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RACE INFO

RACE INFO

  • Registration / Start / Finish

    • Mogodi Lodge, in the town of Graskop, Mpumalanga.    https://www.mogodilodge.co.za/

    • The Panorama region of Mpumalanga is situated on the northern section of the Drakensberg mountains. The area has some spectacular scenery, with a history of gold mining. Expect to visit some mountain grassland, plantation forests and indigenous bushy gorges, all at high altitudes in excess of 1500m.

    • The Graskop region is an ideal place to spend the weekend. We encourage spectators, family members and anyone else to stay and watch the race from the Mogodi Lodge base. Great hiking, biking and trail running country. You will be able to keep track of your favourite teams via the satellite tracking page and watch them at special spectator points.

    • At registration we will take a photo of your team for the tracking website. You will also need to sign indemnity forms, provide medical info, etc. Most importantly, you will also receive your Race / Course Booklet upon registration.  This will give you an overview of the course and allow you to plan stages and transitions. Last minute info and answers to important questions will be displayed at registration.

  • Event Distances (approx.)​

    • A1 Series Race

      • 48 hour cut-off, 220km, 32 hour for win.

      • Start will be early Friday morning

    • Explorer Race

      • 26 hour cut-off, 120km.

      • Start will be early Saturday morning.

    • Racing Daylights Race

      • 12 hour cut-off, 60km.

      • Start will be early Saturday morning.

  • Times

    • Registration - from TBA

    • ​

    • A1 Race Briefing - TBA

    • A1 Tracker and map handout - 30 minutes before start

    • A1 Q&A - 15 minutes before start

    • A1 Start - TBA

    • ​

    • Explorer & Racing Daylight Briefing - TBA

    • Explorer & RD trackers & maps - 30 mins before start

    • Explorer & RD Q&A - 15 mins before start

    • Explorer & Racing Daylight Start - TBA

    • ​

    • Finish Cut-off Racing Daylight - TBA

    • Finish Cut-off A1 and Explorer - TBA

    • Prize Giving - TBA

  • Entry details

    • A1 Series Race - R2'200 per person, which includes park & landowner fees, ropes, medic, maps, satellite tracking, finishers memento, etc.

    • Explorer Race - R1'800 per person, which includes park & landowner fees, ropes, medic, maps, satellite tracking, finishers memento, etc.

    • Racing Daylights Race - R1'400 per person, which includes park & landowner fees, ropes, medic, maps, satellite tracking, finishers memento, etc.

    • Entries open TBA

    • Entries close at midnight, TBA

  • Tracking

    • The race will be tracked live – worldwide audience.

    • The Mpumalanga Drakensberg is very remote though, so don't be surprised if team positions aren't updated for a few hours at a time due to poor cellphone coverage in some remote locations.

  • Prizes / Series

    • ​Medals to all finishers.

    • Prize Mementoes for the mixed 4-person teams in each of the 3 race distances.

    • The A1 race is the fourth in the Adventure 1 South Africa series, which comprises 4 races around the country. Best 2 races to count and max 7 team members.

    • A1 Series Prize for mixed 4-person team:

             1st place - Free entry to GODZone New Zealand 2023.

  • Disciplines

    • Navigation – 1:50 000 topographic maps (pre-plotted and on waterproof paper)

    • Running/Trekking – Hiking trails, jeep tracks, game trails, grassland, bushveld and plantation forests.

    • Mountain Biking – Jeep anf forest tracks, a few hiking trails and maybe a short section of district road. All very hilly. You won't be going fast!

    • Paddling – Due to the high altitude nature of the area and the dry season, there will be no paddling discipline. Will will make up for it with other stuff!!!

    • Swimming - Teams may need to swim very short distances.

    • Ropes - We will provide all necessary gear.

    • Caving - We will provide all necessary gear.

  • Distance / Race time / Cut-offs 

    • There will be a cut-offs at various points in the race, where teams will be re-directed onto a short course to have them finish before the final cut off.

    •  All teams will be ranked, including those on Short courses. Rankings will be based on time, and then on their furthest progression down the original full course for any short-coursed teams.

  • Transitions / support

    • No support crew needed.

    • Race organizers will transport two team race boxes between selected transitions.

    • There will be remote transitions where you will leave and return to your bikes. There will thus be a need to carry trekking shoes/clothes on some of the mountain biking legs.

