Race Details

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 The Saranac Lake 3P (SL3P) is a 6-leg multi-sport race event organized to showcase the incredible local recreational venues in and around Saranac Lake.  The event serves as a community celebration of our unique and diverse frontcountry recreational venues and leverages the spring shoulder season as participants follow the spring snowmelt from the area’s mountains to the river all under their own power on skis, bikes, and in boats.  This annual charity event will benefit a different local recreational-based interest each year that benefits area youth.  For our inaugural year, we're happy and proud to support Saranac Lake Innovative Cycling Kids (SLICK), a group of Saranac Lake-based youth mt bikers who can absolutely shred and who are making a huge positive impact on our community.

 The race, where contestants compete either individually or in teams, consists of an alpine ski/snowboard leg, a town tour bike leg, a cross-country ski leg, another quick bicycle leg, a boating leg, and finally a running segment to bring participants back to the start/finish line at Mt. Pisgah. 

Participants will skin up (ski uphill with climbing skins attached to the underside of their skis) or snowshoe up the slope of Mt. Pisgah, alpine ski or snowboard down Mt. Pisgah, bike to Dewey Mountain where they will cross-country ski two loops on a set course on the groomed trails, bike to the Saranac River where they will paddle down to the Saranac Lake Fish and Game Club, before finally running back up to the start/finish line at Mt. Pisgah.  An after-party will be hosted at the Mt. Pisgah Lodge, adjacent to the start/finish line.  

See the Maps section for more details on the routes, elevation profiles, etc.

 We encourage all participants to be self-supported and to work out the logistics on their own of dropping their gear ahead of the race, retrieving it afterwards, and figuring out how to get team members back to the finish afterwards.  A few notes to keep in mind:

• All boats will be transported by race officials back to Mt. Pisgah at the conclusion of the race.  We do not want anyone going to the Fish and Game Club to retrieve their boat as space is extremely limited at that location.
• All racers are responsible for dropping off their skis/boots/poles and necessary clothing for that segment before the race.
• All racers are responsible for dropping off their boats/paddles/pfds and necessary clothing for that segment before the race.

Fair Competition Policies

• Armbands must be worn and easily seen on all racers through the duration of the event.  All finishers must have their own/team’s armband on when crossing the finish line.
• If a fellow racer is hurt or needs assistance, you are obligated to help - this is a community event where we all pull each other up
• Racers may carry water and snacks during the race but it is not required.  There will be 3 aid stations on the course (Mt. Pisgah, Dewey Mt, Beaver Park, SLF&G Club) 
• Costumes are encouraged for racers that do not interfere with the safety/function of themselves and other racers

Required Gear and On-Course Rules

• All Mt. Pisgah skinners/snowshoers must be ready at the start line 10 min before race start.
• Racers ascending Mt. Pisgah can only use skis/splitboards w/skins or snowshoes.  Helmets must be worn while descending Mt. Pisgah.
• All bikers must wear a helmet. 
• Passing on bikes is only allowed where the shoulder is wide enough, slower bikers keep to the right
• All bikers must pedal on the right side of the road and stay as far to the right as possible - roads will be open to motor traffic.  All traffic rules must be obeyed
• Wait for traffic control personnel to indicate it is safe to cross before doing so at the
  • Old Lake Colby Road and Broadway/Rte 86 (segment 2)
  • Rte 3 crossing by Dewey Mt (segment 2)
  • Rte 3/Main St (segment 4)
  • Rte 3/Trudeau crossing (segment 6)
• Skate, classic, scaled, and metal edge x-c skis are allowed on the trails at Dewey Mt., no snowshoes or pedestrians.
• PFDs/Lifejackets must be worn by all boaters and be securely worn before canoes/kayaks/guideboats are put in the water
• Slower boats are encouraged to stay the right; overtaking boats are encouraged to pass on the left.
• PFDs/Lifejackets can only be taken off once the boat is completely out of the water
• All runners must run on the left side of the road
• If you are part of a relay team
  • X-c skier team member and boaters must be at their respective transition zones by the race start time (8:30am)
  • At transition 2 at Dewey Mt. bikes must be parked in the bike racks and arm bands handed off before the skier can begin skiing at Dewey Mt.
  • At transition 4 at the Village Lot bikes must be parked in the bike racks and arm bands handed off before paddlers can portage/carry their canoe/kayak/guideboat in the river at Beaver Park.
  • Runners can only begin running once the team’s canoe/kayak/guideboat is carried to the transition area at the SLF&G Club adjacent to Rte 3
• All racers/teams are responsible for picking up their alpine skiing gear, x-c ski gear, and bikes from the appropriate transitions by 1pm on race day.  Racer ID stickers will be required before gear is released.
• All boats/paddles/pfds will be transported from the SLF&G Club up to Mt. Pisgah after the race.  
• Spectators are not allowed at the SLF&G Club but dropping off and picking up of racers is allowed - no parking available.
• Finishers will surrender their armband after finishing to race personnel.
• Any racer who withdraws during the race must immediately notify a race personnel
• Have fun and keep the racing aspect in perspective!

 Race organizers reserve the right to alter and cancel race segments as course conditions and weather dictate.  Participants will be notified of any changes at the mandatory safety pre-race meeting the evening before the race (5pm 3Mar20220).

Participant and Spectator Control:  Racers on the race course must wear their armband at all times and have it visible.  Racers should not deviate from the race course while racing, if they do disqualification will result.  Spectators are allowed anywhere on the course as they don’t interfere with racers and the usual operation of traffic and race personnel.  The SLF&G is not open to spectators.

Aid Stations:  Three (3) aid stations will be manned by volunteers from three (3) local organizations, one each at Mt. Pisgah, Dewey Mt, and the SLF&G Club.  Water, gatorade, hot cocoa, bananas, cookies, and other food/beverages will be provided.  Racers will vote at the finish line for their favorite aid station.  Volunteers at each aid stations are encouraged to make it as fun as they can (unique/yummy foods, music, costumes, etc.)

Medical Assistance: The Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad will have personnel scattered through the race course to provide assistance if it is needed.  

Finish Area: Racers must completely cross the start/finish line to end the race.  Each racer/team will have a total race time recorded.  Spectators will not be allowed in the immediate area of the start/finish line for safety purposes.

Special Considerations for challenged athletes/youth: While we don’t want to exclude anyone from participating, given this is our first year of organizing this event we feel we do not have the capacity to accommodate participants with special needs and/or participants below the age of 16.