57hours Adventure Race to Anchor Outdoor Retailer 2026 Minneapolis Show on August 21st
57hours Adventure Race to Anchor Outdoor Retailer 2026 Minneapolis Show on August 21st
Marquee outdoor activation brings creators, media, retailers, and exhibitors into Theodore Wirth Park, with Greenland trip as the grand prize
MINNEAPOLIS, June 2, 2026 — 57hours, a platform for adventure travel, today announced it will host the 57hours Adventure Race on August 21st during Outdoor Retailer 2026, creating one of the show’s signature outdoor experiences in Minneapolis. About 150 participants are expected to take part, including show attendees, creators, journalists, retailers, and outdoor industry leaders.
“This event illustrates exactly what makes Outdoor Retailer more than a trade show,” said Matthew Mathiasen, group show director, Emerald. “We look forward to introducing the show to Minneapolis’ great urban outdoors.”
The limited-capacity event takes place Friday, August 21, from 7:00–9:00 AM at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis. Designed as a high-energy extension of the trade show, the race moves Outdoor Retailer beyond the convention center and into one of the city’s premier outdoor spaces.
The race combines route choice, navigation, hidden checkpoints, teamwork, and outdoor challenges. Participants may compete solo or in teams, with the winner earning a spot on a Greenland adventure trip available through the 57hours platform. Additional prizes and sponsors to be announced closer to race date.
A Race Built for Minneapolis
Theodore Wirth Park provides a rare urban race setting, with trails, woods, lakes, and easy access from downtown Minneapolis. The park has a detailed trail and orienteering map, making it well suited for an adventure race built around navigation and strategy.
The nonprofit Minnesota Orienteering Club is partnering with 57hours to design the course and manage race-day logistics. Orienteering USA has provided sponsorship and support as part of its mission to introduce more people to the sport of orienteering. Additional support comes from the Loppet Foundation, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit connecting over 40,000 people to the outdoors every year.
A Creator-First Outdoor
Creators and media participants will be encouraged to document the experience across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, podcasts, newsletters, and other channels. Content creation is part of the experience, with bonus opportunities tied to storytelling and live social media.
“Outdoor Retailer brings together the people shaping the outdoor industry,” said Viktor Marohnić, founder of 57hours. “This race gives them a way to experience Minneapolis through movement, navigation, and teamwork in a unique urban setting.”
In addition to the event, 57hours will exhibit on the Outdoor Retailer trade show floor. Brands, retailers, creators, and media are encouraged to visit the booth to learn about new partnership programs with 57hours and its network of more than 2,000 mountain guides and outdoor professionals.
The Adventure Race follows a guided OR Urban Experiences Hike hosted by 57hours on Thursday, August 20, from 8:00–9:00 AM. Both experiences are open to registered Outdoor Retailer attendees, creators, exhibitors, and media.
Race participants can sign up through the Outdoor Retailer app, Popfly.com or by filling out this form, or live at the 57hours booth during the first day of the show.
About 57hours
Founded in 2021, 57hours is a platform that connects travelers with certified local guides for outdoor adventures around the world. The company offers curated, multi-day experiences across hiking, climbing, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, and other guided outdoor activities. 57hours works with top-tier certified guides and outfitters to make planning complex adventure trips more accessible, transparent, and safe for travelers of all kinds.
Media Contact: Nika Marohnic, [email protected]
About Outdoor Retailer
Outdoor Retailer is where the outdoor industry comes together to move the business of the outdoors forward. Designed in collaboration with brands, retailers, and industry leaders, the event creates space for connection, practical education, and the discovery of innovative products shaping the future of outdoor recreation. Outdoor Retailer is where the outdoor industry gathers to connect, collaborate, and take ownership of what comes next – #MakeItYours. Learn more about and #MakeItYours at outdoorretailer.com
Media Contact:
Chris Goddard, CGPR, [email protected]
(781) 640-8387 or [email protected]