05/11/2020
Dear Off-Road’er,
We hope this message finds you well, and maintaining good mental and physical health amidst the COVID-19 public health crisis. On Thursday, May 7th, Governor Sisolak shared the good news that Nevada is transitioning from Phase zero to Phase 1 of its Nevada United Road Map to Recovery. We are glad to hear progress is being made in Nevada in the face of COVID-19. However, it’s important to note, not until Nevada is in Phases 3 & 4 will social gatherings be considered. And, the duration needed to progress from Phase 1 to Phases 3 & 4 are unclear at this time.
As a result, it is with sadness that Epic Rides, the Combined Municipalities of Carson City, and Visit Carson City have decided to cancel the 2020 Carson City Off-Road.
Similar to the now-canceled Whiskey Off-Road & Grand Junction Off-Road events, we considered rescheduling for later this year; however, many springtime events are rescheduling for the fall, which will put unnecessary strain on communities, volunteers, medical professionals, participants and industry professionals who will be forced to choose between events nationwide. Out of respect for existing events with dates already on the calendar, priorities for public health within Carson City, and the uncertainty of what the state of Nevada will be in three months, our goal is to put our energy into a stellar Carson City Off-Road in 2021.
Considering that uncertainty, figuring out the best way forward is complicated (for some perspective, check out this VeloNews article). Epic Rides remains fully committed to our registered riders, host communities, sponsors, vendors, and the non-profits we support; however, we are also attempting to simply stay in business. We know our best means of providing value to our stakeholders is by ensuring that, once the pandemic has passed, Epic Rides is strong enough to produce the experiences our riders have come to expect, from that point forward.
To that end, we are currently able to offer you the following options:
Transfer: Although we don’t typically offer transfers of registration, we are obviously experiencing unique circumstances. If Epic Rides receives clear permission to produce the final series event - the Oz Trails Off-Road - then all registrants of canceled events will receive the opportunity to transfer into that event.
Discounted + Priority 2021 registration: All registrants of a canceled 2020 event will receive a priority opportunity to register at a discounted price for a 2021 Epic Rides Series event.
Partial refund: Our registration and event cancellation policies state no refunds will be given; however, we recognize that many jobs have been compromised as a result of the pandemic. If your registration fee is a make-or-break portion of your budget this year, please contact us via email at [email protected]. We will process a partial refund.
As for the remaining 2020 Epic Rides Series event, the Oz Trails Off-Road? Too much uncertainty remains to make a determination at the moment. Even if we are able to get this coronavirus outbreak under control within the next few weeks or months, will the small Northwest Arkansas communities of Bentonville and Bella Vista be ready for large numbers of people traveling from all over America back into their towns? Will the medical professionals we rely on for an outstanding safety net be available? There are more questions than answers, and we continue to rely on healthcare professionals to provide the best guidance.
Registration for all Epic Rides events remains closed until large community events are once again permitted. With COVID-19 affecting nearly everyone on the planet in some significant way, it’s an understatement to say that we’re all in challenging circumstances. If we are forced to cancel our remaining events for 2020, it will undeniably be a rough road. We’re doing our best to keep everything in perspective, and we are asking registrants of canceled events to do the same.
In the interest of transparency, we want to let you know that all of Epic Rides’ remaining events for 2020 are in limbo. We will make a determination on whether to cancel or continue as planned with the Oz Trails Off-Road and Tour of the White Mountains eight weeks or more before each respective event date. Thanks for hanging in there with us.
Above all, please know that we’ll get through this. Hopefully you are able to ride during this time, providing you an ideal opportunity to practice social distancing and get a much-needed dose of endorphins. If you are, please do so safely.
We are very grateful for your continued support of Epic Rides, and eagerly look forward to you toeing the start line at our next event.
Sincerely,
The Crew at Epic Rides
