|
RULES AND REGULATIONS
A. THE ORGANIZERS
The Ultimate Adventure Races Series is organized and staged by
Ultimate Sports Association Inc. Race management reserves the
right to add, modify, replace or cancel venues or events at any
time. Race Management reserves the right to make changes and
amendments to the rules and regulations at any time. In the
event that changes are made, race management will contact all
registered teams with the updates so that they may make the
appropriate adjustments to their preparations for the race.
B. TEAMS
Championship Division
Each team must consist of four members, of which at least one
must be male and one must be female.
Open Division
Coed
Each team must consist of three members, of which at least one
must be male and one must be female.
All Male
Each team must consist of three members, of which all must be
male.
All Female
Each team must consist of three members, of which all must be
female.
Masters
Each team must consist of three members, of which all must be
45+ years of age.
All Divisions
All teams members must be over the age of 18. The team must
consist of the same members throughout the race and all members
must stay together and complete the entire course in 12 or 36
hours together for the team to be officially ranked. All members
of the team must be in good physical condition and be of
reasonable health.
For Ultimate Adventure races, each team must also have a support
crew of one or two people, and each support crew must have a
vehicle suitable for rough roads (although 4 wheel drive is not
required) and the capacity to transport the team and all their
gear to the start line. The support crew is then expected to
transport all team gear to the transition areas where they will
remain until their team passes through. Note: Teams requesting
and fully paying for the 'unsupported' option are not required
to have support crew.
C. REGISTRATION
To be considered a registered team, the team captain must submit
all required paperwork and full payment for the race on or
before the stated deadline date (two weeks prior to the start of
the race). If all paperwork and full payment is not received by
this date the team may be forced to forfeit their spot in the
race and a portion of their payment ($200.00) as a non
refundable down payment. If the race registration is not sold
out after the deadline date and race management is able to
accommodate the team, it will try to do so. If circumstances
exist that require a team to make their final payment after the
deadline and they have informed Race Management and received
approval, that payment must come in the form of a certified
check, money order or credit card.
If a team is unable or chooses not to participate, the
nonrefundable down payment may be transferred to another race up
until 4 weeks before the race the team is currently registered
for.
Race Management reserves the right to restrict access to the
race for any team without an explanation. Entry into the race is
handled on a first-come, first-serve basis only if the applying
teams are approved by race management. Race management also
reserves the right to remove any team from the registered team
list should race management feel that team will not be suitably
prepared for the event or may act in a way that will be harmful
to themselves, other participants (including but not limited to
competitors, volunteers, media and staff) or the event as a
whole. In this situation the team will be notified immediately
upon finalization of the decision and their full entry fee will
be refunded. Note, the entry fee will not be refunded if the
team chooses not to compete, but only in situations where race
management refuses a team from the race.
Each team must check in for registration at basecamp prior to an
Ultimate Adventure Race. At this point, race management will
verify with the team captain that all paperwork is in order. The
paperwork required includes:
* completed and signed medical forms from each team member
(including support crew);
* Proof of Insurance (If no personal insurance is had a
credit card will be needed at registration)
* signed waivers from each team member (including support
crew);
* full payment of entrance fee for the team and complete
contact information for each team member;
* signed image release forms from each team member
(including support crew).
Once all paperwork has been completed, each team must pass
through a mandatory gear check. All items listed on the
mandatory gear list will be checked. Teams missing items from
the list will not be allowed to compete. Teams will be given
until the close of registration to pass the mandatory gear
check.
Note: Teams will not be allowed to compete unless all contact
information for all participants on the team is complete and
accurate.
One member of the team will also be required to pass a
navigation test. That member must demonstrate the following:
All Divisions
* familiarity with a topographical map;
* familiarity with a compass and declination;
* familiarity with triangulation.
Championship Divisions
* familiarity with UTM grid system (6 digit grid
coordinates);
If the particular race includes rope sections, each team member
will then be required to demonstrate a basic understanding of
rappelling techniques.
No other skills will be tested in registration (unless otherwise
noted on the specific race page) for the Ultimate Adventure
races, although it is expected that all team members are
familiar with each discipline of the race.
Clinics will be run on the day of registration in all
disciplines of the race.
D. RACE BRIEFING
Following registration, all team members must attend the race
briefing prior to all Ultimate Races. The race briefing will
consist of a description of some of the obstacles and challenges
on the course and a question and answer period.
