Stony Creek on July 26th and Pontiac Lake on September 26th. Don’t delay – even if you’re not sure about forming a team, get signed up and we can figure teams out later!

Join Zoom Meeting

Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88105311835?pwd=JqqyxMt98nZCWrQVWO9cpXjGIvw1kz.1

Meeting ID: 881 0531 1835
Passcode: 892784

One tap mobile: +13126266799,,88105311835#,,,,*892784# US (Chicago)

Join instructions: https://us06web.zoom.us/meetings/88105311835/invitations?signature=i4N9wH6f_S4XYeiMriTIY9xtWBbm2NYdD0YCHNjlxiM

Check out the video below to get a quick overview of what you can expect at a MiSCA Adventure Challenge!

What is MISCA Adventure?

MiSCA Adventure is a program that provides an active, social, “outside of the race series” activity for the entire MISCA organization, including coaches! 2026 is the third year for MiSCA Adventure. We held three types of events in 2025: Adventure Challenges, Practice Takeovers, and Ten-Minute Challenges. We plan to continue with Adventure Challenges and Ten-Minute Challenges in 2026.

What’s new in MISCA Adventure in 2026?

After getting feedback from the community, we’re making several exciting changes!

1. Rather than having seven “smaller” events, including Practice Takeovers for one MiSCA team at a time, we will hold two larger Adventure Challenges, in addition to at least two of the popular Ten-Minute Challenges during MiSCA races. We are looking forward to having larger events that allow members of multiple MiSCA teams to come together at unique locations to enjoy adventure together!

2. We will be more flexible with Adventure Challenge teams, now allowing 2, 3, or 4 participants on a team. We have even been known to allow a family of 5 on a team! We are looking to attract more middle school and high school participants, without coaches, in these flexible teams!

3. We understand that registering a non-family team is not as simple as registering as an individual, or even a family team. In order to facilitate non-family team participation (especially junior high and high school age students that would rather not team up with parents), we suggest that you (or your child) register for the event that you want to do before you create a team! Mark will then actively help you (and/or your child) create or find a team that works for you. This may seem “backwards”, but we think that we can help many more people find a team, whether you are 6 years old or 60!

4. Both Adventure Challenges will include a 1-hour event and a 2-hour event, and the second Adventure Challenge, at Pontiac Lake, will also include a 4-hour event WITH A PADDLE! The Pontiac Lake 2-hour event will also have a paddle option! Several survey respondents requested that we add paddling (a typical portion of most adventure events), and we heard you!

5. We got several requests to have adventure in the Fall, and we heard you, too! One of the two events will be on a “bye week” in the Fall!

What is an Adventure Challenge?

Adventure Challenges are based on Adventure Racing, but for the most part, the competition is fun and light-hearted. Time and points count, but there are no podiums, medals, or prizes; just bragging rights. Disciplines include:

Mountain Biking
Trekking (walking/running)
Land Navigation (using a map and compass)
Paddling (Pontiac Lake 2-hour optional and 4-hour event only)

Adventure Challenges are timed events for teams (of two, three, or four), with a predetermined time cutoff. Our events have a 1-hour, 2-hour, or a 4-hour cutoff. The “challenge” is to find as many control points as possible within the time limit.