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Course Description

Anaconda Adventure Race - Course description and maps

Being nestled in a protected corner of the Great Ocean Road coastline, surrounded by hills and magnificent forest - the course for the Anaconda Adventure Race at Lorne gives all competitors an adventure to remember. Compete in this iconic event and you’ll will swim across the crystal clear Loutit Bay, paddle beside the Great Ocean Road past secluded beaches and rocky headlands, run on trails through towering fern trees and incredible waterfalls, and mountain bike up and down rewarding double tracks through the bush.

So if you are looking for a serious challenge then tackle the whole thing by yourself or join up with 2-4 mates and do one leg each in a relay team for something more manageable.

The details on this website were updated on 23 November 2012 and are the final details for the 2012 event. The 2012 Anaconda Adventure Race at Lorne event program containing all the details on this website plus additional diagrams, maps and sponsor offers can be downloaded from here. (Either left click the link to download or right click and ‘save link as’ to your desktop. 22meg)

Course Description - summary

1.9km Speedo Swim

The Anaconda Adventure Race at Lorne kicks off with swimmers charging into the water at Point Grey and swimming around the Lorne Pier and across the gorgeous Loutit Bay in a scenic swim you’ll want to do again and again. The water is clear and with the gathered crowd of spectators looking down on you from the beach you’ll feel a million dollars as you body surf a wave into the beach and run the short 400m into the transition area on the Lorne foreshore.

13km Fitness Paddlers Australia Ocean Paddle

Transition #1 is a spectacular site with hundreds of boats lined upon the beach ready to go. Team swimmers hand over to their team paddlers while individuals climb aboard their own boat to punch out through the small waves inshore and head to sea amidst a battalion of boats getting in on the action. Paddlers turn right around the Lorne pier and paddle below the Great Ocean Road, past hidden beaches and rocky outcrops before doing a u-turn for a long ‘down-wind’ leg with the rolling swell back across Loutit Bay and then back into the Lorne foreshore the next transition.

[The paddle course may be altered in rough weather, and if the conditions are similar to 2011 the course will be further changed to stay in protected water. Having said that we encourage all paddlers to do an ocean paddling course.Course info here]

14km Holiday Great Ocean Road Trail Run

Changing over on the Lorne foreshore once again, runners kick into gear with a short stint on the beach and rocky foreshore by heading back around Point Grey to the mouth of the St George River. Cross the river and you’re into the spectacular Otway ranges with a scenic run past some of Lorne’s most spectacular waterfalls, rainforests and landscapes. You’ll run through some beautiful forest beside the St George River, around picturesque Allenvale to visit Phantom Falls, down slippery slopes and over log bridges before winding your way back through the bush and beach to the transition area at the Lorne foreshore.

18km Endura Mountain Bike

Setting off from the foreshore once again, riders join the Great Ocean Rd, pass over the Erskine River bridge and then turn left into the ultra-steep Waverley St to start your climb away from the coast. From here it’s up, up and away as riders tackle the Five Mile Track for a few solid kilometres of climbing on this 2WD / 4WD track through the forest before reaching a high point at the 6.5km mark. Now the track angles downwards for a thrilling descent down twisting single track, beside the golf course and past the cemetery on its way back down to the coast. The final 1.5km sprint along the beach delivers you into the TA with a smile from ear to ear.

1.2km Beach Run

With grins from ear to ear signalling a day of fun in the outdoors, all team mates reunite and individuals tackle their last challenge with a 1.2km run around the beach and into the glory-bound finish chute. Wave to the crowd, smile for the cameras and clap a few high fives because you’ll feel like a hero and have battle scars to prove it, having just completed the Anaconda Adventure Race at Lorne. Well done - you are an Anaconda hero.

For reference, the course for the 2012 Anaconda Adventure Race at Lorne is proposed to be exactly the same as in 2010 (and 2009) so you can compare times and efforts on the day. The 2011 paddle course was altered because of rough weather.

View Anaconda Adventure Race - Lorne 2012 in a larger map

GO THE DISTANCE

To complete the Lorne Anaconda Adventure Race in a team or as an individual is to get the best out of life. It’s about setting yourself a challenge and then fulfilling a goal. You’ll see people riding bikes who never should be, swimmers who’ll splash and crash and paddlers who spend more time up-side-down than right-way-up, but all in all there is something about doing the race that puts a smile on everyone’s faces. Maybe it’s the adventures with friends, the spectacular wilderness, the inclusive atmosphere or the satisfaction of the finish but give it a crack and you’ll never forget it.
Anyone can do it...

