Jul 22 2005
2005 SMAC Adventure Races
ABOUT THE RACES
In our six years of holding adventure races we have struggled with a longstanding dilemma – do we have a short sprint race or expand to hold a 24 hour event. This year we have an answer – BOTH !!!! A new 24 hour race will be run in conjunction with our traditional July 8 hour Sprint. We feel that adventure races need to be more then just endurance events so we included as much adventure as we can capturing the fun aspects of adventure racing in a format that will allow most of the field to finish the race. Both races will reflect our core commitment to hold events that are especially designed to introduce the participants to the many aspects of the sport that might otherwise take years to experience. We are excited about holding these two races as it will allow us to incorporate some new disciplines, surprises and concepts that will make this event special. To find out more about the events go to the forum section of our website. To sign up for the events go to our race registration section of our website.
24 HOUR EVENT:
We will be expanding on our sprint format for this event. As many of you know, one of the things about longer races is that each stage just seems to go on forever. Although that can be part of the challenge it can also take a lot of the fun away from the experience. Our event will include more disciplines so you will never be doing any one thing too long. The event’s unique design makes it suitable for intermediate to the more advanced racer, utilizing a final rogaine stage where each team’s finish is decided by the number of controls collected. The course will be designed so that teams could include several hours of sleep in a transition area and still have time to collect check points before the cut-off time. All teams are 2-person only, with the divisions of male (MM), female (FF) and co-ed (MF). Each team will be required to have a support crew to move your gear between transition areas. Teams will be required to plot UTM coordinates and to navigate each stage of the race using provided topographical maps. The race will have a strict 24-hour cut that will coincide with the finish of the sprint race; and as always SMAC will be providing post-race food and drink in an atmosphere where racers can share their experiences.
LOCATION In keeping with tradition, the exact location of this year’s race will not yet be disclosed. However, we will say that the race will be held in SE Michigan and will involve the use of the local state and metroparks. The final course will be disclosed at the mandatory pre-race briefing to be held on Friday, July 22nd. In addition, racers will be receiving updates on the club’s website prior to the race.
DISCIPLINES:
Canoe: The canoe sections will not include any whitewater canoeing, but an understanding of water safety is required. Teams are responsible for their own canoe, paddles (standard or kayak), and PFDs. Heavner Canoe Livery will be providing a pickup and delivery service to the race site call (248) 685-2379 to reserve your equipment.
Mountain Bike: The course will be mostly single track (some of the best in this region) to test your technical abilities, in combination with dirt and paved roads that will test your speed. The trails will be moderately technical in most areas.
Heavy Pack Trekking: For this stage each racer will be required to carry a pack that will be equal to 20% of his or her body weight. A weigh-in will be conducted at the Friday pre-race briefing to determine the weight of the team’s packs. Note that loads can be shared during this stage, but each pack weight must equal its tagged weight when the teams complete the stage. Look for checks during this stage.
Inline or Quad Skating: Teams will skate on skate- / walk-specific paths.
Snorkeling: Teams will be test their swimming skills in this unique stage.
Orienteering / Rogaine: Anticipate trails, dense brush, woodlands and swampy lowlands with a significant off-trail section where navigation will be tested. Typical orienteering protocols will be used with orienteering clue cards (hieroglyphic control descriptions). The number of check points that are collected in this last stage of the race will determine the team’s overall finish.
Fixed Ropes: There will be multiple rope stages that will be closely monitored by qualified guides. No certifications will be required but racers will need to have an understanding of tyrolean traverse with ascenders (horizontal progression), ascending (vertical progression) and rappelling. Note that we plan to have clinics prior to the race on these disciplines, and the team from Plant Rock will be on hand keeping things safe.
8 HOUR SPRINT EVENT:
The event’s unique design makes it suitable for the beginner to intermediate competitor and it will reflect our core commitment to hold races that are designed to be a teaching tool as well as being a fun experience. This race captures the essence of an expedition length race but compresses it into 8 hours using the formats and protocols of a professional level event. All teams are 2-person only with the divisions of male (MM), female (FF) and co-ed (MF). No support crew is needed and we will be posting detailed pre-race announcements that will guide racers through the process. Teams will be required to navigate each stage of the race using provided pre-marked topographical maps. Navigation instructors will be on hand prior to the race and SMAC is planning preparation clinics on the disciplines of adventure racing prior to this event. The race will have a strict 8-hour cut that will coincide with the finish of the 24hr race; and as always SMAC will be providing post-race food and drink in an atmosphere where racers can share their experiences.
