The Official Event Program for the Anaconda Adventure Race at containing all the necessary event details can be downloaded from here. Alternatively the text below includes the same content without all the additional diagrams and was updated on 17-10-2011.

Competitor Briefing

Event schedule

Saturday November 5th, 2011

Sunday November 6th, 2011

REGISTRATION

Every participant must come to the Event Registration Desk in the Adventure Expo in Turner Caravan Park to collect their registration pack with all their goodies including your race t-shirt.

Registration packs for teams WILL NOT be provided to team captains, YOU MUST COLLECT YOUR PACK PERSONALLY, and also sign the race indemnity. For teams, some items in your registration pack will differ from your team-mates. (Late registration or different registration procedures will only be permitted if pre arranged with Rapid Ascent - contact via info@rapidascent.com.au).

COMPETITOR BRIEFING

5.30pm Saturday November 5th at the Adventure Expo at Turner Caravan Park on the Augusta foreshore.

It is highly recommended that all competitors (teams, pairs and individuals) attend the competitor briefing where we will explain the race in detail and advise any last minute changes.

RACE START

Sunday November 6th at the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse:

• 7:45am Individuals and Pairs race start
• 8:15am Team Competitors race start

Note – due to limited parking at the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse we will be running a bus service to take runners and spectators to the start line as detailed below under ‘Buses to race start’

BUSES TO RACE START

We will be providing a free bus service for all runners (team runners, individuals and pairs) to the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse for the start on Sunday morning. It is not mandatory that runners catch the bus but we expect there to be some traffic delays with cars getting out there and recommend that runners catch the bus just to be safe.

The buses will leave from the front of Turner Caravan Park on Blackwood Ave (the main road) at 6:45am. DO NOT BE LATE. We will not wait for you at the bus stop, nor at the race start so make sure you leave yourself time to get there.

The buses will take runners first until all runners have left for the start, then the buses will return and do another run with any spectators who want to go to the lighthouse to watch the start. Space will be limited so any spectators wanting to go to the start on the buses should be at the front of the Turner Caravan Park at 7:05am to catch the bus. Spectators who catch the bus out to the start will be able to return to Augusta in the bus which will depart the lighthouse approximately 15 minutes after the teams start.

TRAFFIC & PARKING NOTES

The Anaconda Adventure Race weekend will bring a significant increase to the number of cars in and around Augusta and the Cape Leeuwin area. No-one wants to be stuck in traffic and considering how small the township is, please be patient and sensible when it comes to transportation. Here are a few recommendations for how to escape the traffic during race weekend:

• All runners can catch the buses leaving at 6:45am to the start at Cape Leeuwin. All spectators wanting to go to the start should also catch the buses leaving at 7:05am.
• We recommend that team swimmers do NOT go to the start (unless on a bike) as we expect there will be some traffic delays getting back to Flinders Bay after the start.
• We discourage most people from going to the start (unless on the buses) due to limited parking. Parking will only be along the left hand side of the road leading to the Lighthouse and will be on a first come - first served basis. You may end up having to walk 1-2km to get there and back. If you have a bike, it’s an easy ride from Augusta.
• Do not try and drive from central Augusta or the Turner Caravan Park area to the Flinders Bay Transition Area (TA) during the race on Sunday – either walk or ride a bike. The run and MTB course crosses the main road a couple of times so it will be hard to get through. Park your car in the middle and then walk or ride (it’s only about 2km).
• Drop off all your equipment into the transition areas on Saturday afternoon – especially into the Flinders Bay transition area. There will be limited access there on Sunday so set yourself up with plenty of time on Saturday. The Flinders Bay T1, T3, T4 will be open from 2pm on Saturday and then from 6:00am on Sunday and the Colourpatch T2 will be open from 4:30pm on Saturday and from 6:00am on Sunday. Both areas will have security in place overnight.
• If you do need to drive, use one car per team & all bunk in together!
• NOTE: Albany Tce will be closed to all cars between 10:00am and 4:30pm on Saturday and 7:00am – 4:00pm on Sunday. You may park on Albany Tce if you enter the area prior to the road closure times but you will NOT be able to remove your car until after the road closure is dismantled at the stated times.
• Skippy Rock Rd will be closed between Leeuwin Rd and Skippy Rock Car Park Rd between 7:50am - 8:30am on Sunday.
• Use our bag transfer service to get your equipment to the right places. It is possible to do the whole event without needing a car or a support crew on race day at all. We can bring back your spare clothes from the run start and watch over your equipment at other times so why not use the service and then avoid the car all together.

We are not saying ‘leave your families / spectators at home’. We want as many people as possible to come down to Augusta and watch the start at but we are encouraging you to plan your car usage and travel around the course before hand – easing the squeeze on all of us.