The race package given to each team will include all maps
required for the race (including maps for the support crew),
course instructions 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 maps provided in the race package are the only maps
permitted on the course. Any team found using maps other than
those provided may be disqualified from the race.
The course instructions will include brief descriptions of
particular obstacles to watch for throughout the course and a
list of checkpoints on the course. Each checkpoint will be
denoted by a 6-digit UTM grid coordinate. In the Championship
Division the racecourse and checkpoints will not be marked on
the maps. It is the responsibility of each team to correctly
plot the coordinates of all checkpoints on the map as well as
determine the route they wish to follow. Some of the checkpoints
given will also be labeled as transition areas. These areas are
the only points at which teams will be allowed to meet up with
their support crews. In the Open Divisions the racecourse and
checkpoints will be marked on the maps. If an Open Division
Team would like to plot the coordinates of all checkpoints on
the map, they must make this known at the time of their
registration.
E. THE RACE COURSE
The racecourse will start at an undisclosed location. The course
will cover roughly 45 miles for Open Division Teams and approx.
60 miles for Championship Division teams and pass through a
series of checkpoints. The actual distance of each course will
vary depending in the terrain. Ultimate Race courses are
designed with 12 hours of racing in mind, not how many miles it
takes to cover them. Teams must travel through all checkpoints
in the order specified by race management. At each checkpoint
the team must check in. It is the team's responsibility to
ensure that an official time is recorded for their team at that
checkpoint.
Any team that did not pass through all checkpoints in order will
not be included in the official rankings. If a team misses a
checkpoint they will be allowed to backtrack to reach it, but
must still pass through all subsequent checkpoints in order,
even if they had already visited those checkpoints (e.g., If you
are at checkpoint 10 and realize you missed checkpoint 7, you
will be allowed to backtrack to checkpoint 7 but must then pass
back through checkpoints 8, 9 and 10 to maintain status as an
officially ranked team).
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 will be
disqualified.
Race management reserves the right to make changes to the course
during the race due to unforeseen circumstances such as, but not
limited to, inclement weather, unforeseen safety conditions,
protection of sensitive ecological areas. 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.
If an Open Division Team would like to follow the route of the
Championship Division, they must make this known at the time of
their registration.
F. TIMING
There will be one official race clock for the entire race and
all teams. The clock will start at the sound of a horn at the
start line and will remain running until the predetermined
cutoff time for the race. The official time for each team will
be recorded when all members reach the checkpoint or finish
line.
Certain cutoff times will be established for sections on the
course. If teams do not reach these points by the cutoff time
established it is assumed that it will not be possible for them
to complete the entire course within the maximum time allowed.
At this point, these teams will be moved ahead on the course by
vehicle or show another route to a later section so that they
may cross the finish line. These teams will not be ranked ahead
of a team that did not miss the cutoff times. All cutoff times
will be communicated at the race briefing and will be listed in
the course instructions provided in the race package.
For Ultimate Adventure races, the racecourse will remain open
for 2 additional hours after the 12 hour allowable time to allow
most teams to have the feeling of crossing the finish line.
Only teams reaching the finish line within 12 hours will be
considered ranked and receive points toward the series points
standings. In our 36 hour race the course will remain open for
an additional 4 hours so that most teams may experience crossing
the finish line. Only those crossing the line after completing
the full course in under 36 hours will be considered a ranked
team.
G. CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION vs. OPEN DIVISIONS
All Ultimate Adventure races will include Advanced Sections.
This will be a series of extra checkpoints of the race involving
one or more disciplines. The Championship teams are required
to complete these sections for official ranking. Open teams
will be required to complete the standard 12 or 36 hour race
course for an official ranking. Championship teams are also
expected to plot the race course using UTM coordinates. Open
teams will be given pre-plotted maps of the course. Open
division teams are permitted to participate in all Ultimate
Adventure Races under the same format as the Championship
Teams. However, no preference to ranking will be given to these
teams. Prior approval from Race management must be given for an
Open team to participate under the Championship Division format.
