***This article was updated on January 8 with the most up to date information available.
Matt B. Davis had a call with David Watson, Vice President, Product and Sport at Spartan Race on several very important 2019 announcements for Spartan Race. A complete podcast is on our Itunes feed and also at the bottom of this article.
This information is for The United States based Spartan season. Additional articles will be forthcoming in Canada and additional countries.
Paths to The Lake Tahoe Championship Beast – Sunday Elite Heat
Path A
You need to race in The Spartan US National Series Races (USNS), elite heats.
- February 23 -Jacksonville, FL Super
- March 16 – Saraland, AL Super
- April 13 – Snohomish, WA Super
- May 18 – Big Bear, CA Beast
- July 20 – Huntsville, UT Super
The top 80 racers from that series will qualify for Tahoe, Sunday elite heat.
Therefore, you do NOT have to race in all 5 to qualify, but chances are obviously improved if you perform better at more races.
When the final standings are posted on site at the Utah Super on July 20th, the process begins for “Rolldown Week”.
Competitors will have 7 days to register for Tahoe, or their spot will be “rolled down”.
If someone decides not to register, the next spot is ROLLED down. Those given the “roll-down eligibility” have another 7 days to register for Tahoe.
Path B
Show up at ANY other Spartan Race in North America. Come in top 10 Elite.
This qualifies you for the West Virginia North American Championship Race (WV) on August 24th.
If you finish in the top 70 places in elite at WV, and you are now eligible for Tahoe.
When the final standings are posted on site that afternoon, the process begins for “Rolldown Week”.
Competitors will have 7 days to register for Tahoe, or their spot will be “rolled down”.
If someone decides not to register, the next spot is ROLLED down. Those given the “roll-down eligibility” have another 7 days to register for Tahoe.
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Paths to The Lake Tahoe Championship Beast – Sunday Age Group Heat
Path A
You need to race in The Spartan US National Series Races (USNS), age group heats.
- February 23 -Jacksonville, FL Super
- March 16 – Saraland, AL Super
- April 13 – Snohomish, WA Super
- May 18 – Big Bear, CA Beast
- July 20 – Huntsville, UT Super
The top 30 in each age group in that series will qualify for Tahoe, Sunday Age Group Heat
Therefore, you do NOT have to race in all 5 to qualify, but chances are obviously improved if you perform better at more races.
When the final standings are posted on site at the Utah Super on July 20th, the process begins for “Rolldown Week”.
Competitors will have 7 days to register for Tahoe, or their spot will be “rolled down”.
If someone decides not to register, the next spot is ROLLED down. Those given the “roll-down eligibility” have another 7 days to register for Tahoe.
Path B
Show up at ANY other Spartan Race in North America. Come in top 10 in Age Group.
This qualifies you for the West Virginia North American Championship Race (WV) on August 24th.
If you finish in the top 40 of your Age Group in WV, and you are now eligible for Tahoe.
When the final standings are posted on site that afternoon, the process begins for “Rolldown Week”.
Competitors will have 7 days to register for Tahoe, or their spot will be “rolled down”.
If someone decides not to register, the next spot is ROLLED down. Those given the “roll-down eligibility” have another 7 days to register for Tahoe.
Additional Notes About The Tahoe Championships:
- Competitors can only fill one space per category. Example: If Ryan Atkins qualifies through the United States Championship Series, and he qualifies “again” at West Virginia, his spot from WV will automatically be “rolled-down”.
- The Ultra Beast in Tahoe will have 2 waves on Saturday. One open and one elite.
- The Spartan Team Championship is NOT happening in Tahoe It will be moving to another venue, and perhaps a different country.
- The reason Spartan gave for Open Wave only on Saturday is as follows: They discovered that 80 percent of the open wave athletes from that weekend are local. Spartan’s hope is that the locals will come back to the course on Sunday for an improved festival area with food and music. David also mentioned bands, and broadcasting the race on Sunday on a big screen in festival area. They promised additional details are coming.
The New Spartan Pro Team
200 people from around the world. Some will receive higher benefits than others, but there is no A or B team. AKA No Select or JV Team. The majority of athletes will be coming from North America.
Athletes can have additional non-Spartan sponsors as well plus the sponsors Spartan helps them acquire.
2019 Podium Rules
Same rules as before. Must wear a Spartan finisher shirt on the podium. This can be a Rakuten jersey or just a regular finisher shirt from the venue. Can wear hats, headbands, shorts, shoes, leggings of other brands.
The complete podcast interview with David can be found here.
An additional podcast with Heather Bode on Overcome and Run can be found here.
Here is a video summary from January 4th.
Matt B. Davis
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