ARWS racing in North America includes expedition length, international races which are Qualifiers for the Adventure Racing World Championship and a series of shorter regional races which form the North America Series.
The Qualfiers are 5-7 day, non-stop, races, from 400-500 miles in length. The winners receive automatic, free entry to the Adventure Racing World Championship and all teams receive points in the ARWS global rankings. There are qualifier races in Mexico, USA and Canada, rotating year on year.
Qualifiers are in the Expedition race category defined by the International Adventure Racing Association (IARA).
The ARWS North America series is a collection of the best mid-distance adventure races in the region, set to test athletes over 100-250km of non-stop day and night racing. (Qualifiers are not part of the regional series.) The series is the biggest of all ARWS regions and has led the way with the inclusion of stage races and in 2026 the first Expedition Stage Race, hosted by Raid the Rockies.
All participating teams earn points towards the ARWS North America rankings and the winning premier mixed team at the North America Championship race each year earns a free place at the Adventure Racing World Championship. (To qualify the winning team must also complete one other race in the series, and at least 2 of the team must be from North America and go the World Championship.)
Regional Series races are in the Endurance category defined by the International Adventure Racing Association (IARA).
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