Frequently asked questions
Real answers about how challenges work, day to day — from enrollment through the data that tracks your progress. If you don't see what you need, the contact form at the bottom reaches our support team directly.
Getting started
When does the challenge begin and end?
The annual challenge runs January 1 through November 30, divided into three quarters, plus two additional months at the end of the year.
What are the types of challenges?
Four types: Custom (self-paced, build your own), Iconic (a themed challenge matched to a real feat, like climbing Kilimanjaro), Team (your team's total weighed against other teams'), and Annual (the year-long challenge, with its own commitment structure). Custom, Iconic, and Team are free to join — only Annual requires Premium or Premium Plus. See the full breakdown.
Can I track more than one metric in the Annual challenge?
Within the Annual challenge specifically, you may select up to two metric tracks, but they must be different (for example, Elevation and Distance). This is separate from joining other challenge types — you can also take part in Custom, Iconic, and Team challenges alongside your Annual challenge.
How do I join?
Join Saval for free to try Custom, Iconic, or Team challenges right away — no payment needed. If you want the Annual challenge, upgrade to Premium or Premium Plus first, then enroll from there.
What do I need to take part?
A smart device or watch, an account with one of Saval's supported fitness platforms (Garmin, Apple, Google, Strava, Wahoo, RideWithGPS, and more — check the app for the complete list), and the motivation to show up.
Can I join after enrollment opens, partway through the year?
Annual challenge enrollment closes January 15. After that, Saval offers truncated annual challenges you can join starting in the second quarter (Q2), with your end-of-year goals adjusted proportionally for the shorter window.
Can I switch my challenge type after enrolling?
Yes, during the cooling-off period, which ends January 30. After that date you're locked into the challenge type you've chosen for the rest of the year.
Can I change to a higher or lower challenge mid-year?
No — once enrolled and past the cooling-off period, you cannot move to a higher or lower challenge level.
Is there a limit to the number of participants in each tier?
There's no limit to the number of participants in each tier. Enrollment does close on January 15 each year, mainly to keep volunteer coordination manageable.
Can my teenager participate?
Saval accounts require you to be 18 or older. Participants under 18 can join in-person events only when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, who holds the account and completes registration on their behalf.
Is Saval available outside the US?
We're active in the US and India, and actively expanding. If you're a community leader anywhere and want to start a chapter, we can help.
The free-to-join challenge types
How do I form a team?
Create your own team and invite others to join — Custom, Iconic, and Team challenges are all self-serve like that.
How are team totals compared?
Everyone on the team logs activity toward the same metric, and the team's combined total is weighed against other teams' totals.
Is there a size limit on teams?
Yes, though it varies by team challenge — check the specific challenge for its limit.
What happens if a teammate drops out?
Nothing formal — Team challenges run on the honor system and are meant to be fun, not strictly enforced. If someone drops, the team just carries on without their contribution.
How is a Custom challenge different from just tracking on my own?
It gives you a real goal and progress tracking inside the app, instead of just logging activity with nothing to work toward — and you can share your progress with peers in the app or on social media.
Can I make a Custom challenge private, just for my friends?
Yes — you can create a Custom challenge just for your friend group, or even a solo challenge where you're the only participant.
What's in the Wizard's Warehouse?
Curated Custom challenges built by Saval — if you don't have time to create your own, just tap to join one instead.
Is there a limit on how long a Custom challenge can run?
The length varies by challenge, but Custom challenges are usually short-term — often 1 to 3 weeks.
How does Saval turn climbing Kilimanjaro into something I do locally?
All Iconic challenges are curated by Saval, matched to the real-world distance or elevation of the famous feat — you complete the equivalent effort wherever you are.
Can I suggest the next Iconic challenge?
Not today — Iconic challenges are all curated by Saval, and there's no way to submit suggestions yet.
Do I get anything for finishing an Iconic challenge?
Yes — you earn badge recognition and get listed on the Roster/leaderboard.
Are there adaptive options for wheelchair users or limited mobility?
Yes — Saval supports adaptive activities like handcycling and wheelchair tracking. See the full activities and eligibility guide for details.
I'm a total beginner — which challenge type should I start with?
Start with a Custom or Team challenge — they're free, flexible, and a good way to see how Saval works before committing to the Annual challenge.
