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ATTENTION PLEASE

Thanks to Hurricanes Helene and Milton's fine work to destroy our trails, the Squiggy's Gnome Roam has been canceled.

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WHERE?      Jay B Starkey Park

10500 Wilderness Park Blvd,

New Port Richey, FL 34655

WHEN?  Thursday, Nov 7 - Sunday, Nov 10, 2024

  •    Thursday

    • wilderness camping experience.

  •    Friday

    • Famous Starkey Night Ride 

    • Music and Social in the campgrounds

  •    Saturday 

    • 6-hour Semi-serious choose-your-endurance-challenge

    • 5 mile, 10 mile, 20 mile Sunset Run

  •    Sunday   

    • Show and go ride

 

Registration will remain open, but there will be no guarantees for shirts or medals after Monday, October 21, 2024.

Meet Your Host- Swamp Mountain Bike Club

 

Welcome to Squiggy’s Gnome Roam.  We are making history together, hopefully, with fond memories as we move forward in years to come.

For those of you that don’t know Swamp as an organization, you may ask why we do events like Squiggy? To begin with, they are pure fun but the fun factor only sends you home with a great experience. For our club, that is only the beginning.

Over the past 35 years, Swamp has become known for building the trails in our local area that all of us have grown to know and love. To continue, we must do fundraisers, that allows us to purchase the necessary equipment to help our volunteers maintain and keep the trails safe for you and your family. In addition to  our 5 existing trail systems, we are in the process of adding a new trail system in Pinellas County, along with others that are in our plans. It takes a lot of community support to make these things happen.

As your hosts for Squiggy’s Gnome Roam, we wish you the greatest experience possible, on your bike or on your feet, satisfaction knowing that you have taken part in supporting our trails and that you leave the event eager to return or attend another Swamp event.

Let’s Camp

 

The fun begins with a Thursday check in to camp in the beautiful Starkey Park wilderness camping area. All tent sites are primitive camping except for 8 cabins. The cabins sleep 8 and are very rustic. Check out is Sunday.Lets get the adventure started. Come camp with us.

WHAT's happening saturday?

Semi-Serious Saturday is a 6-hour choose your challenge endurance race.  Feeling like pushing it?  Ride solo or with a team as many laps as you can!  Want to just have fun or try out racing?  Make a team of 2 - 4 riders who take turns, relay-style, on the 10-mile Course. Check out the rules and register

One day event only - $75 for members or $85 for non-members per rider and includes t-shirt, breakfast, after ride meal and beverage tickets. 

Each rider must register individually, whether riding solo or on a team.  Team members:  If you already have your team, enter your team’s name when you register. That will link you with your team members. If you are not part of a team but would like to be part of one, put 'please assign’ for the team name and we will assign your teammates.

Semi Serious 6-hour bike choose your challenge rules.


There are rules. What are they?

  1. All riders must agree to only take this race semi-seriously.  This race is family friendly, newbie friendly, and for the young and fun at heart. 

  2. Choose your race:  solo or team.  Each team consists of 2-4 riders. Enter your team name when you register. That will link you with your team members if you have them.

  3. If you want to be part of a team but do not have one, we can match you up with a team.

  4. No E-bikes. No pedal assists. Manual pedal bikes only, with front and rear brakes.

  5. Chipped time is for grins and groans only. Compete against yourself….and maybe your friends.  Only good-natured competition is allowed.  All violators will be sent back into the woods for a time out.

  6. Team members can decide on ride order. A rider has the option to allow another team member to do more than one lap consecutively. Remember, this is semi-serious.

  7. Rider changes can only be made in the designated transition area at the finish line.

  8. Each team will be issued a waistband with a chip in it. The chip is to be handed off to a team member at the transition area.

  9. Each rider will receive a number plate and it must be on the bike, and visible, during each lap.

  10. All transfers of equipment must be done in the transition area.

  11. Team members can share a bike.

  12. Riders on the course are allowed to accept assistance from other riders on the course.

  13. There is very little room for passing other riders, thus the reason for SEMI-SERIOUS. If you are approached by a faster rider, pull over and let them pass. Those doing the passing should give the not-as-fast rider a woohoo for being awesome. This event is meant to be more fun than serious. Please bring your fun attitude and leave the rest at home.

