Congratulations on choosing to join us in the majestic White River National Forest near Vail Colorado. Race Date: September 6th, 2008 Getting There: The Vail Valley and surrounding area is approximately a 2.5 hour drive from Denver, 7 hour drive from Salt Lake City and a 14 hour drive from Phoenix. If arriving by plane, you're best to arrive at the Denver International Airport. Colorado Search & Rescue Card All participants are encouraged (they are optional) to have a Colorado Search & Rescue card to participate in any of the Colorado AdventureXstream events. This card costs $3.00 and is good for one year. This card will pay for any Search & Rescue including helicopter transport in the event of an accident. These cards will be available for purchase at racer check-in if you do not have one already. About Vail - Vail is located in a mountainous region, and has a mild and arid climate. Vail gets an average of 300 days of sunshine, and 300 inches of snowfall each year. Expect the snow to fall from mid-October through mid-May; the Rocky Mountain location lends itself to ever-changing weather. May and June typically experience the most rainfall, while July and August tend to be warm and dry. September is generally much like August with sunny days and cool nights, and with the arrival of autumn comes the chance for rain or light snow. The mountains offer an ever-changing climate -- it's always best to be prepared for anything! When To Arrive (Sprint Racers & 12 Hour Racers) You will need to arrive at Rancho Del Rio for registration between 6:00pm and 9:00pm on Friday September 5th. All athletes and support crews are requested to arrive together at registration. Rancho Del Rio, 4199 Trough Road, Bond, CO 80423 - ph: 970-653-4431
Supported or Unsupported: For this event you can choose to have it be supported or unsupported. We encourage you to provide your own support crew as this will limit your logistical requirements for the event. However, if you cannot provide your own support crew we will be offering a gear drop option for those teams. Additional logistical information about the gear drop will be posted to future "race updates". Accommodations: The race takes place in the White River National Forest and the start of the event will be about a 40 minute drive from the Vail valley. We recommend that participants camp at Rancho Del Rio, Pumphouse or Radium. For teams that wish hotel accommodations the closest location to the start of the event would be at State Bridge, Avon, or Kremmling. Camping Options: Lodging in Avon (Between Vail & Wolcott):
Lodging in Kremmling:
Lodging at State Bridge:
If you prefer to find other lodging accommodations you can call the Vail Valley Tourism and Convention Bureau. Their reservation specialists are experts on the area and can answer your general questions as well as book lodging and airfare. For reservations, please call 800-525-3875 and for comprehensive information on summer activities, go to www.vailalways.com Boat Requirements AdventureXstream will provide the Aire Tomcat tandem for all 2 person and 4 person teams. In order to keep the paddling sections fair and equitable all teams will be required to use the boats provided. Alterations to the kayaks will not be permitted. Note: We do not provide life vests or paddles. Solo racers (12 hour only) Solo athletes are required to bring their own kayak of choice for the race. We have secured 15 Aire Solo Inflatable Kayaks that solo racers can rent on a first come first served basis. We will have the kayaks ready at the transition area so that you do not have to transport a kayak for the event. Cost is $25.00. If you are renting a kayak from an outfitter, you will need to arrange boat pickup on Friday as the race starts early on Saturday. Less experienced paddlers are encouraged to use inflatable kayaks or sit on top kayaks. The Colorado River Center will most likely be your best option for rentals from an outfitter. All solos using a hardshell kayak must use a kayak skirt unless it is a sit on top. Note: The paddling section has class II/II+ rapids as well as some flat water sections.
Mountain Bike Rental/Service: Here is a list of Bicycle Rental and Repair Shops in the Vail area. Please call well in advance of the race to secure your rental.
Itinerary: Racer Check-In: Friday September 5th, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Race Start: Saturday September 6th - Time TBA Navigation / Map Reading: You will navigate your way over a vast area of diverse terrain with the combination of maps, compass, UTM coordinates, and racer instructions. This does not require advanced level map reading skills. You will have to work hard at getting lost. *** You will get race route maps at racer check-in. Checkpoints and Passports: Each team and solo athlete will receive 1 Official AdventureXstream Passport to be completed throughout the race. No replacement passports will be issued. You will encounter numerous checkpoints at strategic locations along the race route. We use these checkpoints to monitor each racer's position along the race course. Each checkpoint will have a punch for your passport. Passports must be completed in full and presented for inspection at the finish line. Self Sufficient: This is a self sufficient Adventure Race, meaning anything you need while racing, including food, clothing, shoes, etc you have to carry during the race. There will be first aid stations that will be marked on the race map. There will be no water stations on the race route. Safety & Emergency Rescue: Gravity Play Sports is working directly and indirectly with the following agencies to ensure your safety at all times:
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