Do I have to pay to try anything?
No — joining Saval is free, and Custom, Iconic, and Team challenges don't cost anything either. Only the Annual challenge requires Premium or Premium Plus.
How goals, penalties, and exceptions work
Everything below is specific to the Annual challenge — Custom, Iconic, and Team challenges don't carry a fee or penalty structure.
If I do more than the minimum for the quarter, can I carry the extra over to the next one?
Carryover isn't allowed. Extra effort in one quarter doesn't roll forward — but it does help you reach your end-of-year goal.
Why is the minimum quarterly target less than 25% of the end-of-year goal?
It's set below a straight quarter share so participants can hit the minimum needed to avoid a penalty even in a lighter quarter — the design rewards consistency, not just total volume.
I'm in multiple challenges — can I mix target goals across them?
No. You need to meet the goal requirements for each challenge you're participating in individually.
What if I have a family emergency or injury?
Let your chapter lead or org lead know. You can exit without penalty for the current quarter or any future quarter.
Are e-bikes allowed?
No — e-bikes and e-scooters are not allowed in Saval challenges.
How will penalty money be collected and used?
Saval follows up with members who don't meet their goals to collect the agreed contribution. After covering expenses, funds collected go toward supporting and encouraging participation in other non-Saval events run by nonprofit organizations.
When do we settle penalty dues?
The payment settlement deadline is December 5. Exact process communicated by chapter leads each season — check with your chapter lead for this season's specific instructions rather than waiting on a general announcement.
When is the celebration party?
The celebration party for participants and their families is tentatively held the first weekend of December each year. Confirmed date announced closer to the date — your chapter lead or the app will have the exact date once it's locked in for the season, rather than a fixed date being set this far in advance.
What if activity data is added by mistake — for example, someone forgot to stop a tracker?
Occasionally discrepancies happen. If someone flags this to you, respond respectfully — either by explaining the activity or correcting it.
What if an activity is recorded on both the Strava app and a connected smartwatch?
That counts as a duplicate. Once the activity is synced, delete one of the two entries to avoid double-counting.
How Saval tracks your progress
How does Saval know I've met my quarterly and yearly goals?
Saval tracks your progress using data from your connected fitness devices — Strava, Garmin, and others.
What do I need to get my data into Saval?
Just an account with one of the fitness platforms Saval connects to — Garmin, Apple, Google, Strava, Wahoo, RideWithGPS, and more. Check the app for the complete list. A free account on any of them is enough; no paid subscription is required.
What information does Saval collect, and what can other members see?
Saval collects your activity and profile data from your connected fitness platform, primarily using fields like distance, elevation, time, watts, kilojoules, and activity type to calculate your progress against challenge goals.
Can Saval access private activities (set to "Only me")?
Only if you permit it. During Saval's authorization process, you choose which data to share.
Can Saval decline an activity submission?
Yes — Saval reserves the right to decline any activity that appears inaccurate, incomplete, or intentionally misleading.
I made a mistake during authorization. What do I do?
Re-authorize your connected devices or apps. If you run into issues, contact your chapter lead or Saval support.
I got an email to authorize a fitness platform, but I saw options to log in with Google or Facebook. Why?
Saval uses Google and Facebook as third-party tools for secure login to the Saval dashboard — this is separate from your fitness platform's data connection.
My fitness platform's email is different from my Google or Facebook profile. Is that a problem?
No — Saval does not use your connected fitness platform's account email for login, so this mismatch doesn't cause an issue.
My Saval registration email is different from my Google or Facebook email. Will it still work?
Yes — it's fine to have registered with a non-Gmail, non-Facebook email (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.). You'll use the link sent to whichever email you registered with.
What are my connected platform's privacy controls, and how do I set them?
Each platform lets you manage who sees your activities and data through its own privacy settings. Saval prioritizes user privacy and pulls only what it needs from whichever platform you connect.
How do I access my dashboard?
Use the Saval mobile app to monitor your progress and stay connected with the community. Make sure you've completed device authorization first, so the app can automatically pull your activity data. Prefer a browser? Your dashboard is also available at app.saval.org.
Is my data sold to advertisers?
No — see our Privacy Policy for exactly what we collect and how it's used.
Still have a question?
Reach our support team directly — send us a message.