ADVENTURE EXPO & KIDS ACTIVITIES

There will be plenty going on before, during and after racing at the Adventure Expo in Turner Caravan Park on Albany Tce in Augusta, so make sure you bring your family and friends to be part of the action!

Adventure Expo
There will be plenty of sponsors’ stands and information tents set up as part of the Adventure Expo including an on-site Anaconda store plus displays by MargaretRiver.com, Endura Sports Nutrition, FIT Health Insurance, Rock Tape and more.

Kid’s entertainment
We have plenty of kid’s entertainment with an inflatable slide and face painting set up on Saturday and large jumping castle on Sunday. And don’t forget the Anaconda Junior Survivor Challenge taking place on Saturday afternoon which provides kids with their own adventure event (further details below).

Food and beverages
There will be a range of tasty food and beverages available from a variety of stands inside the Adventure Expo all weekend including two coffee stands, dutch pancakes, gourmet salads and hamburgers, fruit salads, ice-cream, sandwiches and plenty more. The event bar will also be in full swing and makes the ideal location for a pre race catch up or post race celebration.

Massage
Massage will be available for competitors in the event expo during the weekend, although details are still being confirmed. Please check this page nearer the event for more info

MC and live Race Updates
After keeping us entertained on the mic at Flinders Bay last year and more recently during the Mainpeak Multisport, MC extraordinaire Robert Goyen will be calling the race and providing plenty of live updates, information and interviews over race weekend from the Adventure Expo during Saturday and Sunday afternoon, and from the Flinders Bay transition area on Sunday morning.
 

SOCIAL ADVENTURES

Knowing that we all like to hang out and share a few stories we’ve arranged a calendar of social get togethers all weekend to allow you to get in the mood.

Event Bar and FREE GINGER BEER
Thanks to the support of The Bundaberg Ginger Beer Company, all competitors can enjoy a FREE GINGER BEER once you’ve crossed the line. These refreshing, non alcoholic Ginger Beers will be free to collect from the competitor’s fruit stand immediately adjacent to the finish line, but are limited to one drink per competitor (please).

If you’re after something a little stronger then the Event Bar will also be serving beer (of the alcoholic kind!) and Xanadu wines all weekend. What better way to catch up with friends or celebrate a great weekend down south than with a drink in the bar right in the middle of the event expo at the Turner Caravan Park where you can enjoy the race atmosphere and watch people crossing the line. [Please remember that alcoholic beverages bought from the bar can only be consumed within the cordoned off bar area.]

Xanadu Wines are one of the oldest vineyards in the Margaret River region and are proud sponsors of the Anaconda Adventure Race at Augusta. Feel free to drop past their stand in the expo area for a free tasting or to buy a bottle. Alternately their beautiful cellar door and restaurant are located on Boodjidup Road just south of Margaret River

Pre race Pasta Dinner
The Augusta Hotel will be hosting a large buffet pasta meal on the Saturday night. They will be cooking up a range of fresh pastas and sauces that will provide you with the necessary carbs to get you through the rigors of the course on Sunday.

The buffet will be approximately $22 each, with one sitting from 6:30pm. All pasta buffet diners are strongly recommended to pre-book by contacting the hotel on (08) 9758 1944 or e-mailing Angelika at angelika@flindersbaycorp.com.au The hotel will also have their normal pub fare available.

Social media: Live event updates on Twitter
We will be tweeting live event updates over the whole weekend so make sure you’re following Rapid Ascent at http://twitter.com/Rapid_Ascent and you’ll receive a steady stream of results, photos and news snippets from around the course as it happens. (Tell your friends and families at home to follow us so they can keep in touch with what’s happening too).
 

TRANS-TASMAN ADVENTURE RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS

As a true battle of the Adventure Racing heavy weights, the best off road racers from Australia and New Zealand will be going head to head to determine which side of the Tasman reigns supreme in the world of adventure racing.

As a ‘race within a race’ - two males and one female from each country will be competing as individuals seeking overall glory, but their times will be added together with the lowest combined time determining the winning nation as well as a $1,000 bonus and ultimate bragging rights in the off road stakes. Australia won the inaugural championship in 2007 at Dunsborough and retained the trophy last year but that could all change this time around.

Representing New Zealand we have multiple Adventure Racing World Champion Richard Ussher who is simply unsurpassable in just about every race he enters; Trevor Voyce who won the recent Baise Leye Outdoor Quest in China and has placed second at just about all major multisport races in New Zealand (to Ussher) and Fleur Lattimore who won the 2011 New Zealand Multisport Championships amongst a gaggle of other race victories over the last 1-2 years. This is the strongest Kiwi team ever assembled for the Trans Tasman Championship and will put up an almighty battle to take the trophy.

