Scottish Adventure Race Series

Race Format

There are two classes to choose from depending on your experience, fitness, navigational dexterity or just sheer brass neck! You choose. In either class you can enter as a soloist, or team of 2, 3 or 4, and these can be mixed or single gender team formats.

For 2008 you can now enter the Wan Dae as a soloist. However, you might find it more fun to get a team of 2 together, and perhaps you'll be fast over the ground with that combo. It might be the (off)road to greater things when you find another teammate at the Wan Dae and go on to enter a team of 3 into the Rat Race or other events such as the Ace Race. With a team of 4 entered in the Wan Dae it is a great stepping stone to the Wilderness ARC expedition AR taking place in Lochaber.

Either way, you'll find the teamwork aspect challenging and rewarding, and remember, for most of the other events mentioned above you'll need a woman on the team!

So, here are the classes and an overview of the event format;

Simply Blended Class

Up to 5 hours of activity, breaking down to approx 3.5 hrs of biking, 1 hr of running (and maybe some walking) and 1/2 hr of kayaking. During the 5 hrs we'll hit you with some team problem solving exercises and where we can incorporate them, devilish obstacles. The running and biking will be of a score format which means you have a set time to get to as many checkpoints as you can within the time limit. These will be worth different values so you'll have to figure out which ones you have time to get to or have the energy or desire to push yourself to. If you want to take it easier then go for the controls that you feel comfortable collecting within the time available. The kayaking stage is non-technical and aimed to give novices a good first go. It's now an activity like any of the others, so if you complete it you get points but it is not mandatory. Simple really!

The Simply Blended class of the event starts at 1pm, which means that you'll be piling into the finish at the same time as the Cask Strength, at 6pm. Suitable for those wishing to have their first go at adventure racing or for a less strenuous day out.

Cask Strength Class

Up to 8 hours of activity, breaking down to approx 5 hrs of biking, 2 hrs of running (and maybe some walking) and 1 hr of kayaking. During the 8 hrs we'll hit you with team problem solving exercises and where we can incorporate them, devilish obstacles. All day is a score format with the kayaking section one of the activity checkpoints, so if you don't want to go kayaking you don't have to! (It's probably quite profitable pointswise to do it though!)

This class of the event starts at 10 am, which means that you'll be piling into the finish at the same time as the Simply Blended, at 6 pm. Ideal for those looking to push themselves that bit harder and who may have a little previous AR experience, even if that's one Rat Race, through to those super fit teams looking for a good day's racing.

The kayaks will be Malibu 2 plastic sit on tops, as used in the Rat Race and Wilderness ARC. These are extremely stable and easy to paddle for novices.

Schedule

Cask Strength (8 Hour race)

8.15 – 9.20am Registration
9.40am Competitor briefing
10.00am Race start

Simply Blended (5 Hour race)

10.30am – 12.15pm Registration
12.30pm Competitor briefing
1pm Race Start

All Classes

6pm Finish back at HQ

Prizes

The presentation will be at approximately 6.30pm with prizes for 1st-3rd overall plus a range of spot prizes open to everyone that competes or marshals in the event. Everyone is in with a chance of winning a prize for their efforts or stories, but you need to be there to receive it! If you have a particularly eventful day, please come forward and tell us your stories!

Scoring

Controls have different values. The winning team is the one with the highest score within the 6pm time limit.
To register a score at a checkpoint dibbers must be inserted into the electronic SI boxes until it beeps and light flashes.
At activity checkpoints you may not dib to collect your score unless the challenge has been completed successfully

Time Penalties

If you finish after 6 pm your team will lose points at the following rate:
1-10 mins 2 points per min
11-20 mins 4 points per min
21-30 mins 8 points per min
31-45 mins 16 points per min
46+ mins Lose all points

Safety

We expect you to look after yourself and each other as a team during the event
We also expect you to offer assistance to any other person in trouble, whether racing or not
Ensure any injured team mate is adequately cared for.
Be aware of the symptoms of hypothermia (and dehydration)
Marshals will be out on the course and at all activity checkpoints
Event centre contact number will be printed on your map