Choose your style and get involved - the Anaconda Adventure Race can be completed in a range of categories to get anyone and everyone onto the start then over the finish line:

Individuals – do all the legs listed above as a non stop race
Pairs – do every leg but in the company of your mate who’s by your side the whole way (must stay within 50m of each other)
Relay teams – enter a team with up to 4 people where you do one (or more) legs each. A great way to get involved without being a super hero – build up a team of friends and work colleagues and join all the fun

The details on this website were updated on 23 November 2012 and are the final details for the 2012 event. The 2012 Anaconda Adventure Race at Lorne event program containing all the details on this website plus additional diagrams, maps and sponsor offers can be downloaded from here. (Either left click the link to download or right click and ‘save link as’ to your desktop. 22meg)

Detailed course description

AAR – 1.9KM SPEEDO OCEAN SWIM

Swimmers enter the water from the beach on the ocean side of the pier and then swim around a large pink buoy beyond the end of the pier (keep buoy on your left) then swim towards the Lorne foreshore. Keep swimming towards the Lorne Surf Life Saving Club, turn right around a buoy (keep buoy on your right), then swim parallel to the beach, turn left around a final buoy just beyond the rock groyne to swim into the beach. Run along the beach and then to the TA and the start of the paddle leg.

Swimmers must remain in the water and cannot run along the beach at any point until they have rounded the last pink buoy.

Swimmers must complete the 400m run component to T1 by themselves and cannot transition with their team mate or receive any assistance until inside the TA.
You are permitted to rest on a rescue craft if required without penalty.

Lorne Foreshore Transition (T1): Swim > paddle

NOTE – the plan for T1 is the same as 2010 and 2011 with the transition between swimmer and paddler taking place inside the bike compound on the grass (rather than on the beach) so that all transitions occur in the one place. Please note the following guidelines:
Team paddlers must stay in the T1 transition area and meet your team swimmer in the designated teams transition area (northern side of bikes) and exchange the bib and timing band there (refer diagram below).
Individuals are advised to transition between swim gear and paddle gear next to your bike – so all your gear is located at the one spot.
Boats and paddles must be placed in the appropriate location on the beach according to your team number (we will have signs advertising number zones).
Individuals and team paddlers must have your paddles located next to your boats on the beach (not in the bike compound).
Support crews, team swimmers or any other team member cannot provide any assistance to competitors inside the transition area or with the launching of boats.
Boats and other paddling equipment must be deposited in the transition area(s) after 6:00am on Sunday morning. Boats may not be left on the beach on Saturday night.

AAR - 13 KM FITNESS PADDLERS AUSTRALIA OCEAN PADDLE

Paddlers run around the back of the Adventure Expo and onto the beach to find your kayak, entering the water through the shore break and then head across Loutit Bay, keeping the first buoy just off the beach to your left and keeping an eye out for any swimmers who may be off course. Paddlers continue around the pier and Point Grey and paddle parallel to the shore to a large pink buoy set off the Sheoak River mouth (approx. 3km south of the pier).

Paddlers do a U-Turn around this buoy (keep buoy on your left) then paddle back along the coast, past Point Grey and then make a diagonal course across Loutit Bay aiming for the last set of houses in North Lorne and another pink buoy. Turn left around this buoy to then paddle back towards the Lorne Foreshore, paddling around the buoy in front of the Surf Life Saving Club (keep buoy on your right) and then into the beach. Drag your boat high up on the sand and then run into T3 on the grassy foreshore.

Take care going around Point Grey, steer about 100 metres wide (to the left) of the pier to avoid a reef with large breaking waves.
The Ocean Paddle leg may be shortened depending on weather conditions with any changes communicated at the competitor briefing at 6:00pm on Saturday (if conditions are similar to 2011 we will change the course).
NOTE: An orange smoke flare is compulsory and must be worn on all paddlers in the Anaconda Adventure Race (must be on the paddler, not on the boat) at all times on the paddle leg. A limited number of flares will be for sale at registration. This is a NEW REQUIREMENT FOR 2012.