  14. Have fun. Remember the cause. This is a semi-serious event. Bring your smile.

 

Yes, there is more!

Feeling like a run is more your speed?

Welcome to the Squiggy Relay Trail Run at Starkey Wilderness Park! This event offers a unique experience for runners of all levels amidst the beauty of nature and features a variety of distance options to suit every participant's preference. Choose from 5-mile, 10-mile, or 20-mile routes, with the flexibility to form relay teams of two, four, or go solo.

The adventure begins approximately 30 minutes before sunset, allowing runners to witness the stunning transition from day to dusk as they embark on their journey. It's essential to come prepared with a headlamp and any other necessary items to navigate the trails safely, especially as darkness sets in.

Join us for an unforgettable experience as you challenge yourself and bond with teammates or embrace the solitude of solo running in the picturesque setting of Starkey Wilderness Park. The Squiggy Relay Trail Run promises excitement, camaraderie, and memories that will last a lifetime.

SATURDAY SUNSET RUNS (pawsome dogs can participate too)

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The run begins at 5:00pm sharp on Saturday.

The 20 mile challenge ends by 10:00pm

Awards ceremonies will be held separately and immediately after the completion

of the 5 mile, 10 mile and 20 mile run.


This is an eco-friendly run. Please bring your own sports bottle & hydration.

 

*remember to add camping to your weekend.

Running Rules

Runners must be able to independently complete a trail run/walk on the terrain of Starkey Park within the stated cut-off times. This terrain includes sand, mud, roots and mulch. Chipped time is available but for personal records only. Awards are not based on competitive times. Beat your personal best.

  1. 5 mile solo option only.

  2. 10 mile solo or a two person team (each doing five miles).

  3. 20 mile solo, a two person team (each doing ten miles), or four person team (each doing five miles).

  4. Proper trail attire is suggested to include trail shoes, hydration bottles, bug repellant and sunscreen. Please bring your own headlights or other lighting sources as you will be running in the dark.

  5. Participants should bring their own nutrition and hydration for the trails since aid will be limited.

  6. Runners should follow the park rules. Please clean up after yourself.. Please use portable toilets and Starkey Park toilets (no public urination).

  7. All runners on the course must meet a minimum age requirement.  Runners must be 10 or older for the 5 miler, 15 or older for the 10 miler and 18 for the 20 miler

  8. Runners share the responsibility to help other runners in need. If you see something, say something.

  9. Runners must bring their own medications and be responsible for administering as needed.

  10. Each runner on this course must be registered to be a part of this event.

  11. Ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

  12. Being that this run takes place at night, every runner MUST carry a headlamp.

Dog On The Course Rules:

  1.  Dog owners must keep their dogs on non-retractable leashes at all times.  The leashes must be 6ft or less.

  2. Each dog owner must clean up after their dog.

  3. All dogs must be up to date on their vaccinations.

  4. Each dog that attends this event must be socially friendly to other dogs, humans, and possible other Starkey Park “pets”.

  5. Each dog owner has the responsibility of providing proper hydration and nutrition for their dog.

  6. Each dog owner must be cautious of the bikers, runners, and other possible non-participants while on the trails.

  7. Each dog must wear their racing bib. 

  8. Each dog must be registered to participate in this event.

I WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER

Volunteer opportunities are available all weekend. Register for your volunteer spot by clicking the Register button below.

 

You can sign up for multiple days. Volunteers who work more than 5 hours will earn a volunteer shirt and lunch.

 

New volunteer sign up form

Dror Vaknin, Call Collins, Kaylie Wilson, and Ash

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Squiggy's Gnome Registration

Select one or more rides/runs and camping options below. Add them to the shopping cart and check out to register.
Select "Event Registration" on the checkout page to avoid shipping charges.

Make sure to read and sign the waivers before checkout!

Registration Options

Select one or more activities from the list below. Scroll down to the registration section and add those into the shopping cart. Complete the checkout to register.

Do not forget to add camping to your registration/shopping cart!