Competition Rules

General rules and code of conduct

Before running in our competition classes (Elite/Qualifier), it is important that you have read and understood the applicable rules. Any deviation from the these may lead to disqualification from the race, applicable competitive class and Tour.

§1 Obstacle completion is mandatory.

Every obstacle MUST be completed in the intended way. Penalty rounds are not allowed.

Rules for each obstacle

Below you will find rules for the obstacles you may encounter along the course. Note each race has its own setup of obstacles. We recommend that you study the course map carefully to find the applicable rules for your race.

General rules of thumb

The following rules should be considered as default unless else specified for the particular obstacle.

You may not use scaffolding or other surrounding objects to complete the obstacle.
If there is a line, you must cross it.
If there is a bell, you must hit it.
If the obstacle is above ground, you may not touch the ground.
If there are grips, you may only use these and not any chains, ropes or other objects used for fastening.
Carry obstacles are left at the same area as they were picked up.

Obstacle rules

Arm Bike
Cycle to the other side using only your arms and hands. You may only touch the handles on the bike.

Balance
Get over the beam using one beam only and only your feet. Touching or crossing other beams or falling down is an unsuccessful attempt. Completed when the white marking at the end of the beam is touched.

Big Wall
Get over the wall without using the scaffolding.

Carry a Log
Carry one log along the assigned path. You have to leave the log inside the marks.

Cod Ladder
Hang from the lowest bar and climb using only your hands. Hit the bell at the top.

Cod Ladder – Salmon Ladder (Fast lane)
Use the bar to climb at least three levels. Hit the bell at the top.

Dips Walk
Cross the beams to the other side by using your hands only. Touching the ground equals a failed attempt.

Down Under
Get over to the other side using hands & feet only. Contact with ground equals a failed attempt. Completed when hitting the bell with your hand.

Dragon’s Back
Jump between the platforms. You are not allowed to climb on the scaffolding.

Floating Bricks
Climb up the floating bricks and climb down on the other side. It is ok to use the chains linking the bricks.

Floating Walls
Traverse the walls using the ledges and grips, without touching the ground. You are not allowed to grab the sides of the walls to get better balance.

Floating Walls – Hands Only (Fast lane)
Only hands allowed. Completed when you hit the bell at the end with your hand.

Gorilla Bars
Cross the obstacle using only your hands. Completed when touching the last bar.

Hay Bale Combo / Pyramid
Get over the hay bales.

Heavy Balls
Pull the ball down so it hits the ground. Then lift it back up on the platform. If the ball is already on the ground, do it in reverse.
NOTE! Men must use the heaviest ball, 75 kg. Women must use the medium ball, 60 kg.

Incline Wall
Get over the wall without using the scaffolding.

Irish Table
Get over the irish table (plank in the middle) without using the scaffolding.

Jerry Cans
Carry two jerry cans along the assigned path. Completed when you have left the jerry cans inside the markings.

Liquid Tubes
Carry two tubes along the assigned path. Completed when you have left the tubes at the same starting point, across the line.

Monkey Bar
Cross the obstacle using only your hands. Completed when gripping the last bar.

Monkey Bar – Flying Monkey (Fast lane)
Swing and jump between the bars. Completed when gripping the last bar and bell has been rung with your hand.

Mud Land
Get across within the course tape located on both sides. Using the sides or in other ways manipulating the course boundaries is not allowed.

Mud Swing
Swing over the mudpit using your hands and feet.

Net Pyramid
Climb the net and get over to the other side, without using other surrounding objects such as trees or scaffolding.

Ninja Jump
Jump from platform to platform without touching the ground. To complete the obstacle, you must jump from the last platform. If you fall, slip or in other ways are unable to jump from the last platform, you have failed. If there is a line on the ground, this must be crossed.

Power Push
Push the sled in front of you until you hit the stop at the end of the track.
Sleds marked with HEAVY are mandatory for both male and female athletes.

Ramp
Get up and over the ramp. Slide down the pole on the back.

Ring Crawl
Crawl/Climb through all the rings without touching the ground. You may only touch the rings. Any chains, scaffolding and other objects related to the obstacle construction are off limits.

Rings
Get over to the other side using the rings. Completed when on the platform at the other side or past the scaffolding.

Rope Climb
Climb to the top and hit the bell.

Rope Climb – High Rope (Fast lane)
Jump and grab the rope. Climb to the top and hit the bell.

Sand Bells
Carry one sand bell along the assigned path. Completed when you have left the sand bell inside the markings.

Ski Slope (Holmenkollen, Oslo)
Climb/Walk/Crawl all the way to the finish line.

Speed Rope
Run/jump and grab the rope to slide across to the other side. You may not touch the ground.

Spinning Wheels
Swing from wheel to wheel from one side to the other without touching the ground. You may only use your hands. Completed when on the platform at the other side or past the scaffolding.

Step Up
Step up over the logs. Jump down from the last log.

Sternum Checker
Jump from the first log over to the second log without using the scaffolding.

Super Slide
Climb your way up and slide down, feet first.

Swing Monkey
Swing across the obstacle using only your hands. If there is a line, this must be crossed. Else, the obstacle is completed when you have gripped the last handle.

