Sadler’s Ultra Challenge, now known as The Alaska Challenge, is a wheelchair and handcycle race organized by Challenge Alaska between Fairbanks and Anchorage. It is described as the world’s longest wheelchair race [1].
| Organizer | Challenge Alaska |
|---|---|
| Route | Fairbanks to Anchorage |
| Distance | 267 miles (430 km), eight stages, six days |
| Held | Annually in July |
| Began | 1984 as the Midnight Sun Ultra Challenge |
History
According to Wikipedia, the race started in 1984 as the Midnight Sun Ultra Challenge, when founder Don Brandon and his friend Tom Carnhan raced wheelchairs from Fairbanks to Anchorage. Brandon wanted to honor his two brothers, who had intellectual disabilities, and to show what people with disabilities could accomplish [1].
Names
The race was later renamed Sadler’s Ultra Challenge and then Sadler’s Alaska Challenge, after the sponsor Sadler’s Home Furnishings, whose name it carried from 1996 to 2014. A virtual race was held in 2020 [1].
Course and divisions
The race covers 267 miles (430 km) in eight stages and takes six days to complete. It is held annually in July. Divisions include Men’s Handcycle (with A, B, and C classes), Men’s Wheelchair, and Women’s Handcycle [1].
FAQs
What is Sadler’s Ultra Challenge? A wheelchair and handcycle race between Fairbanks and Anchorage, now called The Alaska Challenge [1].
How long is the race? 267 miles (430 km) over eight stages and six days [1].
When did it begin? In 1984, as the Midnight Sun Ultra Challenge [1].
Sources
Key facts
- 267 miles in eight stages
- Began in 1984
Quick checkWhat is the Alaska Challenge?Show answer
A 267-mile wheelchair and handcycle race from Fairbanks to Anchorage held each July since 1984.
Sources
- Wikipedia. The Alaska Challenge (Sadler Ultra Challenge) (accessed 2026-11-14)
Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 14, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue