our story.
Welcome to Wildhorse. Having grown up in the Okanagan Valley I am extremely proud to showcase this remote point to point race that is so many of the things I love about this region... rugged landscapes, grasslands, spruce-fir forests, lake views and vineyards. This park has become a very special area for me throughout the years and holds a lot of really treasured memories. Before it became a race in our series, it was an "epic run" that I would plan to run once a year with my buddies. We would only run it once per year due to the fact that it required a lot of logistics and the fact that up until 2017, the park wasn't maintained, making it a very rugged journey that required a lot more route finding.
Since 2013, we have been hosting charity runs along the Wildhorse trail, to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Mental Health Association. The feedback from these runs was so positive, that it was only natural for us to consider adding it to our series, so we could share the raw beauty with more people across the land. In 2017, The Wildhorse Traverse was born.
Since 2013, we have been hosting charity runs along the Wildhorse trail, to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Mental Health Association. The feedback from these runs was so positive, that it was only natural for us to consider adding it to our series, so we could share the raw beauty with more people across the land. In 2017, The Wildhorse Traverse was born.
take me to wine country.
Wildhorse Traverse is a challenging point to point destination trail running race with 2000m ascending and descending. The race starts on the shores of Okanagan Lake, in Kelowna, BC and finishes on the shores of Okanagan Lake, in Naramata, BC. It traverses through Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park, rocky canyons, along the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) and past vineyards. Runners will need to comfortable being self-sufficient for long periods of time, in remote terrain, as most of the park is only accessible by foot, horseback, bicycle, or boat - as motor vehicle access is not only restricted but very limited.
Our finish area is celebration central and offers wine tastings from Elephant Island Orchard Wines, craft beer from the folks from Red Bird Brewing and coffee from Twisted Goat Roasters. Along with this fine wine, craft beer and roasted coffee, we will be offering a gourmet lunch catered by Brodo Kitchen (out of Penticton) that will showcase as much local, organic and sustainable produce from the area as we can. Including gluten free & vegan options.
Wildhorse Traverse is also a great opportunity to make a fun get away with friends and/or family. This area boasts nearly 82% of the total vineyard acreage in the province and 120 wineries within the Okanagan Valley, alone. Not to mention, the road riding and mountain biking is also world class - so if you have any matches left to burn in your legs the next day, be sure to bring your bike!
Our finish area is celebration central and offers wine tastings from Elephant Island Orchard Wines, craft beer from the folks from Red Bird Brewing and coffee from Twisted Goat Roasters. Along with this fine wine, craft beer and roasted coffee, we will be offering a gourmet lunch catered by Brodo Kitchen (out of Penticton) that will showcase as much local, organic and sustainable produce from the area as we can. Including gluten free & vegan options.
Wildhorse Traverse is also a great opportunity to make a fun get away with friends and/or family. This area boasts nearly 82% of the total vineyard acreage in the province and 120 wineries within the Okanagan Valley, alone. Not to mention, the road riding and mountain biking is also world class - so if you have any matches left to burn in your legs the next day, be sure to bring your bike!
personal touch.
From the beginning we have tried to to put as much heart and soul into our events as possible. We recognize and appreciate the investment that folks put into our series and we wanted to find special ways to show our gratitude in return. This started off with me wanting to make homemade finishers medals. For the first race in our series I made medals out of dough and cooked them in my oven. I learned very quickly that these little nuggets don't have the long-lasting potential of clay, so I signed up for a pottery membership, took lessons and started making ceramic medals. I now make over 1,000 medals per year with help of family & friends when I can get them in the studio with me. I have also progressed into making wine cups which are the top prizes for the Wildhorse Traverse every year!