Lorne Foreshore Transition (T2): paddle > run

Support crews may assist paddlers landing their boats on the beach and help drag them out of the way to the top of the beach. Support crews are encouraged to remove the boats and put them on your car ASAP during the race to create space and prevent possible damage.
Team runners must wait in the designated teams’ transition area (northern side of the bikes) and complete the transition of race bib and timing band in this enclosure - not on the beach.
Individuals and Pairs must have their running gear next to their bike in the fenced off transition area and perform your transition there. Leave your paddle with your boat and place your other paddling gear next to your bike for your support crew (or you) to collect later.
Running equipment may be left at the TA after 6:00am Sunday.
All kayaks and remaining equipment must be collected by 4:00pm on Sunday at the latest (although we encourage support crews to collect them as early as possible).

AAR - 15KM HOLIDAY GREAT OCEAN ROAD TRAIL RUN

Runners depart the TA to run around the back of the Adventure Expo and out onto the beach towards the Lorne Pier. Continue past the Pier and then around on the rocky / sandy foreshore and into the mouth of the St. George River. Cross the river and go UNDER the Great Ocean Road bridge and continue along the marked course on a mixture of narrow walking tracks and 2WD / 4WD roads over Allenvale Road (twice), past Phantom Falls and up and down several hills in the bush.

The route will ultimately lead you down a steep hillside on a faint and slightly overgrown track, over a creek and up a steep sided hill on the other side to then pick up tracks that return you to the Great Ocean Road at the St. George River. Runners must again pass under the GOR (via a short swim / wade) and then return to the Lorne Foreshore transition area via the rocky foreshore and into the MTB transition.

Competitors must not cross the Great Ocean Road or any sealed road. To do so will result in disqualification.

Lorne Transition (T3): Run > MTB

Team MTB riders must wait in the fenced off transition area and must change race bib and timing band next to your bike.
Individuals are advised to transition from run to MTB gear beside your bike.
Only the team MTB rider is permitted inside the fenced off transition area. Support crew and other team mates are NOT permitted inside the TA to assist competitors.

AAR – 15KM ENDURA MOUNTAIN BIKE

Riders exit the TA enclosure riding WITH CAUTION between the mini golf and skate park and then onto the dirt road behind Erskine Resort. Turn left behind the resort, then turn right at the round-a-bout on the Great Ocean Road/Mountjoy Parade (give way to cars).

At this point, you will see a red flag. Riders must NOT pass any other rider between the roundabout and Waverley Avenue where you will pass a green flag. Once past the green flag you can put the hammer down. This short 300m section is a ‘race neutral zone’ which means no passing of other competitors.

The mountain bike course for 2012 is exactly the same as 2011 (and so quite different to earlier years) with riders going up the challenging 5 Mile Track climb that extends beyond the top of Waverley Avenue. This track has several steep ‘steps’ that result in riders climbing nearly 400m in less than 5km before a flowing descent down a fire road, along some rolling single track and then down beside the fairways of the Lorne Golf Course. Riders continue around the Lorne cemetery and then MUST DISMOUNT to cross the Deans Marsh Rd before getting back on your bikes to ride along Dorman Street, under the Great Ocean Road bridge at Stony Creek and then back along the beach and hardened rock platform to the T4 enclosure at North Lorne.

All riders MUST DISMOUNT AND PUSH THEIR BIKES where directed by marshals when crossing the Deans Marsh Rd and may only continue riding once they have crossed the road. Any rider not stopping when instructed to will incur a 30 minute penalty (this is for your safety!).
After passing under the Great Ocean Road bridge onto the beach, riders must stay on the beach and tidal rock platform all the way to the TA. The Great Ocean Road and footpaths are out of bounds.
All roads and tracks are open to the public and normal road rules apply. Keep an eye out for cars at all times on roads.

North Lorne Transition (T4): MTB > team run

For teams, ALL team members must meet at this transition area and complete the team run to the finish line together. Waiting team mates must remain outside the fenced off TA enclosure and rendezvous with your team rider outside the fencing.
There is no need to transfer the bib or timing band, the team rider should keep them on until the finish line.
All mountain bikes and remaining equipment must be collected by 4:00pm on Sunday upon presentation of your MTB collection token (provided in your registration packs). After this time equipment is left at the owner’s risk.

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