Swing Walk
Get over the swing walk by using hands only. It’s not allowed to use the chains for better grip. Completed when on the platform at the other side or past the last scaffolding.

Trampoline Jump / Jumping Tower
Jump from the trampoline/platform into the water.

Traverse Rings
Complete the obstacle by using two rings and only your hands. Contact with ground equals a failed attempt. Completed when on the platform at the other side and rings placed back into bucket.

Traverse Walls
Traverse the wall from one side to the other without touching the ground. Only the intended grips are allowed to be used, not the edges of the obstacle. Completed when reached the other side of the white marking.

Web Rig
Climb/swing between the nets and any grips found in between. Completed when you’ve reached the last net and done one of the following: If there is a bell, you must hit it. If there is a line, you must cross it. In other case, you must pass the scaffolding.

Wormhole
Climb down the hole on the first level and climb up the hole on the second level. You may not use the scaffolding to get up the hole!

Wreck Bags
Carry the bag along the assigned path. Completed when you have left the bag inside the markings.

§2 We have staff along the course and their instructions and rulings MUST be followed.

§3 Unlimited attempts are allowed on both normal and fast lane.

If you fail to complete an obstacle you have two options:

Get to the back of the queue (if any) and try as many times as you wish.
Return your timing chip to the judge/staff and keep running (without timing and placement) or step off the course and abort further participation completely.

Important:
If you fail to complete all obstacles you will not receive a finisher time and no ranking points will be awarded.
Failing/forgetting to return the chip will be considered as cheating and will be handled accordingly.

Exceptions to the above rule:
If we assess that an obstacle, due to e.g. weather conditions, will have an extremely low completion rate, we reserve the right to open a penalty lane in these exceptions. Such exceptions will be announced during the pre-race meeting.

§4 During the race

Tour athletes must wear an official Tour vest (purchased during Tour signup) and Qualifiers must wear the official Qualifier arm band during the entire race (unless explicit permission has been given by the race management). If not followed, the race management reserves the right to disqualify athletes.
It is under no circumstances allowed to receive outside help during the entire race.
You may not add or replace gear during the race. All gear (e.g. gloves) must be carried from the start. It is ok to leave gear behind if no longer needed, but you may not replace them with a new pair.
Littering along the course is strictly forbidden. Gear that is no longer needed must be left by an obstacle.
Athletes must stay on the course at all times. You may not cross the course boundaries marked with barrier tape.
If you choose the “normal lane” you must also complete the follow obstacle, located directly after the main obstacle. If you choose the “fast lane” you may pass the follow obstacle at the designated path.

§5 Rule deviation

In case of minor deviations from the rules, the participant will be allowed to finish the race, however the result will not be taken in consideration for points, rankings, qualification etc.

In case of major deviations from the rules, we reserve the right to call the participant out off the course and abort further participation. Any such orders must be obeyed. Violations considered as deliberate cheating can lead to suspension from the whole Toughest Tour and/or applicable competition class.

§6 Pre-race meeting

Athletes in our competition classes must attend the pre-race meeting which is held at the event area about 30 minutes before the first start of the day. Here you will be informed about any local changes to the course and you’ll get a chance to ask questions regarding the race.

§7 Toughest Tour

Specific Tour rules can be found here and must be followed by all Tour participants.

§8 Tour qualification

To qualify for Toughest Tour you must finish among the top 20 men/women of the race. Results from all our competition classes are included for the calculation. Qualifiers with top 20 placements will be invited to the Tour the following season. Tour athletes missing the top 20 placement will lose their tour spot the following season. Note that this is on a per event basis, i.e. only one top 20 placement is needed to qualify for the Tour, regardless of other results during the season. More info regarding qualification can be found here.

§9 Wildcards

The race management reserves the right to include wildcards at any given race (“Race wildcards”), or the Tour as a whole (“Tour wildcards”). Although Race wildcards can not earn points in the Tour, they are able to “block” points from Tour athletes if they finish amongst the top 20. In such case, the athlete may join the Tour and earn points at the next Tour race (purchase of tour vest required). Tour wildcards are included in the Tour immediately and may earn points from their first race.

To apply for a Wildcard spot, contact elite@toughest.se at least 4 weeks before the race. Make sure to submit your name, merits and which race you wish to run. Note that Wildcard spots are limited and are only approved occasionally, requiring substantial merits.

§10 Disqualification

Cheating and other rule breaches must be reported to the race management as soon as possible after the race. The race management reserves the right to disqualify and suspend athletes in case of any rule breach. Rule breaches are judged in collaboration with course staff and timing partners. Film/Photo material to be used as basis for athlete disqualification must be submitted to the race management within 72 hours after the race. In such case, the material will be reviewed and the athlete will be notified if disqualification is applicable.

§11 Other

All athletes participating in our competition classes are required to keep up to date with the current rules.
Show sportsmanship. Don’t block or slow others down. If you’re having difficulties with an obstacle, let others pass.

Note! Elite and Qualifier heats may be monitored/filmed around the entire course. Cheating caught on film can be used as basis for disqualification.