A 714-mile bikepacking race across the state of South Dakota with five miles of packrafting across the Missouri River…

When

Date: July 15, 2017

Time: 7:00 am

Details

Cost: Free

Event Website

Organizer: Joe and Tina Stiller

Phone: 605-366-1118

Email: Tsibookg4@gmail.com

UPDATE (Race Recap): The Trans South Dakota was full of new challenges for 2017, including a fresh section of single track and a re-route through an old ghost town. New topography brought on rocky climbs, downed trees, water crossings, and almost 10,000 ft of elevation gain within the first 100 miles. Out of the 11 racers who started, only 4 crossed the TSD Race 2017 finish line. In first place was David Kreykes (Sheldon, Iowa) with a finish time of 5 days, 8 hours, 18 minutes. Dan Coogan (Fort Collins, CO) followed in second place with a time of 6 days, 11 hours, 51 minutes, while the third spot was taken by Allen McClure (Houma, LA) with a finish time of 7 days, 3 hours, 20 minutes. Dan Quine (Denver, CO) was the final racer to complete the route with a finish time of 11 days, 9 hours, 9 minutes. Follow this link for some great photos by Randy Ericksen from the start of the race.

There are two phases of the Trans South Dakota. Starting in the Black Hills of South Dakota the TSD challenges riders with significant climbs. After riding the beautiful Mickelson Trail, riders will tour by Mount Rushmore then drop into the plains. There folks will have a chance to spot wild horses and buffalo in the Buffalo Gap Grasslands before riding through Badlands National Park. Once arriving in the State capital of Pierre, riders will transform to paddlers, breaking down their bikes and securing to the top of a packraft and paddling 5 miles downriver to historic downtown Pierre. This concludes the Sprint race. From here, the Elite race continues on another 380 miles through farm towns, takes riders in front of the Corn Palace, and finally to the finish line on the border of South Dakota and Iowa.

Follow the race here: