We’re excited to welcome a mix of seasoned racers and first-time adventurers to our race on October 12th at Margam Park! With many newcomers this year, we want to ensure everyone is fully prepared and ready to hit the ground running. A more detailed competitors information will be posted shortly but here is a start so you know what to expect.
Race Day Overview - what to expect
This year’s event is a 6-hour race, so it’ll be an early start! Please plan to arrive no earlier than 07:30. From the car park, it’s a short 7-minute walk to the event centre—uphill—so make sure you bring everything you need for the race with you. Toilets and facilities are available a few hundred meters from the event centre, and you’ll pass them on your way from the car park.
What to Bring
For a smooth race, ensure you have the following gear:
Mountain Bike: A well-maintained bike (flat or clip-on pedals).
Helmet: Mandatory for all racers.
Bike Shoes: If you use clip-in pedals.
Small Rucksack: To carry snacks, water, a warm layer, and waterproofs.
Bike Spares: Essential tools or spares to handle any mechanical issues on the go.
Map Board (optional but recommended): Handy for the biking phase to keep your map easily accessible.
You can store your kit in a bag or box at the event centre, and the bike transition area will be secure for you to leave your bike and gear when not in use.
Schedule & Registration
Upon arrival, head straight to registration to collect your maps, which will be double-sided A3 with all the checkpoints and control descriptions. You’ll have time to review the map and plan your routes until 08:15, so use this window wisely to strategise.
Race Phases & Route Planning
There are two main phases to plan: the foot-orienteering stage and the bike-orienteering stage.
Foot Orienteering & Kayak Phase:
The race starts on foot with an orienteering section featuring approximately 15 checkpoints.
Only a few participants are expected to clear this phase entirely, so you’ll likely need to make strategic decisions about which checkpoints to skip. All checkpoints are worth the same value.
We recommend spending no more than 1 hour and 45 minutes on this phase.
During the foot phase, there’s a short 1km kayak stage with no navigation required, which should take no more than 15 minutes. You can complete this kayak section at any point during the foot-orienteering stage.
Bike Orienteering Phase:
After the foot section, you’ll move onto the bike orienteering phase, with around 18 checkpoints to find.
Like the foot stage, only a few participants are expected to clear the entire bike course, so plan your route carefully.
This section is very hilly, so monitor your pace and adjust your route as needed. We recommend allowing around 4 hours for this phase.
For reference, our team completed the bike course in 3 hours and 10 minutes on electric bikes set to ECO mode, averaging a speed of 13.6 km/h.
Results & Scoring
The race winner will be the fastest to clear the course.
For everyone else, rankings are determined by who collects the most checkpoints in the fastest time.
If you think you can complete the course within the 6-hour limit, go for it! But beware—for every 10 minutes you go over the 6-hour time limit, you will lose 1 point (rounded up to the nearest 10 minutes).
Competitors using electric bikes will receive a race time but will not be ranked in the results. You are to declare the use of your electirc bike at registration.
Final Thoughts
With some careful planning and strategic decisions, this adventure race is bound to be an exciting and challenging experience. We’re looking forward to seeing you at the start line.
There is only 1 solo space but more team spaces available. Enter now before it's too late!
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