Representing Australia we have Jarad Kohlar who won the Anaconda Adventure Race here at Augusta last year (beating all the kiwis) as well as just about every other major title in the country, West Australian hot shot Sean O’Neil who has also tasted victory at Augusta (back in 2009) when he then went on to win the series after some thrilling racing; and the simply unstoppable Deanna Blegg who has not been beaten in an Anaconda race for the last 2 years (or more) and is as tough as they come. These are quite simply Australia’s best adventure racers and they’ll be eager not to lose face by being responsible for the trophy crossing the ditch.

Each athlete will be wearing a race bib in their nation’s colours so if you’re fast enough to see them in action on the course then give them a shout and a cheer as they race to bring the trophy home. Just who’s going to win is anyone’s bet, this is the most competitive field ever assembled for an adventure race of this kind in Australia – BRING IT ON

Click here to read profiles about each of the Trans Tasman and other Top Flight Athletes

THE ANACONDA JUNIOR SURVIVOR

Also taking place on race weekend will be the awesome Anaconda Junior Survivor Challenge – a fun off road running and obstacle event for kids aged up to 13yrs and we welcome all kids to be involved.

The Anaconda Junior Survivor is held in conjunction with all the Anaconda Adventure Races around the country and attracted a capacity field of 600 kids to the event here in Augusta last year and this year is set to be just as BIG with enthusiasm running high…

The Junior Survivor leads kids on a 4km (approx) off-road course that includes a range of fun but challenging obstacles like the Spider’s Web, Live Wire or Wombat Ramble, all in a bush and beach environment. The event can be completed by kids without the supervision of their parents and requires no special equipment or skills – just a sense of adventure!

The event will be held at 3:30pm on Saturday afternoon and gives kids whose parents are doing the Anaconda Adventure Race an opportunity for their own dose of adventure fun! The start and finish is in the middle of the Adventure Expo at Turner Caravan Park so there will be an excellent atmosphere with hundreds of people to clap and cheer Junior Survivors over the finish line!

Further details can be found online at www.anacondajuniorsurvivor.com and if you are keen to take part then we encourage you to enter online before 5:00pm on October 29th (unless the field limit of 600 kids is reached earlier)

SUPPORT CREW

Support crews are not mandatory. They can make logistics a bit easier but they will have virtually no impact on your overall placing if you are organised before the event.

Points for support crews:

• Support crews may NOT help competitors at any point along the course or in any of the designated transition areas. This means that individual competitors must complete their transition entirely by themselves.
• Support crews are only able to enter transition areas to drop off equipment or collect when your competitor is not there.
• We particularly encourage support crews to collect the following gear during the event:
• Running gear from T1 at Flinders Bay (this is for teams only) – as this particular area will be packed up after the last runner
• Swimming gear from T2 at Colourpatch – as this particular area will be packed up at 4:00pm
• Paddling gear from T3 at Flinders Bay - as we have a lot of boats to fit in a pretty small area!
• All teams will receive two green wrist bands for your support crew as part of your registration pack. Please ensure that support crew members wear these wrist bands as they will not be permitted into the transition area without them.

Transition Area Opening Times and Specifics

Flinders Bay T1: run > swim.

• Open for equipment to be dropped off from 2:00pm on Saturday.
• Open for equipment to be dropped off from6:00am on Sunday.
• Teams, please collect run gear as soon as possible after your team passes through. Individuals can leave their run gear next to their bike

Note: Individuals and pairs must place their swim gear next to their bikes in the appropriate location according to their race number (we will have large signs advertising numbered zones).

Colourpatch T2: swim > paddle.

• Open for equipment to be dropped off after 4:30pm on Saturday. Please drop boats into designated area according to your team number. Note that Albany Tce will be closed to cars before 4:30pm on Saturday.
• Open for equipment to be dropped off after 6:00am on Sunday. Note that Albany Tce will be closed to cars after 7:00am on Sunday.
• Please collect swim gear as soon as possible after your team passes through. Swim gear left at T2 will NOT be transferred back to the finish line area. It is your responsibility to collect it after finishing the swim or the whole event (if you are an individual)

Note: Boats must be placed in the appropriate location according to your team number (we will have large signs advertising numbered zones). Paddling equipment is to be left alongside boats.

Flinders Bay T3: paddle > mountain bike.

• Open for equipment to be dropped off from 2:00pm on Saturday.
• Open for equipment to be dropped off after 6:00am on Sunday.
• Individuals and Pairs must place their bike in the designated area corresponding to their race number. Teams can place their bikes anywhere within the teams bike area.

Paddling equipment is encouraged to be collected throughout the event to make space for others but can only be done so upon presentation of the kayak collection token.

Flinders Bay T4: mountain bike > team run.

• Individuals’ run equipment is to be placed alongside their MTB equipment.
• Team mountain bike riders’ team run equipment is to be given to them by their team mates.
• Mountain bike equipment can only be collected upon presentation of the MTB collection token.