LOCATION: Brighton Recreation Area 6360 Chilson Road, Howell, MI 48843-9451 (810) 229-6566
DISCIPLINES:
Kayak: The kayak sections will flat water, but an understanding of water safety is required. SMAC will provide kayaks, paddles and PFDs.
Mountain Bike: The mountain bike stage will be at least 10 miles and probably more. You must locate and check in at each required checkpoint. There will no looped routes or out-and-back sections. The course will be mostly single track (some of the best in this region) to test your technical abilities in combination with dirt roads that will test your speed. The trails will be moderately technical in most areas.
Trekking/Trail Running: Total trekking in this stage will be a minimum of 6 miles – more depending on your route. The trails will be taking you through woodlands, fields and lowlands
Orienteering: The terrain you will be trekking through can include trails, dense brush, woodlands and swampy lowlands; you will always go through a significant off-trail section where navigation will be tested. Typical orienteering protocols will be used with pre-marked maps, and orienteering clue cards (hieroglyphic control descriptions). The number of check points that are collected in this last stage of the race will determine the team’s overall finish. Clothing for this section should be suitable for bushwhacking.
Fixed Ropes: The rope stage is set up to be extremely safe and is closely monitored by qualified guides from Plant Rock who will make sure that your experience is fun and safe. No special skills, equipment or certifications will be required. There will be multiple rope stages at any point during the event and could include Tyrolean Traverses, Zip Lines or other rigging.
EVENT DETAILS FOR 24hr & 8hr RACES:
Race Registration, Mandatory Gear List, Team Finder & Race Information is available at http://www.smacworld.com
Questions: e-mail race director Paul Piorkowski at paul@smacworld.com or call 734 699-5182 mail box #3.
Mystery Discipline In-Line Skating Sailing Canadian Canoe River Kayak Mountain Biking Navigation Zip Wire/Tyrolean Ropework Trail Running/WalkingSee All Event Posts
In our six years of holding adventure races we have struggled with a longstanding dilemma – do we have a short sprint race or expand to hold a 24 hour event. This year we have an answer – BOTH !!!! A new 24 hour race will be run in conjunction with our traditional July 8 hour Sprint. We feel that adventure races need to be more then just endurance events so we included as much adventure as we can capturing the fun aspects of adventure racing in a format that will allow most of the field to finish the race. Both races will reflect our core commitment to hold events that are especially designed to introduce the participants to the many aspects of the sport that might otherwise take years to experience. We are excited about holding these two races as it will allow us to incorporate some new disciplines, surprises and concepts that will make this event special. To find out more about the events go to the forum section of our website. To sign up for the events go to our race registration section of our website.
24 HOUR EVENT:
We will be expanding on our sprint format for this event. As many of you know, one of the things about longer races is that each stage just seems to go on forever. Although that can be part of the challenge it can also take a lot of the fun away from the experience. Our event will include more disciplines so you will never be doing any one thing too long. The event’s unique design makes it suitable for intermediate to the more advanced racer, utilizing a final rogaine stage where each team’s finish is decided by the number of controls collected. The course will be designed so that teams could include several hours of sleep in a transition area and still have time to collect check points before the cut-off time. All teams are 2-person only, with the divisions of male (MM), female (FF) and co-ed (MF). Each team will be required to have a support crew to move your gear between transition areas. Teams will be required to plot UTM coordinates and to navigate each stage of the race using provided topographical maps. The race will have a strict 24-hour cut that will coincide with the finish of the sprint race; and as always SMAC will be providing post-race food and drink in an atmosphere where racers can share their experiences.
LOCATION In keeping with tradition, the exact location of this year’s race will not yet be disclosed. However, we will say that the race will be held in SE Michigan and will involve the use of the local state and metroparks. The final course will be disclosed at the mandatory pre-race briefing to be held on Friday, July 22nd. In addition, racers will be receiving updates on the club’s website prior to the race.
