Adventure/Dualsport Rally*
* [ral-ee] A gathering of like-minded enthusiasts.
Canal Flats, BC
Sept 1-4 and Sept 8-11 2022
Feed Your Moto Adventure Passion
Two Weekends. Unlimited Fun.
(Perfect Early Sept. Riding Weather!)
Ultimate Weekend. Sept 1-4
Presentations, content, and ride suggestions tailored for more experienced riders and those that ride more challenging terrain.
Adventure Weekend. Sept 8-11
Tailored for folks that are looking for a more relaxed experience. Ideal for newcomers, larger adventure bikes, and people who enjoy riding at a more refined pace.
Designed to support your adventure passion.
Clinics, Seminars, Workshops on riding, maintenance, travel, products, first aid, wilderness safety, and more.
Find Your Tribe Meet other interesting riders, share stories and create friendships.
Evenings of Camaraderie and Revelry with like-minded folks.
Vendors with the gear and accessories that make your ride better.
Food Vendor to keep your belly full.
Offroad Riding Clinic (to be confirmed). Improve your skills.
Demo Rides (to be confirmed). Try out the latest. Give your next bike a try.
Includes 4 Nights of Camping! Thursday through Sunday night. Camp with your RV or tent or stay in a condo/hotel in Fairmont 15 minutes away.
Includes Sunday Dinner This final celebration is always a hit!
Prizes and Giveaways. Moto gear, swag, etc.
Clinic/Workshop/Seminar Topics
Some of the topics we're looking at include:
- Navigation, map reading, and online scouting to find cool riding locations and trails.
- Trailside tire repair.
- Packing for an overnight back-country trip.
- Trail Kit tool selection.
- Quick Fixes and Hacks.
- Skills clinic.
- Bear Safety
- Demo Rides
- First Aid
- Farkle Sparkle: Guided walk around to examine the mods and extras of other people's bikes.
- And more!
Call for Presenters!
Do you have something interesting, useful, or entertaining to share with your fellow riders?
Then we'd love to hear from you!!
Send us an email at info@yugenex.com or call Trent at 403-270-0000 and let us know what you have in mind.
And don't worry, it's pretty informal so we're not expecting a polished keynote. And we'll help you with presentation hints and tips.
Endless Riding for All Skill Levels
Southeastern BC has some of the best riding in the world. Ranging from twisty pavement in the valleys, to wide-open logging roads to technical riding on 100-year-old mining tracks.
Whether you're a newcomer on a big adventure bike or a hardened offroader on a plated dirt bike, you'll have a blast!
Perfect Riding Weather
Average daily high temperatures in early September are 21 Celcius (70 F) with overnight lows around 8 Celcius (46 F). Beautiful riding weather with crisp mornings and the amazing September clarity in the air.
Local Riding and QuestPoint Suggestions
As a participant, you will receive complimentary access to a "Quest" on the Wanduro navigation app that includes over 100 Suggested QuestPoints™ scattered throughout 20,000 km² (3000 square miles) of terrain. Think Moto-Geocaching on Steroids!
You can enjoy the challenge of finding these locations or simply enjoy riding some of our suggested routes in the area or even just hang out at BaseCamp. The choice is yours to enjoy the weekend how you want to.
The local ride and QuestPoint navigation suggestions will be tailored to the riders for that weekend. A little milder for the Adventure weekend and a little more challenging for the Ultimate weekend. That being said, the Ultimate weekend will still include plenty of milder suggestions, so if you're a more easy-going rider, you can still have a ton of fun if you want to come out for the Ultimate weekend.
Relaxed or Radical. It's Up to You
Riders typically range from relaxed groups who just want to experience the beauty of the area and check out some places they haven't seen before to more intense groups that want the challenge of reaching as many QuestPoints as possible.
We tally up each group's QuestPoint total so, at the end of each day, the more competitive folks can see how they're doing relative to other groups.
Because there are no set routes and you choose which QuestPoints™ to go for and in what order you'd like to find them, you'll only occasionally see other riders. You won't be eating everyone's dust.
It's Your Ride
Remember, all of the riding is considered to be optional and "on your own." Once you leave the BaseCamp, you are an independent rider choosing to ride your own ride with your group. Whether you choose to find QuestPoints, do your own exploring, or whatever else you do is up to you and not officially part of the WANDR and you are entirely responsible for your own actions once you leave BaseCamp.
