The details on this website were updated on 1 February 2013 and are the final details for the 2013 event. The 2013 Kona Odyssey event program containing all the details on this website plus additional diagrams, maps and sponsor offers can be downloaded from here and we encourage all riders to download and read prior to the event. (Either left click the link to download or right click and ‘save link as’ to your desktop. 22meg)

We are very excited to advise that there is a NEW COURSE for the 100km Kona Odyssey that will now start and finish in Forrest (rather than being from Apollo Bay to Forrest). This new course is designed to provide riders with an even better race and flowing 100km course than previous years. The key points being:

• The logistics of travelling between Apollo Bay and Forrest are removed as the new course starts and finishes in Forrest
• The ‘unrideable hills’ between the 10km and 20km points have been removed
• There is more Yaugher single track included and it has been brought earlier in the course so you can enjoy it more (as you’ll be feeling fresher)
• The final ‘Thompson’s loop’ has been removed and replaced with Red Carpet and the West Forrest Single Track

We genuinely believe the new 100km course is absolutely primo and an improvement on the (already very good) course used in recent years. Don’t be mistaken, it is still tough, it’s just a good tough!

 

Course Description

NEW 100km Kona Odyssey

This is the ultimate mountain bike marathon - an heroic mountain bike journey through a range of wild landscapes (and cranking single track) in an Odyssey sent from the Gods. Complete it and you have entered mountain bike mythology.

All riders commence on Yaugher Road (adjacent the Forrest Football Ground) and head up Kaanglang Road before turning right to cut through the Forrest township and back along the Forrest-Birregurra Road past the football ground (where all the spectators can go wild clapping and cheering!) and continues along the sealed road to the outskirts of Barwon Downs where you turn right onto Mahers Road at the 9km point.

From here it is up up up for the next 12km as you climb 360 vertical metres to the top of the Otways on the 2WD / 4WD Hayden Track through the towering forests before a flying descent down the rip-roaring Thompson Track and the ‘Motorbike Single Track’ to the base of ‘The Sledgehammer’ at the 29km mark. Race down the last single track and new easement and aqua-duct trails and you’ll enter the Forrest Football Ground for the first time at the 38km point (to the roars of the crowd!).

Now you’ll head into the world renowned Yaugher single track wonderland for the 26km Shotz Super Loop blast around some of the best single tracks in the country. You’ll be smashing around sections of the Super Loop, hitting up Grass Trees and blitzing down Mariners Run with a smile from ear to ear. The course is interspersed with some short sections of 4WD track to help with overtaking and give you a chance to get down some calories but all in all you’ll tick off many of the best trails in the forest with the likes of J2, Foxtail, Super Loop Barre Warre and Car Wash also included in the mix.

From the 38km point to 65km you’ll be powering through single track heaven before returning to the Forrest Football Ground for a final refuel and high five from your friends and the crowd gathered at event HQ.

Then it’s back into the action with a steady 280m climb up Kaanglang Rd to the quarry at the 73km mark where you’ll turn the bike downhill for a flying descent down the double track and into the famed Red Carpet Track for the infamous timed descent from top to bottom. You’ll be honking and hollering with joy as you power downhill knowing full well that you’re time will be recorded for comparison against your mates on this most popular descent.

With 85km through your wheels you head into the West Forrest Trails for a blast around Rollercoaster, Third Time Lucky and Follow the Dog and then head for home with the race all but done.

Cruise down Yaugher Rd and you’ll soon be rolling through the finish chute waving to the crowd as one of the few riders + machine who has triumphed over one of the toughest and yet most spectacular 100km courses Australia has to offer. You have accomplished something massive – well done.

Click here to download an overview map of the whole course

Course stats (approx.)

Length: 98km
Total elevation gain / loss: 2350m
Start / finish: Forrest Football Ground
Legs:

1. Leg 1 (Start to Forrest Football Ground): 38km, 1,000m elevation gain / loss
2. Shotz Leg 2 (Football Ground through Yaugher and back to the Football Ground): 26km (64km total), 487m elevation gain / loss
3. Leg 3 (Football Ground up Kaanglang Rd and back to the finish via West Forrest trails): 34km (98km total), 863m elevation gain / loss

Track Composition for 100k Kona Odyssey (approximate)

• 10% Bitumen
• 12% Unsealed road
• 33% Fire road & double track
• 45% Single track

Note – the 100km and 50km courses have been designed to be quite separate so that faster 100km riders are not held up by slower 50km riders and visa versa. The two courses will share very little over lapping trails and should allow both riders to have their own space on the trails so neither need not worry about hold ups.

50km Kona Shorty (unchanged from 2012)

The 50km Kona Shorty is designed for intermediate riders who are not up to the principle 100km event and presents a course with plenty of single track and fun riding on some of the best trails in Forrest. In fact after the 2011 and 2012 events many riders said it was the best 50km course they’d ever ridden with mile after mile of sweet single track get your lips smiling.

Starting at the Forrest Football Ground, 50km riders commence with a long but steady climb up Kaangalang Rd to the junction with the Noonday track where you turn left for your first taste of Forrest’s sweet single track with the Tunnel Vision trail giving a smile to all. Soon after all riders follow the fern lined double track down to the Lake Elizabeth car park before climbing back up the road and turning onto the renowned Red Carpet timed descent for a real blast of fun.

The course continues over the spectacular West Barwon dam wall and then winds its way back to ‘spectator central’ at the Forrest footy ground at the 25km point for a chance to refuel for the fun ahead.

The second half of the 50km race gives riders a blast of some of the best single track in Australia with a flowing course through the Yaugher single track wonderland. The course will include the popular Shotz Superloop, fast flowing Foxtail, the challenging Yo-Yo, scenic Vista and Barre Warre trails to provide some challenging but enjoyable riding that’ll have you wooping for joy as you tick off km and after km of single track fun.

The final 100m through the finish chute in the middle of the Forrest footy ground will have high-5ing the crowd as you roll across the line having completed one of the country’s most popular races. Well done.

Click here to download a map of the course
 

Course stats (approx.)

Length: 50km
Total elevation gain / loss: 1077m
Start / finish: Forrest Football Ground
Legs:

• Leg 1 (Start to Forrest Football Ground): 25km, 617m elevation gain / loss
• Leg 2 (Football Ground through Yaugher and back): 25km, 460 elevation gain / loss

Track Composition for 50k Kona Shorty (approximate)

• 2% Bitumen
• 15% Unsealed Road
• 29% Fire road & double track
• 54% Single track

Note – the 100km and 50km courses have been designed to be quite separate so that faster 100km riders are not held up by slower 50km riders and visa versa. The two courses will share very little over lapping trails and should allow both riders to have their own space on the trails so neither need not worry about hold ups.

15km Kona Pioneer

The 15km Kona Pioneer is designed for kids and new comers to the sport of mountain biking and will provide you with a taste of the thrills and spills of this fantastic sport.

The course completes a single loop starting and finishing in the Forrest footy ground and includes a mix of 4WD tracks, swooping single track, rainforest, roads and country scenery. It’s a loop that gives kids the chance to develop their riding skills and non riders the chance to have a bit of fun. You’ve got to be in it to win it.

The courses

Course marking

Each course will be marked with coloured arrows and tape specific to that race so all riders are strongly encouraged to PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE COLOUR OF THE ARROWS AND COURSE SIGNAGE marking your route so you don’t ride more than you need to. Course marking colours are detailed below:

All courses will be fully marked and all riders must follow the marked course without taking any short cuts.

100km vs 50km vs 15km course markings

The 100km course will be marked as follows:

• with red or orange arrows on a white background. Arrows indicate the correct route.
• with strips of fluoro pink plastic surveyors’ tape tied to trees. These indicate that you are on the correct route.

The 50km course will be marked as follows:

• with large green arrows and smaller green/white arrows Arrows indicate the correct route.
• with strips of bright aqua/blue plastic surveyors’ tape tied to trees. These indicate that you are on the correct route.

The 15km course will be marked as follows:

• with blue arrows. Arrows indicate the correct route
• with strips of white plastic surveyors’ tape tied to trees. These indicate that you are on the correct route

For all courses:

• there will be black crosses ‘X’ at some intersections along with red and white barrier tape across some trails which indicate that this is the incorrect route, go back
• all intersections will be clearly marked and occasional markings with tape and or arrows along tracks to confirm that you are on the right route
• one or two pieces of the relevant coloured tape will always be placed immediately after a track junction to confirm you are travelling along the correct course.
• ‘Caution’ signs or signs with multiple arrows pointing down indicate that there is a difficult or technical section ahead and that you should definitely slow down and take care ahead

There will also be a number of marshals at strategic locations to help direct you and provide emergency assistance if required.

