An open start line
At least 50% of the start slots are intended to be reserved for women and FLINTA* riders. Unused slots can later be released transparently.
Unsupported ultra gravel around Lake Constance
Shores & Switchbacks
A personal ultra gravel format between Lake Constance, the Bregenzerwald and the Nagelfluh range. Serious on the sporting side. Relaxed on the human side.
The ride is the excuse. Bringing people together is the point.
I have ridden several ultra events myself. One thing kept standing out: the longer the route, the calmer the people.
FormatUnsupported ultra gravel
StyleOpen roads, self-reliant and fair
WeekendRide, Base Camp and dotwatching
Why this exists
The event nobody knew was missing.
I never wanted to build just another gravel event. Shores & Switchbacks grew out of two observations. First: the longer the distance, the calmer the people. I have field-tested that theory often enough by now.
Second: my home region is exceptionally active, yet it barely appears on the ultra map. Lake Constance, the Bregenzerwald and the Nagelfluh range already bring everything you need. Lake, forest, mountains and enough climbing to make you briefly reconsider a few life choices.
Shores & Switchbacks is my attempt to turn that into something distinct. Not a closed-road race and not a loud spectacle, but a demanding unsupported format with personality and a real social core.
Hard on the bike. Easy to belong to.
The region
The landscape is not just a backdrop. It is part of the idea.
The route has not been published yet. Lake Constance, the Bregenzerwald and the Nagelfluh range are fixed. How they will be connected remains part of the route development.
The concept
Unsupported on the route. Connected at the Base Camp.
The unsupported character stays untouched. At the same time, the weekend around the ride can still feel warmer, more social and more welcoming.
On the route
Navigation, food, repairs and sleep remain your responsibility. No lead vehicles, no private support along the route, no shortcut around the unsupported idea.
At the Base Camp
Here it can be exactly the opposite: start, finish, conversations, families, friends, local clubs and people from the region. Everything is an offer. Nothing is compulsory.
The ride belongs to the participants. The weekend can still be good for everyone else.
Community
More than a start and a finish.
At its best, the ultra scene meets the region and sport meets family.
Families and friends
Partners, children, friends and dotwatchers should be able to find a place at the Base Camp too. Lake Constance is almost suspiciously good for that.
Clubs and region
Local clubs should, where it makes sense, become a real part of the weekend. Connection is more interesting than a wall of logos.
Ultra reality check
Sometimes community is simply a place to sit and something to eat.
That is roughly the altitude I am aiming for: ambitious on the bike, uncomplicated beside it.
Founding edition
Start small. Learn properly. Grow slowly.
If route, safety, organisation and partners come together in time, 2027 may become the first small edition. Deliberately limited, built to learn and close to the community.
2028 remains the target for the first fully developed edition. Shores & Switchbacks should stay deliberately exclusive and never grow through participant numbers alone.
Live tracking and a publicly visible leaderboard are clearly part of the concept. No one should suffer anonymously.
Disclaimer
Open rulebook
Anyone starting Shores & Switchbacks rides entirely at their own risk. The full version is in the rulebook.
Contact
Want to ride, contribute or help shape it?
For questions, partnerships, updates and genuine interest, Shores & Switchbacks can be reached directly.