Thank you for your interest in competing in "The Toughest 48 Hours in Sport!"

This race has grown considerably since we began producing it with a field of 25 soloists in 1990. In 2009 we’ll celebrate the 26th Anniversary of this race and will have about 200 entrants, with some 90 soloists and 50 relay teams. We’re bursting at the seams and, unfortunately, turning people away, which disappoints us, too. Our field size is limited by permit constraints, and, most importantly, by traffic and safety issues.

The invitational format we utilized at Furnace Creek 508 in 2008 (as opposed to the first come, first served format we used in the past) was a tremendous success, as the record high finishing rate attests!

In 2008 year we took applications from April 8 through April 22, then announced the race field a few weeks later. Some athletes have requested to be admitted to the race earlier in the year, such as in January, because they need that much advance notice to book their vacation time (and their crew's vacation time). Others would prefer to be admitted to the race later in the year, when they have a better feel for whether they will be physically ready to compete. Obviously, these are mutually opposing needs.

As such, in 2009 we will have EARLY ENTRY and LATE ENTRY application periods for Furnace Creek 508.  On Monday, January 5, the EARLY ENTRY Application period will open for the 2009 Furnace Creek 508. (Application will become available on-line. We will accept up to app. 40 soloists and app. 20 teams during this period.)

NOTE: PLEASE ONLY apply in January if you really need to know that far in advance, such as because your employer requires you to request vacation time nine months in advance. If we have too many applicants in January, some otherwise favorable applicants will be forced to wait until June - during the LATE ENTRY period - to learn if they have been accepted to race. Likewise, some EARLY ENTRY applicants may be rejected; they have the option of applying again in June, if they have additional credentials which will make their applications more favorable.

On Monday, June 1, the LATE ENTRY application period will open for the 2009 Furnace Creek 508. (Application will become available on-line. We will accept enough applicants to fill the field with up to a total of approximately 90 soloists and 50 teams during this period.) All the details are outlined on the AdventureCORPS Calendar.

NOTE: The goal of the Furnace Creek 508 selection process process is to select a race field which is likely to safely and fairly complete the race, while representing as many American states, foreign countries, and diverse backgrounds as possible. With that in mind, if you hope to race in 2009 or later, we offer you this advice: We encourage you to volunteer to crew for a competitor in The 508. Support crews are critical to the success of every entrant in this race. There are those planning to compete who would benefit immensely if you offered to crew for them. And while they would be incredibly grateful, you would learn a lot and would have another valuable credential to include on your application if you choose to apply for a future Furnace Creek 508. You can use the AdventureCORPS Blog to post your availability. Following the advice above, as well as participating in a wide variety of ultracycling and endurance sports events, will greatly enhance all applicants' ability to enter future editions of The 508, as well as enhance our ability to produce a safe and successful event and uphold The 508's status as a world-class sporting event with the largest field in all of US-style ultracycling.

2009 508 Applications: Please study this entire page carefully.

• Entry fees for EARLY ENTRY competitors are non-transferable and are 50% refundable until June 1, 2009 upon written request. Entry fees for LATE ENTRY competitors are non-refundable and non-transferable.

  Entry fees will be:

  Solo: $500
  Tandem: $900
  2X Team: $900
  4X Team or Two Tandem Team: $1600
  4 Tandem Team: $2400

• Team and Tandem Entries: Please note that we need complete application information for every rider, so be prepared to submit a complete application for each rider simultaneously (that means one person will submit all the info on behalf of all riders). Click here to preview the application, so that the person who will complete it will know which info they will need for all riders.
• Totems: We use animal totems rather than numbers to identify racers in the Furnace Creek 508. Each racer may request, or will receive, an animal totem as part of the application process. Returning racers will have the same totems as before. New riders may request a specific animal totem when they submit their entry form, however only Chris Kostman can officially assign animal totems, following a special ritual ablution and spiritual practice. Totems, whether nickname, mascot, alter ego, second identity, or spirit guide, are permanent and non-transferable. For more info on totems and which totems are already taken, click here.
• If you're looking for support crew members, or for additional racers to join your relay team, please take advantage of the AdventureCORPS Blog.
• Click here to see the 25th Anniversary 2008 Furnace Creek 508 jersey and vest, plus our new "DEATH VALLEY" and "ROUGH RIDERS" jerseys. (Stay tuned to see the 2009 gear.)
  
  

Step One: Complete the online application (the links is below) between January 5 and January 19, 2009 for EARLY ENTRY consideration. Complete the online application between June 1 and June 10, 2009 for LATE ENTRY consideration. You will want to tell us about the following:

• Your ultracycling, and ultrasports, experience.
• Your specific experience with Furnace Creek 508 in the past (if any), as a racer, crew member, or Race Staff. If you are applying as a relay team, having at least one 508 veteran on your team is encouraged, but not required.
• Any charitable efforts you intend to implement if you are invited to compete in the 2009 Furnace Creek 508. This may be on behalf of any of the Official Charities of AdventureCORPS, or any other charity you wish to support.
• Any media coverage you expect to receive if you are invited to compete in the 2009 Furnace Creek 508.
• Any "Green Team" effort you intend to implement if you are invited to compete in the 2009 Furnace Creek 508.
• Your contributions to the sport of ultracycling: event organizer, support crew experience, journalist, sponsor, and the like, if any.