    • You will need to carry food with you for extended parts of the course (up to 12-16 hours of racing). You will not see your support boxes in all transitions.

    • We will have volunteers at the remote TA’s to look after your mountain bikes while you are out trekking.

    • Drinkable water will be available at the all TA’s, but it is scarce in the Mpumalanga escarpment region, so make sure you fill up when available. 

  • Equipment (for all 3 race distances unless stated) 

    • The Mandatory equipment list is compulsory and each team / team member will need to carry these at all times in addition to your normal discipline gear that you deem necessary.

    • ​Personal Mandatory Equipment (1 per person)

      • Waterproof jacket

      • Baselayer top, long-sleeved

      • Baselayer pants (tights are permitted)

      • Headtorch and spare batteries

      • Space Blanket

      • MTB helmet (on MTB and other specified legs only)

      • Front and rear bike lighting (on bike legs only)

      • Enough bottles and bladders to carry 3 or more litres of water.

    • Team Mandatory Equipment​ (1 per team)

      • Sleeping bag or bivvy bag

      • Compass

      • 10m long safety rope (min 6mm thickness)

      • Cellphone (have it waterproofed in ziplocks and sealed)

      • Camera – To take photos of the CPs (this is your CP card – so make sure it has a full battery, is well waterproofed, and does not fail. The camera cannot be a cellphone camera, as cellphones are not allowed to be used during the race).

      • Bike lock and cable, capable of locking all team bikes together in transitions (on bike legs only).

      • Water purification tablets or drops

      • Basic first aid kit – i.e. Anti-inflammatories, anti-histamines, painkillers, bandage, plasters.

      • 2 x Race transition boxes - (max dimensions of L=60cm W=50cm H=55cm), that will be available at two separate transitions.

    • Bikes - you will need to bring your own bikes. 

  • Race Rules

    • Please make sure you have read the race rules on this website.

    • The Graskop area is a forest plantation area and the race is at the end of the dry season with the highest fire danger rating. As such fires as completely forbidden and may not be lit by teams even in an emergency. The carrying of lighters or matches is prohibited.

    • Similarly, smoking out on the course is also forbidden.

  • Fair Play and Ethical Racing​

    • From the moment you receive your race booklet at registration, AR fair play rules mean that you should not seek additional information about the course to gain an unfair advantage (e.g. by going onto Google Earth - we make sure your race maps are highly accurate and updated anyway!). We don't have the time and resources to implement a 'lock-down' so please can everyone respect the fair-play rules and adhere to the usual codes of sportsmanship. In this regard, a reminder that the use of cellphones and other GPS devices are forbidden during the race and the use of the team cell-phone is for emergencies only. If you are lost, don't phone us... sort yourselves out and relocate. You have a tracking device so we will always know where to find you on Sunday morning....

  • Spectators / Volunteers

    • Due to rugged nature of the region, spectators will find it hard to get out onto the course, but we will recommend some great viewing places where they can see the race pass at least twice. 

    • Graskop is a superb getaway place for the weekend. Feel free to bring friends and family who can cheer you on whilst they enjoy the local hiking and running trails, the view over the escarpment and the gorges. 

    • Non-racing partners who wish to be involved can help us by volunteering to assist as marshals. Contact us if interested.

  • Accommodation

    • Teams will need to book and pay for their own accommodation in Graskop.

    • Our hosts for the registration, briefing, start and finish are Mogodi Lodge. We strongly recommend booking here so that you can roll into bed when finished. They have self-catering chalets available that sleep up to 4 persons, with a twin and double room in each.

    • The Lodge is situated at the Graskop Gorge Falls, so is also a superb base for family, friends and spectators to stay.

    • https://www.mogodilodge.co.za/

    • Please book directly with Mogodi Lodge at mogodilodge@absamail.co.za or 013-767-1110 and mention that you are booking for the Adventure Race.

    • Self-catering Chalet prices (min 2 night stay on Fri and Sat)

      • 1-2 persons @ R 1300 per night

      • 3 persons @ R 1450 per night

      • 4 persons @ R 1600 per night​

  • Organization​

    • This event is organized by Cyanosis Adventure Racing and presented by Mountain Runner Events.​ with Cyanosis' Nicholas Mulder as the course planner and event director,

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