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Spectator & Supporter Info

The text on this page was updated on 31/1/2012 and are the final details for the 2012 Kona Odyssey.

The 2012 Kona Odyssey event program containing all the details on this website plus additional diagrams, maps and sponsor offers can be downloaded from here.

LIVE UPDATES AND SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTS

The exciting new initiatives listed below will bring the Kona Odyssey to the people and allow friends and family back at home to keep up to date with your progress on the day... OR if they are at Forrest watching the action we will post all these updates to screens in The Results Centre on the Forrest football ground for us all to see.

NEW Live tracking of the top males and females

The 2012 Kona Odyssey we will be tracking the position of 6 elite males and 4 elite females with live tracking of their position on the course as they race around the trails on Saturday. This is all about bringing mountain biking to the people with the live tracking allowing anyone gathered in The Results Centre on the Forrest football ground to see who is leading, when the attacks are made and who is the quickest from start to finish.

The live tracking will also be available online for those who cannot attend the event so friends and MTB fanatics can watch the action from home – and you can replay the race to see how it unfolded in the following days.

Just follow the LIVE TRACKING link from the event homepage at www.KonaOdyssey.com.au and you’ll be on line and update all day.

NEW Live race splits for all riders

As another new initiative for the 2012 we will also be uploading to the web the timing splits of all riders as you pass over the timing mats around the course. This will allow your friends and families at home to see how you are travelling and check you’re going OK on the course because as soon as you cross the timing mat we’ll upload your time to the web.

Just tell your friends to follow the LIVE RESULTS link from the event homepage at www.KonaOdyssey.com.au. This site is also mobile phone friendly so you can see it whilst out and about, or if you are in Forrest we’ll also have a screen in The Results Centre dedicated to live results.

Live event updates on Twitter

We will be tweeting live event updates, sending photos and other race snippets from the Kona Odyssey all Saturday so tell your friends at home to follow Rapid Ascent on twitter at http://twitter.com/Rapid_Ascent

Post race party at the Forrest Brewery

The Forrest Brewery will be hosting a post race summer session on Sunday afternoon / evening and will be the ideal place to relax with a few beers after the race. They will have the acclaimed Hog Belly Mortens Country Review (featuring Rusty from the Scared Weird Little Guys and Ash Naylor from Ethen) playing live music from 2:30pm as well as their terrific food and beers flowing all afternoon Saturday and Sunday. So hitch your bike up out the front and enjoy the perfect post race celebration.

 

PHOTOGRAPHY AND PHOTOS FOR FACEBOOK

NEW Photos for facebook

As a new initiative for the 2012 event we are trialling a one-click method for you to send your race photos to your facebook page so your friends can see you in action. All you need to do is visit the Kona Odyssey website (www.konaodyssey.com.au) and enter the prefix ‘KONA’ followed by your race number in the photo widget box and then your photos will go through automatically. (Eg if your number is 246 then enter ‘KONA246’ in the photo box online)

You can pre-enter your code and race number (eg KONA246 ) on line before the race and then your photos will go up as soon as we catalogue them on Saturday night, or you can do it after the event and your photos will go up then. (Note: your race numbers can be found on the race website from February 13th onwards)

This is new software and a new initiative for us to help you to share with your friends some photos of you in action on the Odyssey course so make sure you check it out.

Photos for sale

You event photos will also be displayed on the race website photo pages where you can easily find your photos without having to search through thousands and thousands of images. Photos are available to purchase for very reasonable prices.High resolution digital images for $12.95 each or 5”x7” prints at $12.95 also.
 

FINISH LINE AND FORREST FESTIVAL

The Kona Odyssey is far more than ‘just another bike race’ and includes the Forrest Festival as a massive extra feature planned for race day – attracting plenty of spectators and general public to the event and is the ideal place to park the family and your friends while you flog yourself around the course! Entry to the festival is free, but a gold coin donation is required for parking at Forrest with all proceeds being returned to the Forrest Recreation Reserve.

Central point for the Kona Odyssey courses
The Forrest Football ground is the central point of the course and doubles as:

  • start location for the 50km Kona Shorty and 15km Kona Pioneer and finish location for all races
  • Intermediary 67km, 87km points for 100km riders and 25km point for 50km riders
  • the only spot on the course where you may receive outside mechanical support – including from the Torquay Cycling Factory shop which will be stocked up with plenty of spare parts and qualified mechanics to fit them before, during and after the race.

