July 25th and 26th 2025

Adventure race in the astonishing landscapes of the Lake Saimaa.

2025 RACE INFO AND ENTRY
2024 RESULTS, PHOTOS AND GPS

Saimaa Challenge 2025

July 25th and 26th 2025 at Mikkeli

In all classes, competitors challenge themselves by navigating from checkpoint to checkpoint. You will go by running, cycling and paddling. There are also some surprise tasks (quests) along the route.

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Check detailed info from below

Extreme 140 km

  • Part of the Finnish championship series. Separate race for men, women and mixed teams
  • Teams of two
  • Pure action without gimmicks
  • The best will be awarded
  • Point-to-point route, bus to the start (included in the participation fee).​
  • Includes all the best places in the area.
  • Consists: mountain biking, running / orienteering, swim-run and kayaking.
  • Navigating from checkpoint to checkpoint
  • Note! In Extreme paticipants must have bike boxes for transfers.

 

  • Duration for top teams approx. 14 hours.
  • Course open 22 hours.
  • Full course ap. 140 km.

Challenge 70 km

  • Experiences, sweat and challenges
  • Teams of two
  • Own races for men, women and mixed teams
  • The best will be awarded
  • Consists: mountain biking, running / orienteering and kayaking.
  • Navigating from checkpoint to checkpoint

Duration for top teams approx. 7 h.
Course open 13 hours.

Full course approx. 70 km

Adventure 50 km

  • Teams of two
  • Men and women in the same race
  • Pleasure and challenging yourself​​
  • Aimed for fitness enthusiasts, also suitable for beginners
  • Small prizes fro the top teams
  • Draw prizes
  • Includes: mountain biking, run / trail run and kayaking
  • Navigation is based on trails, paths and roads
  • eBikes are allowed

Duration for the top teams approx. 5 h.
Course open 10 h.

Full course approx. 50 km

Explore 30 km

  • Huikeita kokemuksia, uusia elämyksiä ​​
  • A low-threshold class for all those looking for experiences
  • Teams of two
  • Male, female, old and young at the same class
  • Small prizes fro the top teams
  • Draw prizes
  • Includes: mountain biking, run / trail run and kayaking
  • Easy navigation, based on larger paths and trails.
  • eBikes are allowed

Duration for the top teams approx. 3½ h.
Course open 9 h.

Full course approx. 30 km

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Race format and classes are familiar from last year. 

Extreme-class tulee olemaan osa SM-sarjaa. Sarjan lähtöön kilpailijat kuljetetaan linja-autolla ja pyöriä varten osallistujat tarvitsevat pyöräboksit. Bokseista tiedotetaan lisää alku vuodesta. Extreme tulee tälläkin kertaa tarjoamaan kaikki herkkupalat kilpailualueelta.

Challenge will be a bit shorter than 2024 to make it more achievable for the participants. Many nice places, but needs real "I'll do it" attitude.

Adventure has significantly lower skill level than Challenge. For example, cycling and orienteering will be technically much easier and closer to the level of Explore. It is well suited for beginner adventurers who has some background in endurance sports.

Explore is an entry level class for all the adventurers with just a little experience from endurance sports.

There will be task quests in all classes. In Extreme, these tasks are considered competitive. They will spice you up during the race, but do not decide the game in any direction. When moving to shorter classes, the tasks may include small elements of luck, but the most important thing in them is the experience they will give.

The competition is conducted with a partner, orienteering at all times. Competitors decide on their own route choices from one checkpoint to the next. When choosing a route, it is worth considering your own skills and strengths. The shortest route may be more technically challenging and therefore slower than a longer route.

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Race director:
Markus Siivola
044 333 7307
info@saimaachallenge.fi

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Event info and rules

Saimaa Challenge is a multisport adventure event.

In the event, two-person teams navigate from one check mark to another by running, (mountain) biking and paddling in the order according to the route book. The maps are distributed to the participants two hours before the joint departure, after which the participants plan the routes they will use themselves. The checkers have the familiar orange-white checkered flag from orienteering. Some of the checkers have tasks (quests), where the participants must follow separately given instructions. In longer series, Quest tasks measure the participants’ knowledge and skills of the sport, in shorter series they offer memorable experiences.

The event’s Explore series (duration about 3 to 6 hours) is designed for those trying the sport as a low-threshold option that can be completed with a regular bike and basic navigation skills.

The Adventure series (5 – 10 hours) offers a little more of a challenge, but can be completed well without previous experience in adventure races. The track has been made even easier for 2024.

The Challenge series (7 – 12 hours) is still slightly higher in terms of difficulty. In the Challenge series, the planning will be more challenging and the terrain will be more diverse.

The Extreme series (15 to 22 hours) challenges the participants mentally and physically with its length and physical challenge. In sports skills, the demands are clearly higher than in other series. Very few separate quests.

The event takes time for all participants and the best of all series are rewarded. In the Explore and Adventure series, the winners are awarded with a commemorative prize, but the actual prizes are drawn among the finishers. In the Extreme and Challenge series, prizes are awarded based on the results to the best.

  • The competition is won by the team that goes around the entire course th
  • Participants must follow the instructions of the route book and check-in staff.
  • Participants must strictly follow traffic rules and good manners when moving.
  • During the event, team members must be at a maximum distance of 100 m from each other, unless otherwise instructed by checkers. Both team members must go to check-in.
  • 2* mountain bike (in the Explore series you can get by with a basic bike if necessary) Electric bikes are allowed in the Explore and Adventure series, but the teams using them will be marked in the results.
  • 2* cycling helmet
  • Gloves
  • Emit card (possibility to rent from the organizer for an additional €5, payment upon registration)
  • The phone is packed waterproof
  • First aid equipment: first aid, space sheet, sports tape (at least 5cm*1m)
  • Bicycle repair equipment - spare inner tube, tire irons, etc.
  • Sufficient drink and energy - the adventure may take much longer than expected
  • Clothing according to the weather - one more layer if necessary
  • Map holder for the bike, makes navigation easier