DISCIPLINES:
Canoe: The canoe sections will not include any whitewater canoeing, but an understanding of water safety is required. Teams are responsible for their own canoe, paddles (standard or kayak), and PFDs. Heavner Canoe Livery will be providing a pickup and delivery service to the race site call (248) 685-2379 to reserve your equipment.
Mountain Bike: The course will be mostly single track (some of the best in this region) to test your technical abilities, in combination with dirt and paved roads that will test your speed. The trails will be moderately technical in most areas.
Heavy Pack Trekking: For this stage each racer will be required to carry a pack that will be equal to 20% of his or her body weight. A weigh-in will be conducted at the Friday pre-race briefing to determine the weight of the team’s packs. Note that loads can be shared during this stage, but each pack weight must equal its tagged weight when the teams complete the stage. Look for checks during this stage.
Inline or Quad Skating: Teams will skate on skate- / walk-specific paths.
Snorkeling: Teams will be test their swimming skills in this unique stage.
Orienteering / Rogaine: Anticipate trails, dense brush, woodlands and swampy lowlands with a significant off-trail section where navigation will be tested. Typical orienteering protocols will be used with orienteering clue cards (hieroglyphic control descriptions). The number of check points that are collected in this last stage of the race will determine the team’s overall finish.
Fixed Ropes: There will be multiple rope stages that will be closely monitored by qualified guides. No certifications will be required but racers will need to have an understanding of tyrolean traverse with ascenders (horizontal progression), ascending (vertical progression) and rappelling. Note that we plan to have clinics prior to the race on these disciplines, and the team from Plant Rock will be on hand keeping things safe.
8 HOUR SPRINT EVENT:
The event’s unique design makes it suitable for the beginner to intermediate competitor and it will reflect our core commitment to hold races that are designed to be a teaching tool as well as being a fun experience. This race captures the essence of an expedition length race but compresses it into 8 hours using the formats and protocols of a professional level event. All teams are 2-person only with the divisions of male (MM), female (FF) and co-ed (MF). No support crew is needed and we will be posting detailed pre-race announcements that will guide racers through the process. Teams will be required to navigate each stage of the race using provided pre-marked topographical maps. Navigation instructors will be on hand prior to the race and SMAC is planning preparation clinics on the disciplines of adventure racing prior to this event. The race will have a strict 8-hour cut that will coincide with the finish of the 24hr race; and as always SMAC will be providing post-race food and drink in an atmosphere where racers can share their experiences.
LOCATION: Brighton Recreation Area 6360 Chilson Road, Howell, MI 48843-9451 (810) 229-6566
DISCIPLINES:
Kayak: The kayak sections will flat water, but an understanding of water safety is required. SMAC will provide kayaks, paddles and PFDs.
Mountain Bike: The mountain bike stage will be at least 10 miles and probably more. You must locate and check in at each required checkpoint. There will no looped routes or out-and-back sections. The course will be mostly single track (some of the best in this region) to test your technical abilities in combination with dirt roads that will test your speed. The trails will be moderately technical in most areas.
Trekking/Trail Running: Total trekking in this stage will be a minimum of 6 miles – more depending on your route. The trails will be taking you through woodlands, fields and lowlands
Orienteering: The terrain you will be trekking through can include trails, dense brush, woodlands and swampy lowlands; you will always go through a significant off-trail section where navigation will be tested. Typical orienteering protocols will be used with pre-marked maps, and orienteering clue cards (hieroglyphic control descriptions). The number of check points that are collected in this last stage of the race will determine the team’s overall finish. Clothing for this section should be suitable for bushwhacking.
Fixed Ropes: The rope stage is set up to be extremely safe and is closely monitored by qualified guides from Plant Rock who will make sure that your experience is fun and safe. No special skills, equipment or certifications will be required. There will be multiple rope stages at any point during the event and could include Tyrolean Traverses, Zip Lines or other rigging.
EVENT DETAILS FOR 24hr & 8hr RACES:
Race Registration, Mandatory Gear List, Team Finder & Race Information is available at http://www.smacworld.com
Questions: e-mail race director Paul Piorkowski at paul@smacworld.com or call 734 699-5182 mail box #3.
Mystery Discipline In-Line Skating Sailing Canadian Canoe River Kayak Mountain Biking Navigation Zip Wire/Tyrolean Ropework Trail Running/WalkingSee All Event Posts
