How a Saval challenge works
The rules of the road — separate from the Community Guidelines, which cover conduct rather than challenge mechanics.
Challenge types
Saval runs four kinds of challenges, and only one of them carries a fee structure:
- Custom — short-term and self-paced. Build one from scratch, or pick a ready-made one from Saval's Wizard's Warehouse. Open and fun for anyone to join, no commitment attached.
- Iconic — a short-term challenge that emulates a real, famous feat — climbing Kilimanjaro, for example — matched to the same real-world metrics but completed in your own local setting. Also open and fun for everyone, no commitment attached.
- Team — form or join a team, and your team's combined total is weighed against other teams'. Built for friendly competition, no commitment attached.
- Annual — the year-long challenge, with its own commitment structure described below.
Allowed activities
With over 48 activities to choose from, there's a way for everyone to participate, no matter your ability:
- Outdoor — running, walking, hiking, trail running, road and mountain/gravel cycling, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, rock climbing, skiing, and snowboarding, and more.
- Indoor — indoor cycling, rowing, elliptical, weightlifting, CrossFit, yoga, Pilates, HIIT, dance, and virtual ride, run, or row sessions.
- Sports — basketball, soccer, tennis, pickleball, badminton, volleyball, squash, racquetball, and table tennis.
Adaptive options like handcycling and wheelchair activities are included too — Saval is built to cover all abilities. Not every activity counts toward every metric — see the full activities & eligibility guide for exactly which of Distance, Elevation, or Duration each one qualifies for.
Before you start
- A smart device or fitness tracker
- A free Strava or Garmin account
- Your device paired and authorized through Connected Apps & Devices in the app
If you're doing the Annual challenge
Custom and Iconic challenges are open and fun for everyone, with nothing riding on them. The Annual (year-long) challenge works differently: it runs on a quarterly rhythm, with a small commitment attached to staying on track.
- A $10 contribution for each quarter a goal is not met
- A $30 contribution if the full-year goal is not met
- An additional $30 contribution if at least one quarterly goal was also missed
- A $50 early-exit contribution if you leave before Q1 ends (March 31)
- An emergency exit is available with your chapter lead's approval
These contributions are collected and donated to a charity selected by your challenge group — they exist to keep the group accountable to each other, not as a penalty Saval keeps. We are not involved in policing participants' activity; this is an honor-based challenge.
Honor system and waiver
Saval does not independently verify the accuracy of submitted activity data. Participation must comply with Strava's Community Standards. We recommend consulting a physician before starting a new activity program. There are no prizes for finishing a challenge — the goal is the habit, not the competition. By participating, you accept full responsibility for your own safety and release Saval from liability for injuries arising from your participation, consistent with our Terms of Use.