We will, however, have volunteer first aiders in the area as well as folks who may be able to help you recover a disabled motorcycle on a "best effort" basis.
Sustainability
As with any activity in undeveloped areas, we must keep our impact to a minimum. We take this seriously. This is how we do it:
- QuestPoints are located on active and inactive resource roads (logging/mining/etc.), and well-established motorized-use trails. There is no off-trail riding.
- QuestPoints are in locations not normally accessed by other recreational users.
- There are so many QuestPoints that the average one will receive only a few riders per day over the two days. QuestPoints closer to BaseCamp and on public paved and gravel roads receive up to 15 visits per day while more remote and difficult to access QuestPoints only receive up to 4 visits per day.
- Since the QuestPoints are scattered within a 20,000 square km area (80km radius from basecamp), there is no fixed course, and riders choose their own sequence of QuestPoints and disperse themselves accordingly, there is barely any effect on trails, wildlife, or other users. There is no place except the BaseCamp where there will be a concentration of participants.
- In locations where it would be inappropriate to ride such as on sensitive areas, private land, or First Nations land, the Wanduro navigation app first warns riders that they are entering such an area and then penalizes them if they continue.
- All motorcycles are licensed and road-legal with commensurate road-legal mufflers, lighting, horns, tires etc.
- All motorcycles have a spark arrestor.
- All riders must attend the rider briefing before getting access to the app and the QuestPoints. In this presentation, we detail how to minimize impact. This includes:
- Recognizing areas that are inappropriate to ride.
- Interaction with wildlife, livestock, and other users.
- Resource road safety.
- Minimal impact practices.
- Trail care (no tire spinning etc.).
- Fire safety.
- BC Gov't water crossing guidelines. "As fast as necessary but as slow as possible." As well as approach and departure etiquette.
- and more.
Recognition
After the Sunday evening dinner, we'll recognize riders and groups in various categories including the attendee from farthest away, the "die-hard" group that continued riding despite adversity, best rider spirit, and more.
For those that choose to have their QuestPoints tallied, we'll also recognize the top three ride-groups.
Additional Consideration for Ultimate Weekend
If you choose to have your QuestPoints tallied on the Ultimate weekend you will need to choose to be categorized as either a single or multi-cylinder ride-group. If your group has a mix of single and multi-cylinder bikes, you can choose whether you want to be categorized as either single or multi-cylinder and work with both the advantages and disadvantages of having a mixed group.
On the Ultimate weekend, we'll recognize the top three ride-groups in both the multi-cylinder and single-cylinder categories.
SPONSORS
These are the organizations that get it! They understand that being part of the riding community is a two-way street and they step up to support events like the WANDR. They do this so that they can meet you face to face and help support opportunities to enjoy the amazing fun and camaraderie that this sport provides. And out of appreciation for all of you that help keep them in business.
They deserve your support.
There are more sponsors coming on board that I'll add in the coming weeks.
Become a Sponsor. Connect With the Passionate Core.
The WANDR is the event in Western Canada for connecting with the passionate core of the Adventure, Dualsport and Enduro community. The people that come out to the WANDR are passionate, responsible, enthusiastic riders and are often the influencers both online and offline within their riding communities. Contact us at (403) 270-0000 or by email at info@yugenex.com and we'll promptly send you out a sponsorship package containing a variety of ways that you can make a one-on-one connection with this tribe of passionate moto-adventurers. Join us in promoting the sport. You'll be glad you did!
TRAILS & TERRAIN
The Canadian Rockies and Purcells are amongst the best riding terrain in the world. And they are riddled with 1000's of km of logging roads and old mining tracks. You can experience deep valleys, desert, rain forest, glaciers, and lakes all in one day.
Riding Difficulty Levels
We want everybody to have fun on the suggested riding, from a beginner on a big adventure bike to an experienced rider on a plated dirt bike. The QuestPoints™ are all rated using the following difficulty rating:
0 Paved
1 Easy gravel
2 Gravel requiring more focus. Potholes, loose gravel, slippery sections, rocks.
3 Offroad with challenges. Slippery, rocky sections. Sticks, puddles, mud.
4 Offroad with serious challenges. Tough, but you can usually make it through using your feet or getting off and pushing.