Sponsors Expo: 10am – 6pm
All sponsors of the Kona Odyssey, as well as several other biking and tourism related companies will have a stand at the Forrest Festival including:

  • Kona will be set up with a range of their bikes on display as well as products from Mavic, Pedro’s, Evoc and other Groupe Sportif products
  • Shotz Nutrition who will have a range of hydration and nutrition products to try and buy
  • Mountain Bike Australia Magazine with be there with a range of their magazines and other publications
  • Adidas Eye Wear will be displaying and retailing their mountain inspiring sun glasses
  • Schwalbe will have a range of their tyres on display and be ready to answer all your rubber related questions

Finish line refreshment
There will be fresh fruit available at the finish line with a range of oranges, water melon, cantelope and other fruits available for competitors (only). The event bar will also be up and runnign in the Footy Club Rooms allowing you to chill out over a few amber ales at the end of a big day on the bike.

Shotz Hydration Station
Major sponsors Shotz Nutrition will be providing plenty of hydration and nutrition through their Shotz Hydration station and expo stand as part of the festival. The Shotz Hydration station will be right in the middle of the course so you can easily fill up your bottles or bladders without dropping your bike, while their stand will have plenty of bars and gels to keep you powered up the whole way. Make sure you stock up and buy their products from the expo on Friday to ensure you have the adequate hydration for the race.

Music and MCs
We will have a rocking DJ playing some sweet beats in the Forrest Football ground as well as two MCs to provide comment and commenation for all riders as you pass through this event hub.

Food stalls: 10am – 6pm
There will be a wide range of stalls on the footy ground selling food to riders and the public. These food stalls will include things like

  • Coffee, smoothies, soft drink, water and more
  • BBQ food with sausages, hamburgers, egg and bacon rolls
  • Sunny’s wood fire pizza’s
  • Ice-cream, and tropical snow
  • Healthy gourmet rolls and salads
  • Baked potatoes
  • Sweet and savoury crepes

Kids entertainment and activities: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Kids will have plenty of things to keep them busy whilst mum or dad are out riding with Tracey’s Mobile Petting Zoo and her range of animals to meet, Art and About providing kids activities and crafts as well as a massive jumping castle to use up all that boundless energy.

Presentations - Forrest Football Ground at 3:30pm for 15km, 50km and 100km
Presentations for the 15km Kona Pioneer, 50km Kona Shorty and the 100km Kona Odyssey will be held on the stage at the Forrest Festival at 3.30pm on Saturday afternoon. (These presentations are held before all riders have finished – so please respect that many riders are still finishing and they also deserve our recognition)

First Aid Point
The Forrest Football ground will be the central First Aid point for the event with onsite medical centre and trained paramedics to help you if you’ve come unstuck. Please respect that they must give priority to the more serious cases over simple cuts and grazes.

Parking
Parking will be available by gold coin donation to the Forrest Football Ground in the Barwon Water land, pony club and adjoining farming land surrounding the Forrest Football Ground. Please follow the directions of parking marshals and park ‘sensibly’ so we maximize space for all other cars – it will be tight!

Note: NO PARKING is permitted on Yaugher Rd between Birregurra Rd and Kents Rd. Please do NOT park on the roadside as this places everyone’s safety at risk.
 

 

Supporting your rider

The Forrest footy ground is also the only place that rider can accept: outside assistance from their support crew

Competitors may only receive external support from handlers or support crew within the confines of the Forrest Football Ground at the 67km and 87km points in the 100km race and at the 25km point on the 50km race (approximate distances). This area is defined as any section along the course that is within the playing surface of the Forrest Football Ground. So if you are a support crew be aware of this opportunity, but also the limitation that this requires in that you cannot provide any drinks, food or other support anywhere else along the course.

Any riders seen to be receiving any external support outside of this designated area will be given a 30 minute penalty - this includes collecting water bottles or other hydration or nutrition from spectators as well as items that have been ‘pre-placed’ on the course for collection during the race. This will be strongly enforced.