GRAAR Race Information and Rules
TEAMS: This race has been organized to be run by teams of 2 or 3. Racers may race in either the coed, male or female categories. All racers must be at least 18 years old. The teams must consist of the same two or three members throughout the race and team members must stay together and complete the entire course together for the team to be officially ranked. All members of the team should be in good physical condition and be of reasonable health. All racers will be required to complete a medical form at registration to verify this. This race is an unsupported race.
There will NOT be a mandatory gear check at check in. Any items listed on the mandatory gear list may be checked for on the course. Teams missing items from the list will not be allowed to continue on the course.. Maps will be pre-marked with the course. At least one member of each team should be familiar with the following: Familiarity with a 1:24/25,000 topographical map The race package given to each team will include all maps required
for the race, course description with the grid coordinates for all
checkpoints and transition areas, and a "passport." The
passport must be carried at all times by the competitors during
the race. The course description is practically the most important piece of information given during the race briefing. It will include brief descriptions of particular obstacles to watch for throughout the course and a list of all checkpoints on the course. The race course and checkpoints will be marked on the maps. It is the responsibility of each team to determine the route they wish to follow. Newer supplementary maps may be provided due to the age of the topographical maps. Some of the checkpoints given will also be labeled as transition areas. THE RACE COURSE: The course will pass through a series of checkpoints. Teams must travel through all mandatory checkpoints in the order specified by race management. There may also be additional OPTIONAL checkpoints in which teams will have to decide whether or not to get. At each checkpoint the team must check in and have their passport signed and time stamped by race staff or punched using the orienteering punch located at the marker. At the end of the race each team must show their passport to race management to verify that it has been signed or punched at all checkpoints and that they were reached in the specified order. Any team that did not pass through all mandatory checkpoints in order will not be included in the official rankings. Although each team is free to select the route they feel is most appropriate for the majority of the race, certain sections of the course will include instructions for a mandatory route (for safety reasons or to preserve certain environmentally sensitive areas). Teams that do not follow the mandatory route may be disqualified. Certain roads or trails may be defined as off limits. Use of these roads is also means for disqualification. The entire course may or may not be given to teams at the race briefing. Sections of the course may be revielled to teams at selcected mandatory checkpoints. Race management reserves the right to make changes to the course during the race due to unforeseen circumstances such as inclement weather. Any changes made will be communicated to all teams as soon as is reasonable and will be done as equitably as possible for all teams. TIMING: There will be one official race clock for the entire race and all teams. The clock will start at the moment the race director designates and will remain running for a maximum of the race's official length. The official time for each team will be recorded when all team members reach the checkpoint or finish line. If a team receives a time penalty for a violation of the race rules and regulations, the duration of their time penalty will be added to their finishing time. In so doing, the order that teams cross the finish line will not represent the official rankings and results. Certain cut-off times may be established for later sections on the course. If teams do not reach these points by the cut-off time established, it is assumed that it will not be possible for them to complete the entire course within the maximum 6 hours allowed. Due to the shorter nature of this race, any team not making a time cut off will have an alternate course or returned to race headquarters. All cut-off times will be communicated at the race briefing and will be listed in the course instructions provided in the race package. TEAM RANKINGS: The first team to have all members cross the finish line and have passed through all checkpoints will be the winners. Teams must turn in their passport for verification that they reached all checkpoints. Any team without their passport or without all team members will not be ranked. If there's optional checkpoints on the course, teams that choose to obtain these checkpoints will be ranked higher than those that choose not to as long as they meet all cut off times and finish the entire course in the 6 hours. Additionally, any team utilizing outside assistance to reach the finish line will not be ranked. EQUIPMENT: Teams will be required to supply their own food and drink during the entire race. The Mandatory Equipment List specifies the minimum gear required to compete in a GRAAR adventure Race. The list has been established to ensure safe travel throughout the course. If there is room for discretion as to whether or not certain equipment is required, we have left it off the list. In so doing, teams are left to make their own decisions about what will be the appropriate equipment to get them to the finish line in the fastest and safest way. There is NO room for discretion with the items included on the Mandatory Equipment List. Any team found without the mandatory equipment during the race may be disqualified from the race and removed from the course. Any gear issued to teams is to be considered mandatory gear. There will be multiple gear checks during the race to ensure all teams are carrying the required equipment. Please note, the equipment list is subject to change. GRAAR will endeavor to inform teams of any changes as they arise. MANDATORY EQUIPMENT: Refer to the Gear Page for the equipment list. PROVIDED EQUIPMENT: Certain items on the mandatory gear list will be provided by the GRAAR (as marked on the list). These items must remain with the team for the duration of the section they are assigned for and must be returned to race staff at the end of the section in good condition. Damage to any equipment provided by race management, beyond a reasonable level of wear and tear, may result in a time penalty or disqualification and the team will be responsible for paying for the damages. Personal Paddles - Teams may NOT use their own paddles to be used in the paddling sections. FORBIDDEN EQUIPMENT: The following is a list of equipment that is forbidden during the race. Any team possessing any of these items will be disqualified from the race: G.P.S. devices SAFETY: Each team is required to have a working cell phone that
must be carried at all times during the race. The cell phone will
be in a sealed bag, in the event of an emergency, the team must
use the phone to contact race management and rescue procedures will
be set in motion. By using the phone, however, the team will be
disqualified from the official race rankings and will not be allowed
to continue on the course. If a team comes in contact with another team that is in an emergency situation they are required to stop and help. Failure to help another team requiring emergency assistance may result in disqualification. Teams that do offer assistance in emergency situations may be awarded a time bonus. Weather conditions may restrict safe travel for certain sections of the course. Race management reserves the right to make changes to the course or restrict travel on certain sections due to weather conditions. It is mandatory that all team member’s wear an approved life jacket at all times during the paddling sections of the course. Similarly, it is mandatory that all team member’s wear a mountain bike helmet at all times during the mountain bike section. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. WITHDRAWAL FROM THE RACE: Teams may only voluntarily withdraw from the competition at designated transition areas, with the exception of injury situations. Any team that voluntarily withdraws from the race must be transported back to the finish line by their support or by race management. Race management must be notified of all team withdrawing from the race. We don't want to be searching for team that decided to quit and go home. If only one member of a team withdraws and the remainder of the team wishes to continue on the course, they may only do so with specific permission from race management. From that point forward, the team will not be officially ranked. Race management reserves the right to issue a time penalty to any team wishing to continue unranked. This would be done to prevent unranked teams from interfering with the progress of officially ranked teams. PENALTIES: Race management reserves the right to issue time penalties to teams, disqualify teams from the official rankings or remove teams from the course if they are in violation of any of the rules and regulations of the race. The severity of the penalty will be depend on the severity of the violation and will be decided by a judging panel. The following is a list of violations:
PRIZES: Top finishers in each division will be recognized at the
awards ceremony. All racers in attendance at the closing ceremony
will be entered in the random drawings for some awesome gear prizes
from our sponsors. Contact Michael Boks (michael@graar.org) if you have any questions regarding this race. |