H. TEAM RANKINGS
The first team to have all members cross the finish line and
have passed through all checkpoints in order within 12 or 36
hours will be the winners (assuming there are no time penalties
to remove them from the aforementioned situation). All teams
finishing the race will be ranked ahead of any team not
finishing the race. If two or more teams finished at the same
checkpoint (such as the finish line) they will be ranked
according to arrival time at the CP. Any team proceeding with
only a portion of its original members will be ranked according
to the furthest checkpoint they reached as a complete team. If
you finish the course after the 12 or 36 hour time limit your
team will have an official finish but will not be ranked.
I. RACE JERSEYS AND SPONSORSHIP
All team members must wear the Ultimate Adventure Race jersey
provided at all times during the race. It must be worn as the
outer layer (so it is in plain sight at all times) and may not
be altered in any way. Removing any race logos from the jersey,
covering logos or adding logos may result in disqualification
from the race. All team members must also have a number plate
(provided) attached to the front of their mountain bike at all
times during the bike sections. Teams are free to wear any other
items or logos for their team sponsors provided they do not
interfere with the Ultimate Adventure Race event sponsor logos.
J. SUPPORT CREWS
For Ultimate Adventure races, each team must also have a support
crew of one or two people, and each support crew must have a
vehicle suitable for rough roads (although 4 wheel drive is not
required) and the capacity to transport the team and all their
gear to the start line. Support vehicles may not be trailers in
tow nor can they be over 25 feet in length. The support crew is
then expected to transport all team gear to the transition areas
where they will remain until their team passes through.
Note: Teams requesting and fully paying for the 'unsupported'
option are not required to have support crew.
K. EQUIPMENT
Teams and support crews will be required to supply their own
food and drink for the entire race. Teams will also be
responsible for the supply and handling of all equipment
required for the race, unless otherwise noted in the Mandatory
Gear List provided for each race (equipment provided by race
management).
The Mandatory Equipment List specifies the minimum gear required
to compete in an Ultimate Adventure Race. The list has been
established to ensure safe travel throughout the course. Where
there is room for discretion as to whether or not certain
equipment is required we have left it off the list. In doing so,
teams are left to make their own decisions about what will be
the appropriate equipment to get them to the finish line the
fastest and safest. 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. All
teams must pass a gear check at registration. There may also be
a gear check during the race to ensure all teams are carrying
the required equipment.
Any device or item that offers an unfair advantage to the team
possessing it, may also be deemed as forbidden. Please check
with event organizers prior to start of race if you have any
items that may be questionable. If it is decided that the item
will not be forbidden, event organizers will keep the query
confidential.
L. SAFETY
Teams are encouraged to help each other while on the course. No
penalty will be incurred for receiving assistance from another
team. 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. Teams will be fiscally
responsible for any safety/injury emergency evacuation.
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.
M. 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
crew. If a team voluntarily withdraws at an area other than a
transition area and it is not as a result of an injury or a
safety concern, they will be required to pay for the cost of
removing them from the course.
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. The remaining members
must remain at the transition area until the member withdrawing
is in the care of the team's support crew or race management and
the race management approves the continued travel by the
remaining members. 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. Also, race management
reserves the right to stop an unranked team at any time on the
course and not allow further progress, regardless of the
circumstances of the initial permission to continue on the
course unranked. Please note, no team will be allowed to
continue with less than 2 members.
N. 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 violate any of the rules and
regulations of the race. The severity of the penalty will be
depend on the severity of the offense and will be decided by
judges. A list of time penalties will be distributed at
registration.
O. ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
The Ultimate Adventure Race Series supports and is supported by
Adventure Racing For the Environment. In doing so, all races
follow the Adventure Racing Ecological Standards set forth by
the USARA. For a copy of such standards please contact Yi Shun
of ARFE at Yishunlai@aol.com.
All event participants must act in an environmentally
responsible manner at all times during an Ultimate Adventure
Race event, including during registration and pre-race
activities and post-race activities.
Any team or support crew observed not acting in an
environmentally responsible manner may be disqualified from the
event (in the case of a support crew, that support crew's team
will be disqualified from the race). Any team or support crew
observed showing blatant disregard for the environment may be
permanently banned from future Ultimate Adventure Racing events.
Net Proceeds from all races of the Ultimate Adventure Race
Series will benefit
Ultimate Sports Association Inc. USA Inc.
Not for profit 501-c3 corporations dedicated to providing
support to young
athletes
and volunteer coaches.
Contributions will be gladly
accepted:
Click Here
|