5 Offroad where you'll need momentum and skill to make it through. Potentially problematic if you lose it.
There is plenty for all skill levels, so if you want to concentrate on easier trails, you'll be busy all weekend. And if you want to just ride harder trails, there's plenty of that as well.
APP, NAVIGATION & QUESTPOINTS
How you navigate is up to you (GPS, Maps, etc.), but it's the WANDURO™ smartphone app that unlocks the QuestPoints for you.
You start with a detailed topographic map of the area as well as an 11x17 printed overview which shows you the general location of all the QuestPoints.
The app also lists all the QuestPoints along with their point value. Most teams spend some time with these resources to plan their strategy before riding out. And these strategies are all over the map! Here are some possibilities:
- Go to the most scenic locations.
- Ride the most difficult QuestPoints.
- Randomly find QuestPoints with no strategy whatsoever.
- Get to as many QuestPoints as possible.
Once you get close enough to a QuestPoint, the app provides you with Dakar-inspired navigation aids to get you to the location. It could be on a mountainside above you accessed by a series of switchbacks. It could be across a river requiring you to go upriver to cross a bridge and come back down the other side. It will be up to you to figure out how to get there.
Once you reach the QuestPoint, the app will give you further instructions to verify that you were there. It may ask you to name the mountain that is above the lake, enter the number of a QuestTag or other question that verifies that you made it.
BIKES
You're good to go on anything from a VStrom to a plated dirt bike. As long as it's road legal and fine for gravel roads, it is up to you what you ride! As long as you're comfortable with at least gravel roads and easy double-track trails, you'll be fine. And for the die-hards, there will be plenty of gnarly stuff to keep you busy all weekend.
Your bike must be registered, plated and insured for on-road use because there are sections of public road you'll need to ride on to get to the trails and forestry roads. At a minimum, bikes will need:
- road-legal plate, registration, and insurance
- spark arrestor
"I COULDN'T BELIEVE
THE SIGHTS I SAW
ON MY BIG BIKE"
RIDING GROUPS
To use the WANDURO app to find QuestPoints and tally your QuestPoints, we require you to ride in groups of at least two people, but no more than four people. If you simply want to ride out and explore on your own without using the app or tallying your QuestPoints, there are no requirements.
If you do not have a group, you can sign up as a solo rider and connect with other solo riders to form a group or you can connect with a group that's looking for another rider.
Groups can indicate whether they're looking for or willing to consider having an appropriate solo rider join them.
There is a Facebook group where solo riders can connect with groups and vice versa.
Passengers (pillions) are welcome as long as there is still a minimum of 2 bikes in the group.
We highly recommend groups of 3 or 4 people, that way if a person or motorcycle becomes disabled, one person can stay behind with the immobilized rider and the other can go for help. Each group should have some first aid and trailside motorcycle repair experience. Even more so if you are in a group of two.
GET READY TO RIDE
ULTIMATE WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Thu Sept 1
BaseCamp Activities
Registration Open
Vendors Open
Food Vendor(s) Open
Self-Guided Riding
Fri Sept 2
BaseCamp Activities
Registration Open
Vendors Open
Food Vendor(s) Open
Self-Guided Riding
App Orientation session
Sat Sept 3
QuestPoint Navigation Riding
Self-Guided Riding
Food Vendor Open
Late Registration
Late Orientation
Vendors Open
BaseCamp Activities
Sun Sept 4
Questpoint Navigation Riding
Self-Guided Riding
Food Vendor Open
Vendors Open
BaseCamp Activities
Celebration Dinner
Prizes & Giveaways
ADVENTURE WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Thu Sept 8
BaseCamp Activities
Registration Open
Vendors Open
Food Vendor(s) Open
Self-Guided Riding
Fri Sept 9
BaseCamp Activities
Registration Open
Vendors Open
Food Vendor(s) Open
Self-Guided Riding
App Orientation session
Sat Sept 10
QuestPoint Navigation Riding
Self-Guided Riding
Food Vendor Open
Late Registration
Late Orientation
Vendors Open
BaseCamp Activities
Sun Sept 11
Questpoint Navigation Riding
Self-Guided Riding
Food Vendor Open
Vendors Open
BaseCamp Activities
Celebration Dinner
Prizes & Giveaways
LOCATION & VENUE
Canal Flats, British Columbia
After three years in the Invermere area, we would have had to start reusing some of the trails, so it was time for a move. So for 2022, we're moving 30 minutes south to the village of Canal Flats, BC.
