SKMC Fall Race Updates

-RACE UP DATE 10-11-12

Racers, while there will be water for general use and drinking at Nordic,  the DNR has the water off at Rice lake.   So plan on having enough food and drink for at least a 6-7 hour period  once we leave Nordic.   As stated below,  I will allow all teams, if they wish, to drop a small amount of food and drink at Rice lake before the race meeting.   Keep it to a 20-30 gallon garbage bag size.   Have the bag well labeled with your team name on it.   

Mountain Biking......even with the rain, I am requiring all teams to bring their Mt bikes and to be ready to bike off road somewhere.   No fast road bikes please.   More will be explained at the race meeting.  Thanks

Race Up Date 10-10-12

Hello Adventure Racers.   I spent the day in the woods

and things are looking good.    A bit cooler but with

running around , I felt warm.   Colors look nice.   It looks like we may have some rain on Saturday so make sure you guys dress for it.   Good thing adventure racers are tough!    At least it sounds like it will be in the 60s , which is good. Remember , the maps are not waterproof.    A few last notes:

The navigation clinic for beginners is at 4pm Friday at race start or Nordic shelter.   If you can make it, this clinic will help you out. Take advantage of  it, its FREE,  Bring your compass.

If you are bringing your own canoe, make sure you get it to the Rice lake boat landing before the 6am meeting.  After the meeting, you will not have time. I will have red cones out there so you know where to drop your canoe by the shelter.   I will also have a cable out there so you can lock your canoe.

Teams may have a small DROP BAG of food and drink at the shelter if you wish.   Make sure its well labeled.

Speaking of locks.   At  one point in the race, you will be biking to a place in the woods and we will need you to lock your bike to a tree, if you are worried about your bike.    All other areas and TAs  should have volunteers there.   

For racers who need either a trail pass for the mt. biking trails or passes for their vehicle, I will have the passes at Nordic.   4$ for a trail pass and 7$ for your vehicle,   If you are out of state, that 7$ fee is then

10$.   These are one day fees charged by the forest.

If you can, bring exact change.

NORDIC IS A NICE SHELTER BUT IS SHORT ON PICNIC TABLES AND CHAIRS.   IF YOU WOULD LIKE , BRING A CHAIR FOR YOURSELF DURING THE MEETING AND AFTER THE RACE.   THANKS.

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING ALL OF YOU SOON. SEE YOU BRIGHT AND EARLY AT NORDIC.

ANDY AND THE  WARS TEAM.

Race Up Date 9-28-2012

Hello Racers. We added one more item to the gear list.

I would like all bikes to have a red blinking light on the rear that we would like to see on at all times while on the road.    Thank You

For the paddle,  there will be a 100 yard portage between lakes.   Your  canoe must be carried , no wheels please.  Also for those 3 person teams,  you will be all in one  canoe so it may be a good idea to bring a boat cushion or similar for the middle person to sit on.

Race Up Date 9-1-2012

Hello Everyone

Well the weather is finally getting cooler and the trees

are turning.   Great time of year to be racing. Race

registration is going well.  Just a few items to mention.

This race is open to all team configurations but if your

team want to race the 1st Basis Race Series, then your

team must be co-ed.   Either 2 person co ed, 3 person

co-ed or 4 person co-ed.   Go to the side link for the series for more info.     All other team configurations such as same gender and solos will be in the OPEN divison.

A few teams asked  about the bikes for the race.  This race will have single track and on road biking.  Most racers like to use Mt. bikes with thinner or faster tires.

Racers may use any type of bike but only   1  bike per racer.

Teams asked about the canoes. If you are a 3 person team, go 3 in a canoe.  If you are a 4 person team, you must use two canoes.  Safer than putting all 4 in one canoe.  Thanks for working with us on that.    You may rent a canoe , go to the registration link for more info. 

If you are bringing your own canoe,  this canoe must be either of the recreational design or touring design. No racing canoes please.  If you are renting, your canoe will be at the canoe launch already.   You may bring your own pfds and paddles if you wish.  

If you are bringing your own canoe, you must drop your canoe at the RICE LAKE SHELTER area. This canoe drop must be done SATURDAY MORNING BEFORE THE RACE MEETING. Make sure you give yourself time to do this.    Directions to Rice lake will be on the directions link.   I will have a sign for the canoe drop at the Rice Lake shelter.

A few teams asked about the navigation.   There will be 3 nav maps.   The maps are of my own design.  They have been field checked  and up dated version of a better Topo.  Map scale will be on the maps.  Your team will be able to see the map scales at the race meeting.

Any beginning team or team in need of navigation help,  I will host a small beginners clinic at the north end of the state forest but your team must contact me at  :  andygmac61@gmail.com  if your team wants this.      I will host this clinic Friday night only.

Look forward to seeing all of you soon.   Andy and the

WARS team.

UP DATE

   Again, packet pickup is 5am-5:45am at Nordic shelter and pre race meeting is 6am-6:45am and race starts at 7am.   IMPORTANT - Your team will be  dropping  off canoes and canoe gear  at the Rice lake boat launch, I will have directions to Rice lake on the directions link.   If you are renting canoes , your canoe and paddles and pfds will already be there when you arrive during the race, race will start at Nordic shelter.  The directions to Nordic are on the directions link.    

  There will be areas on the course to get water, one of the areas will be both Nordic and Rice lake, there is bathrooms there also. 

You may pack away your cell phones during the paddling section so there is no risk to them.

   Locks for gear is another topic, while we will have volunteers at most areas, we can not always be watching or responsible for lost gear.  We have never had a problem with this, but we will require you  to bring both a lock for your bike and canoe, esp your canoe.  After you use your canoe at Rice lake, the canoe will be left unattended at times until you pick it up after the race.   This is on DNR land and is pretty secure, but i will have a cable by the shelter at Rice lake if you want to lock it after the race.  Thanks for working with us on this.  There will be one spot during the race where you will have to lock your bike.

   Double check the GEAR list again to make sure your team has everything on the list.  

    For those of you who  need State Park stickers for their cars and Trail passes for the mt. biking,  i will have envelopes for both at Nordic or if you are coming to the state forest Friday night, the station at Ottawa lake which is at the north end of the state forest, will be open until 10pm Friday.  Make sure you have them date the mt bike pass for Saturday the 13th.

    Navigation beginners clinic :   If you feel like your team really needs some navigation help, then contact me at andygmac61@gmail.com  and i will see about having a small clinic Friday night but the location of that clinic will be closer to the northern side of the southern kettle moraine forest....Thanks.

  Well that should do it, I look forward to seeing all of you on Saturday !!!    Andy and the WARS team.

 VOLUNTEERS

   While we do our best to always be well staffed during the race, we dont mind having a few more souls helping us out, so , if you have any friends coming out to watch the race and would like to volunteer , we have some simple jobs if they are interested , like taking times and such.  just let me know at andygmac61@gmail.com  Thanks.    Andy

UP Date         

  RENTAL  CANOES FROM  TIP- A- CANOE RENTAL

Any racer who wishes to rent a canoe, please notice the registration link.   Rental cost is 45$ per canoe.  Their cost not mine.   The canoes are aluminum and they will

provide paddles and PFDs also, however if you would rather use your own paddles and PFDs, that will be fine.   Just bring your gear to the race start and we will make sure your paddle gear will be at the canoe put in.

If you are renting, you will NOT have to shuttle your canoe to the put in.  The canoe company will deliver your canoe and pick it up.   ,Plese add the 45$  to your registration cost and I will make sure your team will have a rental canoe for the race.   These canoes are first come ,first served, so the sooner I know that your team needs a canoe, the better chance that we can get your team one.  Thank You