Each Paddler must register for this event. That means every person from every team needs to login and register to race by March 1st, 2023. If we need to open up registration for you to register - a $100 late fee will be applied.

Event Dates: March 31, 2023 - April 2, 2023

Short Course: April 1, 2023
Channel Crossing: April 2, 2023

The Wild Buffalo Race is an all-small craft relay race within the SoCal Ocean Racing winter series. The race includes all small craft divisions with relay teams of 2-4 people (depending on the craft) or select solo divisions. The race runs from Avalon, Catalina Island, CA to the Newport Aquatic Center in Newport Beach, CA. This is a 32 mile course.

All racers, relay and 5-mile course, will receive: race jersey to wear during the race, refreshments Saturday during clinics and talks, access to Paddler Symposium hosted by Cocktails and Canoes, hiking and yoga, pasta dinner in Avalon Saturday night, after party meal, and refreshments at NAC.

*NEW!* For Iron Division: For the iron division after you are approved by the race committee to do the Iron Division you may register. Iron Division Paddlers do NOT need to acquire an escort boat. Their entry fee will include a safety boat(s) assigned to the Iron division. *Iron Division registration is subject to race committee approval. Registration may be changed or refunded if the race committee does not approve the registrant based on paddling ability and paddling history. Please see below for Iron Division Qualifications

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Early Bird Pricing: November 1, 2022 - January 1, 2023

Use discount code: Buffalo

$135 Relay Race Fee

$215 Iron Race Fee

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Open Registration: January 2, 2023 - March 1, 2023

No Discount Code Applicable

$185 Relay Race Fee

$265 Iron Race Fee

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Last Day to register with guaranteed jersey size: February 1, 2023

Registration Closes: March 1, 2023

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All Paddlers are responsible for booking their own accommodation in Avalon

*NEW!* PUT YOUR CANOE ON THE TRAILER GOING ON THE AVALON BARGE

All Paddlers are responsible for arranging their craft to Avalon.

There is an option this year to put your canoe on the barge going over to Avalon. It will be $60 a team. If you would like your canoe on the barge please email: Kelly@puakeadesigns.com with subject line: WBR - AVALON BARGE.

All Paddlers are responsible for finding their own escort boat.

The Puakea Team will be giving priority to helping out-of-country racers first. If you need assistance with an escort boat, please make sure your whole team is registered (each paddler on your team needs to sign in and register on paddleguru), and then please email Kelly at Kelly@puakeadesigns.com to be added to our list. This list does not guarantee your team an escort boat.

All Paddlers are responsible for their own transport to Avalon.

Please coordinate with your escort boat driver or team up with another team for transportation (craft and/or paddlers). For paddlers who need transportation to Avalon (and/or back) there is a Catalina Express: https://www.catalinaexpress.com/.

Awardable Divisions
If by March 1, you are the only entry in your division - the WBR Race committee will be reaching out to you to:
A. Change your age group
B. To inform you that if you cannot/do not want to change age groups that having 1 entry in a division does not make the division awardable.
It takes 2 to make an awardable race division!

IRON Division Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS FOR IRON RACE (without an escort boat):

Competed in a race of this distance iron, ie: Molokai Solo
OR has done WBR Iron before, however race committee has the right to deny past finishers if needed.
AND can currently paddle 11 miles in under 2 hours in open ocean
AND in good health

PRE-QUALIFICATION: In order to race without an escort boat, pre-qualification is required before registering. Pre-qualify by either:

1. Email WBR for pre-approval based on your experience. Describe your experience including big open ocean races you've done, your times, and if possible, contact info for your coach as a reference.

2. Completed one of the following races iron. OC-6 doesn't count. Note: If you haven't met the specified time, you may still qualify. You'll just need to get pre-approval as in #1 above.

Approved Races (but not limited to):

Wild Buffalo Relay Iron

Kaiwi Solo

North Shore Challenge

M2M

Seventy48

Chattajack

Te Aito or Super Aito

Great Barrier Reef Ocean Challenge

If you have not competed in one of these races you can submit a different race with your time for our approval.
If you do not pre-qualify to race without an escort boat, you can still race WITH an escort boat (which you are responsible for providing) as long as your experience shows you are likely able to complete the race in under the cutoff time.

Get the latest updates here: https://www.facebook.com/WildBuffaloRelay/

Join the group and connect with other attendees: https://www.facebook.com/groups/576804506100299