The Magnificent 2026

Schedule

• 27-2: Airport Shuttles
• 28-2: Check-in Day & Prologue
• 4pm: Pre-Race Breifing
• 01-03 Time TBD: Race Start
• 07-03 6pm: Course Closes
• 08-03: Airport Shuttles

Vision

With over 4 decades of racing experience between them (both as athletes and race directors), twin brothers Andy and Jason Magness are beyond excited to work together again.  Based on their past expedition forays and mis-adventures across the spectrum of pack-rafting, mountaineering, climbing,  bike-packing, and remote exploration they consider course creation as an artform.

​They are supported by a passionate team of experienced racers, volunteers, media professionals, medical staff, course testers and logistical personnel

Location

The Magnificent will take place on the South Island of New Zealand each year, with the location and course changing for each new edition.  The 2026 race will take place in both the Southland and Otago regions.

​Host city: Gore

Nearest Airports: Queenstown, Dunedin, or Invercargill

Course Distance

500 km

That is

further across than

the entire  country. 

Yep - it is a big course to explore. 

But there is no set route,

so brilliant navigation could shorten it,

bad navigation could add more.   

So lets just say you'll do somewhere between 450 -550 km.

Disciplines

Mountain Bike - paved path, dirt roads, singletrack.  Riding will include technical descents

​Trekking - trail, roads, and lots of off-trail mountain terrain.

​Pack rafting - flat water, moving water, and mild technical whitewater

​Navigation - Challenging map and compass navigation with plenty of route choices.​

​Hybrid disciplines - bike-rafting, packraft-trekking, raft-biking, and hike-a-bike, depending on the year.

Difficulty

The event is designed to challenge the best competitors in the sport of adventure racing, while being possible for teams with at least some of the following dialed in: racing experience, speed, teamwork, high motivation, navigational prowess, mountain skills, and desire.

​In truth - the perceived difficulty will depend on the skill level of each team.  It is a highly challenging event - will this lead to Anxiety, Arousal, or Flow?

Unsupported Format

The race is unsupported - meaning that competitors can receive no outside assistance from friends, family, or fans.  

​Race staff will move team's resupply equipment to various transition areas along the course where they can access it, but other than this, the team must choose what to carry, when to sleep, and how to best move through the race. Even medical care like blisters (outside of emergency) must be dealt with by the team.

​This format adds a bit of complexity for the race organization, but make the event more fair and competitive for international teams.

Sanctioning

The MAGNIficent is proud to be part of the Adventure Racing World Series as one of the world qualifying events of 2025 and 2026.​

In addition to prize money, the winning team will receive a free entry to the 2026 Adventure Racing World Championships in France.  Congratulations to Sardine Racing for winning an entry into the 2025 World Championship in Canada!

​Inclusion also will allow teams to receive a global ranking, prize purse, standardized rules and impartial and trained referee(s).