Check Points
There are a number of checkpoints along the course through which all riders must pass to confirm you have completed the full and correct course. Check point marshals will be recording race numbers that we will use to double check results in the case of a protest.

Designated support area

Competitors may only receive external support from support crew within the confines of the Forrest Football Ground at the 38km and 64km 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.

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 in 2013. (as it was in 2011 when a line honours winning rider received a 30 minute penalty – we take this seriously).

Water on the course

There will be water available at the following points along the courses. The manned water points will have marshals providing Shotz Nutrition electrolyte tablets for your bottles if you need them, although we encourage all riders to be self sufficient and bring their own sports hydration and nutrition products.

Water on the 100km course

• 38km point Shotz Hydration Station at the Forrest Festival. There will be taps located right next to the track with Shotz Electrolyte tablets available from marshals if required
• 64km point and the Shotz Hydration Station at the Forrest Festival again (same drink station as at the 38km point)
• 85km point Shotz Hydration Station at West Barwon Dam Wall picnic area - tap fill up with Shotz Electrolyte tablets available from marshals if required AND water bottle transfer location (see below)
• 100km point Forrest Festival. Tap fill up, more water OR time for a beer and hamburger from the stall holders in the Festival

Water on the 50km course

• 25km point Hydration Station at the Forrest Festival. There will be taps located right next to the track with Shotz Electrolyte tablets available from marshals if required
• 45kmpoint Shotz Hydration Station at West Barwon Dam Wall picnic area - tap fill up with Shotz Electrolyte tablets available from marshals if required AND water bottle transfer location (see below)
• 50km point Forrest Festival. Tap fill up, more water OR time for a beer and hamburger from the stall holders in the Festival

Water on the 15km course

• 10km point Hydration Station at West Barwon Dam Wall picnic area - tap fill up with Shotz Electrolyte tablets available from marshals if required

King / Queen of the Mountain

The King and Queen of the Mountain climb is limited to riders in the 100km Kona Odyssey and is located at the top of HaydensTrack at the intersection with Thompsons Track at the 21km point, elevation 558m above sea level. The fastest male and female will receive $250 cash. Riders must complete the entire 100km course to be eligible for prize money.

The Timed Descent

The Timed Descent is open to riders in both the 100km and the 50km event and will be held down the renowned ‘Red Carpet Track’ from where the track crosses the Lake Elizabeth Road down to where it emerges from the bush opposite the Barwon River in Forrest (approximately between the 78km – 83km points of the 100km course and between the 12km and 20km points of the 50km course. The descent flows over 4.5km of track that drops approximately 250m from top to bottom.

The fastest male and female will receive $250 cash. The current record is held by Chris Jongewaard (2012) in an incredible 10:28min – see if you can beat that boys! Or take on Peta Mullens’ (2012) 12:46min for the ladies record.Riders must complete the entire 100km (or 50km) course to be eligible for prize money.

 PC wash

 Together with the Department of Sustainability and Environment, we will be including a bike hygiene procedure to assist in the control of PhytophthoraCinnamomi, a little known introduced plant pathogen that can infect and kill native vegetation – often called ‘die back’ – that has the potential to destroy the Yaugher Single track we love so much.

All 100km and 50km riders must dismount and push their bikes through a shallow trough of Phyto-clean solution when they leave the Forrest Festival at the 38km(and 25km mark for 50km riders)point and again when they return to the Festival at the 64km point (and before finish line for 50km riders). All 50km riders must push their bikes through the shallow baths at the 49.5km point on entry to the Forrest Football Ground at the north west edge of the oval. It will be a very simple process; dismount, push bike through shallow bath of liquid, get on bike again and keep riding! – please respect the forest and help us ensure that the Kona Odyssey is a clean event.

Course changes

Please note that Rapid Ascent reserves the right to change or alter the course from the description above (due to fire, rain, private landowners or other reasons) and that any changes will be clearly communicated to riders through any of the following means:

• SMS sent to competitors phone
• during registration via announcements on the PA and notice posted on the race notice board on Friday evening at Forrest
• when riders are assembled at the start line or
• when riders pass a checkpoint

 Please see the Emergency Plans and Procedures section below for more emergency plan information.

The details on this website were updated on 1 February 2013 and are the final details for the 2013 event. The 2013 Kona Odyssey event program containing all the details on this website plus additional diagrams, maps and sponsor offers can be downloaded from here and we encourage all riders to download and read prior to the event. (Either left click the link to download or right click and ‘save link as’ to your desktop. 22meg)