It’s so easy! If you register as a team, the fundraising efforts of each team member are added together to reach the total amount to be raised. The important thing is that the total is reached as a team. As with individual fund-raising, only team participants who have completed 100% of their fund-raising will be able to set off on February 22.

In concrete terms, and by way of example:

  • You’re part of a team of 3 runners at the Express, whose fundraising goal is $500 per person (a total of $1,500 for a team of 3).
  • You raise $400, your colleague raises $450 and your other colleague raises $650.
    All 3 of you can leave, having raised $1,500 together.

IMPORTANT NOTE: teams must be formed at the time of registration and cannot be formed later, once the fund-raising campaign has begun.

The registration platform includes an option to create or join a team.

The Starlit is the most demanding of the CRYO Races; only hardened runners can take part. The darkness and changing weather conditions on the lake make this a challenging race. Running 32 km is a realistic challenge for many, but the important thing is to take into account the winter factor and the darkness. Indeed, running 32 km in the dark in winter conditions is an entirely different challenge from a summer road race!

Runners need to be used to running long distances, but also to making a major cardiovascular effort in the cold, and to be ready for a major psychological challenge, as the race is very different from their usual ones, and involves a loss of reference points. Several runners used to doing ultras told us that the CRYO Races were the most difficult race they’d ever done…

This event is open to athletes who meet one of the following criteria:

  • Have completed a trail ultra (+42.2km) in the last 2 years
  • OR to have completed a marathon in under 3h30
  • OR have completed the Micro-CRYO in under 1h40
  • OR have completed the SUNNY Traverse or the STARRY Traverse within the time limit set last year
  • Important asset : Winter racing experience (Micro-CRYO, polar trail, etc…)

In all, a maximum of 50 people will have the chance to take on this major challenge next February. Once this number has been reached, a committee of experts will evaluate the candidacy of those who have registered for the Starlit. Consequently, proof may be required, and some people may be redirected to the 20 km. These decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

Time calculations are very different from a normal race. We invite you to analyze the results of past years.

If the 32 km starlight challenge seems too big, don’t hesitate to start with the 20 km this year to better understand what the Starlit challenge can represent and prepare well for the next edition.

The Mishkumi is a demanding event, taking place mainly on the lake under clear skies. For athletes who want to challenge themselves to cover a greater distance than the Express, this event is sure to be a great adventure. Running 20 km is a realistic challenge for many, but the important thing is to take the winter factor into account.

Running 20 km in winter conditions is an entirely different challenge from a summer road race! Runners need to be used to running long distances, but also to making a major cardiovascular effort in the cold, as well as being prepared for a major psychological challenge as the race is very different from their usual ones, and therefore involves a loss of reference points. Several runners used to doing ultras told us that the CRYO Races were the most difficult race they’d ever done…

There are no selection criteria for participation in this event, but it is strongly recommended to have participated in winter races (Micro-CRYO or similar winter races) or long-distance races beforehand.

Time calculations are very different from a normal race. We invite you to analyze the results of past years.

If the challenge of the Mishkumi in daylight seems too great, don’t hesitate to start with the Express (12 km) this year, to better understand what the challenge of the Mishkumi can represent, and to prepare well for the next edition.

As the CRYO Races represent an important physical challenge, it is more than relevant to start training several weeks in advance in order to « be on top of your game » to complete the challenge. To support you in this training, we invite you to download the training programs prepared by Le coaching du coureur.

For the Crossing and the Micro-Cryo, it is a flat and linear course where the technical difficulty lies in the snowy surface. For several days before the event, the surface is mechanically maintained to offer you the best possible conditions. That said, the cold, the sun and the accumulations of snow in the hours preceding the start signal can make the challenge increase a notch!

The average temperature for February in Lac Saint-Jean is -8.6°C during the day and -19.3°C at night, with light winds from the northwest. The worst temperatures recorded, however, are chilling: winds of up to 80 km/h and lows of up to -39°C, not to mention the wind factor. Be prepared for all conditions. Race routes run from north to south. Theoretically, the wind will be predominantly from the back (right rear) throughout the race. Whichever route you take, be sure to wear eye protection.

Racing snowshoes are not compulsory, but strongly recommended. Indeed, everything depends on the weather and the order of passage of the runners. Depending on the weather during the event, it is possible that the circuit is very hard and that the snowshoes are only useful for the last few runners. On the other hand, it is also possible that the circuit is difficult for all and that even the leading runners have to use them.

The events will be canceled only if the weather is considered to constitute a danger to the participants. In the event of difficult weather conditions, the course on the lake may be modified.

Your safety is one of our priorities. Snowmobile support teams will be responsible for closing the course, and patrollers will be on the trail throughout the event. Medical teams will be positioned at various points along the course. Evacuation sleds are part of our arsenal. A communication system allows us to know the position of the runners at regular intervals. Heated refreshment stations are located every 6 to 8 km along the route. Please note: it is vitally important that athletes comply with the mandatory equipment list. Participants will receive further information in the participant’s guide.

The Starlit, the 20 km and the Express are timed races.

Prizes will be awarded to the first three finishers in the following categories:

  • The Starlit / Men
  • The Starlit / Women
  • The Mishkumi / Men
  • The Mishkumi / Women
  • The Express / Men

Donations can be handled in three ways : In cash, by cheque or by credit card. In any case, tax receipts may be issued for donations of $20 or more.

For donations in cash or by cheque

First of all, ask the donor if he wants a tax receipt. If so, write down all the necessary information (complete name, address, postal code, phone number and email).

Then, send us the money using one of this method :

  1. Send cheques and informations by mail and make a postal voucher with the money (fees possible)
  2. Make a deposit in a financial institution using the foundations’ banking information (send us an email at info@pointedespieds.com to get them).
  3. Make an interac transfer at info@pointedespieds.com using the answer DONS at a password. If a donor wants a tax receipt, send us his information at info@pointedespieds.com.

For donations by credit card

Invite donors to make their donation online, on your profile.

To start the race, it is essential to have completed your fundraising campaign. Here are some tips to get there!

  • Update your profile on the CRYO Racing Events’ website : add a photo and explain why you are participating;
  • Be your first donor;
  • Regularly share your profile on your different social networks;
  • Make yourself an email signature that invites people to cheer you on in your On the Tip of the Toes campaign;
  • Do some reading about the On the Tip of the toes foundation. To obtain donations, you must know how to explain the cause;
  • Invite your employer to double the donations collected at work;
  • For your birthday or Christmas, encourage people to give you money for the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation instead of giving you a present;
  • Get people to talk about you: Take pictures during training and share them; Draw attention to your actions to collect donations, be colorful, be creative and share your photos; Create a short video of yoursefld that explains why you participate in CRYO Racing Events.

Up to the day before the event, in the event of force majeure (weather conditions preventing the event from taking place or the impossibility of holding an event due to health restrictions) forcing the CRYO Races organization to cancel the event, 50% of the registration fee may be refunded on request within a maximum of 30 days of the original event date. No reimbursement of entry fees will be authorized in the event of course modification or cancellation on the day of the event. In all cases, donations made on behalf of the On the Tip of the Toes Foundation will not be reimbursed.

During the races, in the event of weather conditions posing a risk to participants, the CRYO Races organization may stop or modify the race route. In such cases, runners arriving at a refreshment or control point must follow the instructions given by the volunteers and are obliged to respect them. No refund can be claimed.

Click here to read our complete cancellation policy.

Please contact CRYO@pointedespieds.com for all your concerns regarding registration. It will be our pleasure to guide you.