Anyone Do the Pisgah Stage Race?

[smmokan]

Did Trans BC Enduro this year, looking to mix it up next year and do a trail/XC based stage race that I need to train differently for. I've ridden a bunch in Pisgah and love the trails, so I thought it might be a fun (and tough) race. Has anyone here done it recently? Just looking for feedback on how it's run, insights, etc.

[XtrPickels]

I did it a few years ago, prior to Ryan taking over Blue Ridge Adventures, so my experience may not be current.

I thought it was run really well. Group dinner at the Music Center was a fun atmosphere, good time to get info, and decent food.
Stoke was high, felt more communal then some of the bigger races.
It was hot and dry for our year - swimming in the river after stages was delightful.

I liked the ability to stay central - not having to move camps. We stayed adjacent to REEB Ranch, which is where the last day party was, walked across the field to get there.
Courses were well marked, aid stations seemed fine, but I didn't use them much.

The hardest thing for me was adjusting to the terrain - Rocky and Rooty vs. our front range trails. This took me a few days, but I suspect you'll be much better off.
Stage length felt good. Long enough that it felt you like accomplished something, but not so long / hard that you were wasted for the next day. (Unlike Portugal which was a perpetual state of fatigue).
I thought the terrain was fun - seems like we got a great tour of the area. Onsighting on an XC bike was sporting at times, but really nothing inappropriate.