bold st. nicks
Be BOLD, brave the COLD at the 7th annual winter fatbike & snowshoe race in the North Dakota badlands. Whether you’re on Bold St. Nick’s naughty list or nice list, you will experience the world-famous Maah Daah Hey like few racers ever have – frozen! 🥶 Fat Tires and Snowshoes are currently required for the 2022 event.
FATBIKE RACE:
Fatbike racers on the NICE LIST will enjoy the fun and challenging loop course for 1 hour. Those on the NAUGHTY LIST will be “punished” for a grueling 4 hours. Riders who want to work together as a group can sign up for the REINDEER TEAM OPTION: teams of 2-4 will send out one rider on course, at a time, while the others stay warm and cozy by the outside fire pit. Solo racers and team racers alike will attempt to complete as many laps around the approximately 4-mile racecourse as possible before time runs out.
Gingerbread man SNOWSHOE RACE:
Run, run as fast as you can… This unique event will take place in the morning, on the same racecourse as the afternoon fatbike race. Racers are REQUIRED to wear snowshoes throughout the entirety of the 2-mile section of the Maah Daah Hey Trail, unless the race director deems conditions are not conducive to do so. Racers may choose to wear or carry his/her snowshoes on the remaining sections of the approximately 4-mile racecourse.
date & time
This annual holiday season themed race is held on December 6, 2025 from 10am to 4pm MDT.
Packet Pick Up will be held Friday evening at the RoughRider Hotel and Saturday morning at the Badlands Pizza Parlor. Please scroll down and check the schedule of events below for specific times!
location
The start/finish line is at the Badlands Pizza Parlor, Main Street, Medora, ND, which will serve as our warming house for racers & spectators. Everyone is welcome to be bold and brave the cold, next to the outside fire pits as they cheer for racers making laps around the wintery badlands racecourse.
RACECOURSE
A fun and challenging 5-mile loop of mixed terrain including a lung burning paved road climb up the Amphitheater road, 2-miles of Maah Daah Hey downhill single track and your choice between a flat paved path, or the frozen Little Missouri River. It’s the perfect course to keep the event interesting and safe whether it is 32 above or below zero. Conditions may vary from dirt and asphalt to ice and snow… Be prepared! For the first time ever the USFS has given us permission to use machines to groom the trail where snow conditions allow!
fEELING FESTIVE
You can expect to experience outdoor fire pits, hot cocoa, delicious holiday appetizers and adult drinks will be available throughout the day at the Badlands Pizza Parlor. Plus package deals for over night stays, and breakfast are available. Be bold, brave the cold!
*Festive attire and holiday costumes are highly encouraged and awards for the BEST DRESSED will be given! For example, the late & great Brad Bosch always came dressed as Buddy the Elf. RIP Brad #21
LODGING
Book your Medora lodging accommodations at the Rough Rider Hotel through our official race partner, the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation. Accommodations can be booked here.
raceCOURSE MAP
race logistics
Registration Prices
$39 - GINGERBREAD MAN FOOT RACE
$39 – 1 hour “NICE LIST” fatbike
$49 – 4 hour “NAUGHTY LIST” fatbike
$29 – for each fatbike racer in the “REINDEER TEAM OPTION” (teams of 2-4)
($10 increase on December 1st)
Registration fee includes: Access to the fully marked, permitted, and prepped racecourse, numbered race plate, H2O, and other post race beverages!
*Snowshoes will be for rent on a first come basis!
Delicious HOLIDAY APPETIZERS
(served throughout the race)
$29 – each for adult
$11 – each kid ages 6-12
$5 - kids 1-5
Festive and delicious appetizers served throughout the race, before, during, and after! Every racer gets a free drink ticket. Soda, wine, beer & liquor are available for purchase at the bar during dinner and throughout the race and award ceremony.