From here you'll enjoy both the Rockies and Purcell Range.
High Fuel Prices
Yup, it's a challenge this year. One way you can save is by leaving your RV behind and coming with your tent. If there happens to be rain, there's a large covered picnic gazebo and we also have the large onsite community hall for the whole weekend. And let's not forget the HOT showers in the sports complex we're next to.
The Rockies
Big valleys. Sweeping Forestry Roads. Magnificent Craggy Mountains. East of Canal Flats.
The Purcell Range
Rain Forest, Rivers and Ranchlands. West of Canal Flats.
Location Map (Click Map to Open)
Driving Hours to Canal Flats from:
| Calgary: 4 | Spokane: 4 |
| Kelowna: 6.5 | Edmonton: 6 |
| Vancouver: 9 | Seattle: 8 |
| Saskatoon: 9 | Portland 9 |
| Billings: 9.5 | Salt Lake City 11.5 |
Make it a Vacation. Bring the Family Too.
If you're coming from farther away, why not make a vacation out of it? The Columbia Valley is a beautiful lake resort area and the whole of southern BC has endless outstanding riding opportunities as well as plenty of fun for your family if you'd like to bring them along too. Everything from whitewater rafting to spa treatments. Give us a shout and we'll give you some insider tips on our favourite places.
Non-riders that are accompanying you get a special accompanying-persons rate.
Venue and Accommodation
We will be basing the event out of the Canal Flats Civic Centre (map link) and the nearby open area and sports fields. There's plenty of room for RVs and tents around the arena and in the nearby sports fields. There are no hookups, so you'll need to be self-sufficient. There are, however, hot showers and washrooms available in the arena.
Since we have booked the whole venue, camping Thursday through Sunday is included in all tickets.
For the best experience and to be part of all the camaraderie, camp with us onsite! Normally, most attendees choose to camp there to enjoy the atmosphere and camaraderie.
For those that would rather not camp, Fairmont Hot Springs is only 15 minutes north of Canal Flats and has plenty of accommodation options. However, there is no reduction in the event fee if you decide not to camp.
Amenities
Both the BaseCamp activities and Camping are in and around the sports fields within the village of Canal Flats. You'll have access to the following:
- Large community centre. Great for getting out of any inclement weather.
- Large covered picnic gazebo.
- Hot showers in the sports complex we're right next to.
- A great cafe across the street that does awesome coffee and breakfasts.
- A grocery store and gas station a couple of blocks away.
- Fairmont Hot Springs pools are only a 15-minute drive away. Along with some more restaurants.
MEALS
The final dinner on Sunday evening is included. Once again we will have an onsite food vendor to provide breakfasts, lunches, and suppers on a pay-as-you-go basis. Other than that, you can prepare your own meals at the campground or eat at a local cafe or in Fairmont 15 minutes away.
If you'd like to get a supper from the vendor on your arrival evening, please indicate that on the signup form. This will help them gauge the amounts they need to prepare.
T-Shirts
Each participant will get a wicked T-Shirt. This was part of one of our previous designs. We've already created this year's design. We think you'll love it!
We're putting in our T-Shirt order on August 10, so if you want a T-Shirt, you'll need to register before that.
PRICE & REGISTRATION
All prices are in Canadian Dollars (northern Pesos! 😉 ) so for you folks in the US, the equivalent in US dollars is about 20% less!
Once you've submitted the registration form, you should get a confirmation email with your ticket information. If you do not get this email, contact us at info@yugenex.com and we'll sort it out.
What You Get as an Attendee
- Enjoy access to all of the onsite activities at BaseCamp. Vendors, entertainment, demos, clinics, presentations, and more.
- Access to over 100 QuestPoints for the weekend via the WANDURO™ App.
- Use our recommended routes for self-guided rides.
- Come and go as you please. Team up with other riders. Ride when you want and then relax or take in everything at BaseCamp whenever you feel like it.
- All four nights of camping.
- Sunday Celebration Dinner.
- Prizes, Swag, and Giveaways.
- A detailed, high-quality map of the area (1 per group).
- A wicked WANDR™ T-shirt that will look good no matter when or where you wear it! Male and Female shirts available.
- A 1-year, non-voting membership in the Yugen Society of Explorers.