Step Two: After you complete the online biographical application for you - or you and your teammates - your application will be immediately under review. Therefore, do not click "Submit" until you are sure it is ready for review.

Step Three: Click here to sign up for our email newsletter. (Your crew members and sponsors should sign up, too, if you are accepted to race.)

Step Four (not mandatory): We encourage, but do not require, you to click here to submit an online donation to Challenged Athletes Foundation, the Official Charity of AdventureCORPS and this event in particular. It will go a long way for a good cause and will mean a lot to me personally. Also, you may choose to become a fund-raiser for CAF and dedicate your participation in Furnace Creek event to CAF. It's a great cause and fun to do! For more info on why you should support CAF or how you can race on behalf of CAF, click here.

The Major Taylor Association is also a beneficiary of Furnace Creek 508 and AdventureCORPS. The MTA was formed by residents of Worcester, Mass., who became intrigued with the story of the 1899 world champion bicycle racer from Worcester who overcame racial prejudice to become the first internationally acclaimed African-American sports star. The organization's mission is to memorialize Major Taylor with a statue on public land in Worcester, in recognition of his athletic achievements and strength of character -- his sportsmanship, concern for those less fortunate, devotion to God, and personal struggle for equality. We are proud to support the Major Taylor Association and we encourage you to click here and do the same!

Step Five - Wait: According to the schedule outlined on our website, we will notify you or you and your teammates via email whether you are, or are not, confirmed to compete in the 2009 Furnace Creek 508. If you, or your team, is accepted to compete, you will be emailed the three-page Personal Waiver, Entry Fee Payment Form, and Gear Order Form. (Like all Pdf forms, this requires Adobe Acrobat or similar to read and utilize.) Please TYPE all information on the pages while it is open in your computer, then sign it before mailing it to the race office with the relevant fee. Fees may be paid by check or money order only, payable to AdventureCORPS; sorry, no credit cards. You will have a limited time (one week) to submit the paperwork to AdventureCORPS in order to secure your spot on the race roster. If your paperwork is late, you will forfeit your opportunity to compete.

NOTE: We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. Additionally, due to permit, safety, and operational restrictions that limit the field to approximately 200 entrants, we apologize now that some qualified applicants will not be accepted. We appreciate your understanding if you are not invited this year. If that’s the case, we encourage you to support another racer in the event as this race could not go on without dedicated and competent support crews.

Step Six: If you are accepted to compete, you will also be sent the Crew Member Waiver. Each of your crew members must sign this form prior to the race, so print one for each of your crew members. Please bring them as one set of waivers when you attend Racer Check-In. (Do not mail them to us in advance.)

Application Notes:

• There are no "Qualification Requirements" to apply. Anyone may apply who has a sincere interest in competing.
• No applicant is guaranteed entry, including race veterans.
• Some special consideration is given to applicants who are veteran Furnace Creek 508 crew members or race officials.
• Some special consideration is given to past solo male and female champions from 1983 through 2008.
• You must have relevant, applicable race results from 2007 and/or 2008.
• All relevant race results must be attained prior to submitting the application to compete in the upcoming Furnace Creek 508.

• All Applicants are encouraged to take the application process seriously and compose an extensive, detailed, and accurate application. Simply put, the applicants with the best applications (in terms of their athletic background, demonstrable commitment to sportsmanship, and in terms of their answers to questions posed on the application) will have the greatest chance of being selected to enter the race. Applications should be written as if the reader has never heard of the applicant and has no prior knowledge of the entrant or any of the events in which he/she has participated, including The 508. Acronyms and initials should not be used when listing events and such; please type out the full name of any event, person, or place mentioned in the application.
• In preparing your application, keep in mind the standard reasons that generally will lead to some applicants not being invited:
  • The applicant has limited athletic background, which is particulary important for solo applicants.
  • The applicant’s credentials are only recent, i.e., not a seasoned ultra endurance athlete with a breadth of experience.
  • The applicant’s credentials are only old, i.e. all or most of the credentials are old and may not reflect current ability.
  • The applicant has no experience in extreme conditions or specifically on the 508 race course as a competitor, crew member, or official.
  • The applicant didn't "prove" his or her claims. (Please include a weblink to the relevant results wepage for any major event mentioned in your application, so what we may verify your results).
  • The applicant submitted a “thin” application - not only few qualifications were listed, but not much time was put into the preparation of the application itself. (Applicants shoud not assume "we've already heard of him/her" and therefore not provide the necessary details.)
  • There are always A LOT of "qualified" applicants, and thus some applicants must inevitably be turned away.
    
    

THE APPLICATION

Click here to submit the online application. Thank you!