RESOURCES

MANDATORY GEAR UPDATE

At this time, there are no changes to the Mandatory Gear List. However, we draw your attention to the following key bits of information:

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• Packrafting equipment has been separated out from canoeing and kayaking to give you a clearer picture of what needs to be carried on packrafting stages.

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• We frequently get questions about the wetsuit requirement. Some competitors prefer to use ‘sharkskin’-style tops and bottoms as an alternative for better heat performance. However, teams should understand that the wetsuit requirement is not just about warmth. Wetsuits provide good warmth but also better protection against impacts, abrasion and they also assist with buoyancy. For these reasons, ALL teams must bring a wetsuit or Drysuit to Chapter 2 (farmer john-style is a great option). Teams are welcome to bring sharkskin-style clothing for use when the wetsuit is not a mandatory requirement. Wearing a wetsuit and sharkskin might not be a bad idea at times.

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PACKRAFTING  (PURE TEAMS ONLY)

In the past we have received a fair number of questions about packrafts and related equipment. Most teams seem to have got their heads around what types are good for adventure racing and the quality and quantity of available rafts continues to expand. For those new to Expedition AR, Please feel free to reach out and ask questions. Thought Sports are big fans of the MRS brand we have tested them over many years of racing and weekend trips. They are fast on the water and extremely reliable. Check out the range of MRS packrafts sold by our event partners Thought Sports here. 

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From our perspective, we’re not particularly interested in how fast/light your new raft is and how the sunlight seems to dazzle seductively off its custom paint job. What we care about is that teams are safe and that you all know how to use the rafts correctly. The following is a brief outline of things to consider when looking at packrafts. However, the number 1 piece of advice we’d give to newbies is to go and get some instruction first. 

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The reality is that the optimal packraft for this event may not be the best one for your personal travels, the next Chapter of ExpeditionAR, or any other race you may do around the globe. If you are going to buy a packraft then we would advise that you get the best quality that you can afford and one that is good for most water conditions, rather than a rather ‘specialist’ version. 

Packrafts with sprayskirts have some advantages in terms of water ingress and warmth. Those advantages are offset by cost and weight. A sprayskirt or cover is not a mandatory requirement but if it is cold, you may be thankful for having one. 

There are pros and cons of single versus double packrafts. The latter can be lighter overall for a team of four and possibly a bit quicker. However, those benefits are offset by the reduced flexibility of the rafts afterwards – in the sense that 4 singles could go home with 4 different people. 

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Teams should definitely ensure that their rafts are big enough to carry not only people but plenty of equipment too. Equipment needs to be stored on the rafts in a way that it does not impede access out of the raft in the case of a capsize. 

Backpacks should not be worn whilst rafting. They must be in the raft. Rafts need to be capable of coping with white water up to Grade III.

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Like most things at ExpeditionAR, skills go a long way to ensuring a safe and enjoyable adventure. We thoroughly recommend that teams spend a good deal of time in their rafts prior to the race to understand their strengths and, more importantly, their limitations. Teams wishing to skill-up or expedite their learning should definitely look into some of the training courses on offer.

Remember, it is our job to lay on a great adventure race and make sure that it operates smoothly with plenty of information. It is your job to ensure you turn up with the requisite skills. It will only add to your enjoyment and piece of mind.

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MAPS, HANDBOOK, ROUTE PLANNER & PASSPORT

Teams will use specially prepared maps that may vary from a scale of 1:10 000 to 1:50 000 (most will be standard 1:25 000). The magnetic declination in Victoria is roughly +12.7degrees.

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Unfortunately Victoria does not have a great option for accessing free topographical maps. They can be downloaded from this website for $8.50 each, or you can use other sites that give some data but are not topographical maps. 

Another good resource is Open topo map - https://opentopomap.org/

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All teams will be provided with two sets of topographical maps for the entire course. Both sets of maps are waterproof maps.
PURSUIT support crew will receive an additional set of maps. 

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A summary of what each team will receive (at least in terms of course related documents) is outlined below:

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• One week before the race starts an electronic Route Planner PDF will be emailed to team administrators that will provide a broad overview of the stages. This will be supplemented at Race Registration with:

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• Two sets of waterproof maps available for use on the course. Yep, no need for contact or laminate or have the inevitable crease running through the hardest part of nav on course. 

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•  An updated Route Planner in paper form that will give more details about stages, transition areas, other important locations, distances, approximate elevation gains and losses.

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•   One Team Handbook, that will give detailed information about stages, rules, penalties, particular safety requirements over and above generic considerations, dark zones, time cut offs and route specifics (the do’s and dont’s of the course). The Team Handbook also contains a very specific table for each stage outlining what mandatory gear is required to be carried on that specific stage. If there is a small contradiction between what is outlined in the Team Handbook and what is on the Mandatory Gear List on the website, then the Team Handbook is the one to follow. 

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The Mandatory Gear List on the website is just a generic catch all for the entire race and we will modify it to suit particular stages. For example, if you have a vanilla 2hr bike ride, we might remove some gear requirements such as carrying a tent and sleeping bags, as carrying them will not really make you any safer (which is really what mandatory gear is about – the bare necessity to survive, if you have to).

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•        Please note that the Team Handbook must be carried by the team at all times during the race. This is to ensure you have all the important information to hand when out on the course – such as the next time cut off which you are in danger of missing. The Team Handbook is on waterproof paper, but you will still need to cherish and care for it to make it last 7 days. 

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•    Every team will receive two Race CONTROL CARDS (looks like this, A6 size and the punch boxes look like this) which ARE made of waterproof paper. You will ‘punch’ your CONTROL CARD at each Checkpoint along the course and as you enter and again when you exit each Transition Area. You must submit one completed Control Card to officials at the finish. No completed Race Passport, no finish. We recommend that you ‘punch’ both Control Cards at all times and look after them carefully, using one as a back up. Some teams elect to have different people carry each passport to reduce the risk of loss or forgetting to punch. Your call.

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Teams may also be issued wrist bands on the course that require each team member to punch their band, This is to ensure each team member goes to the control - Not that we don't trust you. 

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