$395 + 5% gst
Ultimate and Adventure weekends both cost the same this year.
Special Accompanying Persons' Pricing
For non-riding family members and accompanying persons.
What you get:
- Four nights of camping.
- Access to basecamp areas including vendors and entertainment but not demos, clinics, and presentations.
- Final dinner is optional and you can pay for it onsite.
Adults 18+: $95 + gst
13-17 yrs: $35 + gst
12 yrs and under: free
Prices do not include 5% Canadian GST sales tax.
You get to be part of all this for about the cost of a weekend of golfing or skiing!
Cancellation/Refund Policy
Early Cancellation
If you cancel on or before August 5, 2021, we will refund you everything except the $50 Yugen Society Membership.
Late Cancellation
After August 5, 2021, until the start of the event, you will get a 50% ($200) refund.
Accompanying Persons Tickets can be canceled at any time up until the start of the event for a $10.00 handling charge per ticket.
If We Cancel the Event
If we have to cancel because of an act of God, force majeure, government action, or other situation beyond our control including but is not limited to forest fire, flood, strike, war, epidemic, and quarantine that prevents the event from taking place:
- We will announce this cancellation after the Early Cancellation deadline.
- We will roll your payment over to next year's event and
- You may decide to cancel your ticket any time up to the early cancellation date of next year's event. In this case we will refund your payment less $95 to defray some of the costs incurred in putting together this year's event.
- If you cancel your ticket after the late cancellation date of next year's event, you will be subject to next year's refund policy for late cancellation.
If we cancel the event for reasons other than mentioned above, you receive a full refund less the $50 Yugen Society Membership
COVID-19 Contingency
In 2020 we were forced to eliminate the base camp activities and group camping due to social distancing rules. We offered a refund for that portion for those that still wanted to attend and allowed people who did not want to attend due to the Covid situation to roll their registration over to 2021.
Amazingly, more than half of the registrants still decided to come out and we had an amazing event!
In 2021 we were forced to cancel the whole event due to Covid restrictions.
So here's how it sits in case of Covid restrictions:
If we need to eliminate the basecamp activities, camping, and final dinner we will lose much of our sponsorship support because they will receive less benefit without the ability to have a presence at BaseCamp. We can, however, provide a partial refund for that portion and still go ahead with the suggested rides and QuestPoint Navigation portion of the WANDR.
If we have to eliminate basecamp activities, camping, and final dinner
- Basecamp tickets will get a full refund.
- Adventure and Ultimate Tickets holders will have two choices.
- Come out for the riding and QuestPoint navigation and receive a $100 discount.
- Roll over your registration to the next year and
- You may decide to cancel your ticket any time up to the early cancellation date of next year's event. In this case we will refund your payment less the $50 Yugen Society membership.
- If you cancel your ticket after the late cancellation date of next year's event, you will be subject to next year's refund policy for late cancellation.
If we have to alter the event in other ways due to COVID
We will figure out something reasonable as the case arises.
Other Logistics/Requirements
Medical Insurance
If you're coming from outside of Canada, make sure that your medical insurance covers expenses in Canada. Many standard policies do not and you will need additional travel medical insurance. Do your research and insure yourself accordingly.
Waiver
All attendees will be required to sign the release of all claims and waiver of liability.
QUESTPOINT RIDE REQUIREMENTS
If you want your group's QuestPoints tallied and included in the rankings, you must follow these requirements.
- Groups must have a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 bikes.
- Groups must ride together at all times. If you separate for any reason other than sending someone to go get help for a disabled bike or rider, your group will be removed from the rankings.
- Start/Finish times are 08:00 to 17:00 every day. All group members must return together. Late returns lose points.
- Getting QuestPoint info from another group results in both groups being removed from the rankings.
- We REQUIRE that each group have at least one emergency signaling device such as SPOT, InReach, Satphone or EPIRB. Rent one if you don't have one.
- Each group must have at least 1 canister of bear spray.
- Each group must have a first aid kit.
- Each group must have at least 1 smartphone capable of running the Wanduro app. We highly recommend more than one in case one has a problem.
- Bikes must be registered and insured for on-highway use and have a spark arrestor.
- In the event of a dispute, a screenshot of the WANDURO app showing that you've reached the QuestPoint, or a photo that shows that you were at the QuestPoint is required to verify that you've been there. The decisions of the event organizers are final.