In order to keep registration fees lower for racers not interested in eating at the event, appetizers are NOT included with race registration fee. You will need to add an appetizer ticket to your cart for each racer AND spectator who plans to eat. Appetizer tickets can be purchased on the day of the event, while supplies last, and only after all pre-purchased meal tickets have been served.
Appetizer& Hotel Package Deal:
$149 – ONE appetizer ticket, ONE drink ticket, ONE reservation for a beautiful and cozy hotel room at the Rough Riders Hotel.
$179- TWO appetizer tickets, TWO drink tickets, ONE reservation for a beautiful and cozy hotel room at the Rough Riders Hotel.
You may purchase any additional meal tickets, as needed, separately on the registration site. All questions & special requests for you your room type, additional occupants, handicap accessible rooms, etc can be directed to the Rough Riders Hotel staff after you receive your reservation confirmation email. To see more info on the accommodations at the Rough Riders Hotel please click here.
schedule
All times listed in Mountain Time Zone
Friday, December 5
12:00 pm – Race Volunteers meet to make final preparation to the racecourse (all welcome)
5:00 pm – Volunteer Appreciation Social Begins
At the Roughrider Hotel
Live Music with Ted & Kari begins
5:00 pm – 8:00pm – Optional packet pick up for Bold St. Nick’s Racers
At the Rough Rider Hotel in Medora, ND
6:00 pm – Our Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, Silent Auction and Awards (*all are welcome to attend and learn more about Save the MDH & the Badlands Race Series)
At the Rough Rider Hotel in Medora, ND
Saturday, December 6
8:00 am - Racer Packet Pickup opens
At the Pizza Parlor in Medora, ND
8:45 am - Racer Meeting for GINGERBREAD MAN FOOT RACERS
8:59 am - Final Words
9:00 am - Race starts for the GINGERBREAD MAN FOOT RACE
10:00 am - Hot Chocolate and Sugar Cookie Decorating
10:45 am - Award Ceremony for Gingerbread Man Footrace
11:00 am – Cash bar opens at the Badlands Pizza Saloon!
11:00 am - Horse Drawn carriage rides begin
11:30 am - Packet Pickup & registration closes
11:45 am - Racer Meeting for “NAUGHTY” & “REINDEER TEAM” FATBIKERS
11:59am - Final words
12:00 pm – Race starts for all the “NAUGHTY” and “REINDEER TEAM” FATBIKERS
12:00 pm - Festive Appetizers begin
1:45 pm - Racer Meeting for all the “NICE” FATBIKERS
1:59 pm - Final words
2:00 pm – Race starts for all the “NICE” riders
4:00 pm – Racecourse closes!
4:30 pm – Award Ceremony
5:00 pm – Social Hour
6:30 pm – Badlands Pizza & Saloon close
Rules
Be bold, brave the cold!
Be smart, know the course & the rules.
Be prepared for the conditions.
You are responsible for you.
Non-motorized FAT bikes only, with tires 3.8 inches fat, or fatter!
Helmets are required for FATBIKERS.
Stay on course. Racecourse will be well marked and easy to follow.
Follow the rules of the road.
If a fellow racer is injured or in danger, help them, either by assisting them yourself or by getting help. If you sacrifice your race while assisting another racer or volunteer with a serious situation we will give you free registration for next year’s race.
COURSE RECORDS
Naughty List (4 Hours - fatbike)
Timothy Anderson | 3:46:50.26 | 10 laps
Naughty List (4 Hours - mtn bike)
Kyle Leftwich | 3:49:39.84 | 12 laps
Naughty List ( 4 Hours - fatbike & mtn bike)
David Woodbury | 3:41:38.12 | 11 laps
Nice List (1 Hour - fatbike)
Amanda Meredith-Dunlop | 1:17:18.07 | 3 laps
Nice List (1 Hour - mtn bike)
Jason Salz | 1:07:20.34 | 3 laps
Reindeer Fatbike Team
701 Cycle | 3:46:37.68 | 13 laps
GINGERBREAD MAN FOOT RACE
Michael Pfliger | 29:48.22 (no snowshoes)