Hello Racers

For 2008 ,I decided to put on just one race this year and more than likely go back to 2 races for 2009.   I am now concentrating on the 18 hour race course for this fall. October 11. 

Race will once again be a looped course.  I am working on a new map to be used for some night and day time navigation.  I  will be adding a fair amount of navigation to this race and am happy with how the maps are looking.   This race will also feature some night time mt. biking along with day time mt. biking, navigation , road biking , paddling and some running.   I will announce approximate distances at a latter time once we get closer to race date .   The start and finish of the race will be the Mackie Picnic area located in the Southern Kettle Moraine Forest .         

Team configuration will be 4 person co-ed of any mix and  2-person teams, MM, MF or FF.  The 2 person teams will compete against each other no matter what the gender and the 4 person co-ed teams will also be in their own division competing against each other.    Teams will use their own canoe. If you have a 4 person team, you could put all team members in one canoe , however  it may be faster to use 2 canoes.   There will be a slight handicap depending on how fast your canoe is.  Please bring your canoe to registration so I can handicap them.    Registration will be Friday , October 10th between 4:30-7:30 pm  and the mandatory race meeting will follow registration at 8pm at the Mackie Picnic area or start/finish area of the race.    To sign up for the race, please go back to the home page and go to the REGISTRATION LINK.

This is a non-supported race.  However you will need a SHUTTLE person to shuttle your canoes to and from the paddling section of the race.  Paddling will most likely be done near the middle of the race. There are a few ways to handle the shuttle.  The preferred method would be to bring along a friend to shuttle your canoe for your team. Once we get closer to race date, I will give a good estimate as to when the shuttle person will need to bring your canoe to the canoe landing so that your shuttle person will have time to do other things if they wish .The shuttle person would then have the rest of day to enjoy the forest .  For an additional $5, your shuttle person can join us at the finish for a  great meal.   The second way to shuttle your canoes would be to bring 2  vehicles to the race and leave one vehicle at the paddling section of the race.  After the paddle, your team would lock your canoe to that vehicle and then your team would continue with the rest of the race. The other vehicle would be at the  finish area of the race and you could drive back to the canoe launch afterwards to pick up your canoe and second vehicle.

The Mt. biking is single track and the SKM forest has some of the best single track mt. biking.  Only  1  bike per racer and I would recommend a mt. bike with fast trail tires or similar along with a good bike light on front and back of the bike.   However, your team may bring any kind of bike except a tandem.  Road biking sections will be on low traffic country roads.   Each racer will need a TRAIL pass dated for October 11th.  If you do not already have a trail pass, they may be obtained at OTTAWA LAKE ranger station.  The pass is inexpensive.   Your vehicle must also have a WI state park sticker. If your team does not already have a park sticker, this too may be obtained at Ottawa lake.  Directions to Ottawa lake will be on the directions link above.

The navigation MAY be a mix of any scaled map.  Expect different scaled maps.   I will let teams know at the meeting what scale the navigation maps will be.    Your team will NOT have to plot UTMs as the controls will already be plotted on the maps. Your job will be to find them. Some of the navigation may be challenging.  If your team is not as skilled in this area, that is ok.   The navigation courses are designed so that if your team can not find all of the control points in X amount of time, your team would take a time deduction after trying and then move on with the rest of the race.   More will be explained at the Friday night meeting.

At the Friday night meeting,  I will let racers know of areas where they can get water on the course. Racers may also leave both water and food at the paddling section of the race.

I look forward to seeing all my AR friends again and want to THANK all returning racers.  There has been plenty of early interest in this race and I will do my part to put on a challenging event.

One last note.  Anyone who would like to volunteer during the race to help out a little, please contact me at andy_mac9@msn.com . Or if you are the shuttle person on someone's team and would like to help take time splits, let me know.   The jobs are normally easy and it normally involves taking pictures and time splits.  Volunteers will receive a free meal at the end of the event and a great t-shirt.

THANK YOU...............Andy