Race Rules for the 2017 Adventure Race European Championship

ORGANISATION
Organizer of the Race: Red Fox Company
Chairman of the Organisation Committee: Olga Moroz
Designer and Chief Judge: Vitalij Chegarovskij
Vice Chairman of the Organisation Committee, Safety Manager: Denis Kuprienko
Responsible for installation of the rope course: Alexander Ovcharuk
Supervisor of the volunteers: Dmitrij Bulavinov
Manager of the Race Centre: Dmitrij Smoljaninov
Electronic timekeeping: Jurij Gultjaev
Chief secretary: Aljona Strepetova

LOCATION OF THE RACE CENTRE
The race takes place in the surroundings of the town of Sortavala in the Karelian Republic. The Race Centre is located on the shore of Haasiansalmi strait, Lake Ladoga, on the territory of the recreation centre "MPK", where participants and organizers will be staying in tents.

Rules for passing the different sections

The route follows a fixed order of stages in non-stop mode.

Teams which have passed the obligatory check points in wrong order, or which have not passed one or more obligatory check points, may continue the course, but will be ranked lower than other teams, which have passed the check points in the right order.

In case of a storm coming in, a different order for passing the sections of the course may be announced in the morning of the start day, depending on weather forecast. If the storm comes unexpectedly, corrections in the order of the course may be announced when competitors are already on-course.

Teams which are moving too slow to pass all stages of the course in the established time limit (see below) will be directed to a shorter course by the organizers.

A team which has left the course due to any reasons shall inform the organizers or judges as soon as possible about problems, their location and plans for future actions.

Electronic punching

Check points are equipped by electronic punching system SFR. The according SFR-chip will be handled to the competitors during race registration and has to be fixed on each competitor's wrist.

Registering at a check point is obligatory for every team member, otherwise passing of a check point will not be counted!

Time for passing a check point from first to last member of a team cannot be more than 1 minute. This does not apply to rope and rock climbing stages and other special sections, which will be specified in the route sheet.

If a chip breaks due to pressure or other impact, the competitor must inform the judges while passing the nearest transition area.

There is a slight chance that an electronic check point may be out of order or has been removed by outsiders. Please do not stop the race to call to the organizers, but continue and inform the organizers about it on occasion. If the check point is not working or has been removed, the passing of its location is valid without electronic punching.

Check points

The check points are located at or on distinctive natural or artificial objects. Check points are marked on maps by circles, the centre of which shows the exact position of the check point.

Check points themselves are marked by white-and-orange signs, the size of which may be different, depending on the objects on which they are located. The signs of check points are visible from the way points, shown in the legend, but not at an earlier stage. The station of electronic punching is installed right near the signs. Any other important information concerning a specific check point is given in the legend, which is handled to the competitors together with the route sheet.

Legend

The legend describes, in words, the location of an object, at or on which a check point is located. For some of the check points there are pictures (photos) of an object, on which an arrow indicates the exact location of the check point or the direction of movement towards the check point. The legend is included in the route sheet.

Route sheet

The route sheet provides the following information: order of passing sections; order of passing check points; legends of all check points; operating hours of transition areas; specific rules for passing specific check points, or time limits for passing them.

Transition areas

Transition areas are located in places, where teams will change race stages. At all transition areas drinking water and hot tea will be provided. In the Race centre, there will be drinking water, hot tea and hot food. The working hours of transition areas are limited and specified in the route sheet.

Gear and equipment can be transported to 3 different transition areas (TA):

1. To TA-1 from the Race centre: bicycles and other gear and equipment. Here you can also leave your live vests.
2. To TA-5 from the Race centre: any gear and equipment; to TA-5 from TA-1: live vests.
3. TA-8 from the Race centre: kayaks, paddles and other gear and equipment

There are no weight and size limits.
No bags will be provided by the organizers for gear transportation (you have to bring your own bags).
Bicycles will be packed in durable, soft protective foil.

Maps

We provide special maps, drawn and edited exclusively for the race, with common symbols, used in topographic maps and orienteering.

Maps are drawn on the base of topographical maps of the area with a scale of 1:50 000, satellite imagery and field work, done in the year 2016. The maps are laminated on both sides (mat laminate).

There will be several maps with different scales for the different sections of the course. Each competitor will get a full set of maps. We recommend to bring along thin permanent pen markers of red or blue colour for marking your routes on the maps.

Scoring system

Teams receive 1 point for passing each check point. The result of a team depends on the amount of points received at check points during the course in the given time limit.

Safety

Each competitor has to be aware of the fact that the race bears inherent dangers due to technical, natural and climatic circumstances.

The competitors must not admit fatigue and overwork and need to stay attentive, coordinated and have a good reaction throughout the whole course.

Competitors must not continue the course or refuse to pass a certain section of the course, if they are lacking physical or psychological abilities to continue.

Each team has to carry a cell phone in a waterproof package to connect to the organizers in emergency. The emergency phone number is indicated on each map.

Cell phone connection is available not everywhere during the course. On the top of hills or on wide open waters the connection normally is good. "Megafon" is working better then all other providers!

All competitors must wear life vests during the paddling stage.

All competitors must wear helmets during the mountain bike and rope stages.

There will be a doctor and medical station located in the Race Centre, where every competitor can get help at any time.

The organizer disclaims any material, civil and criminal liability in case of injury or material damage received during the course. The competitors must have medical and accident insurance.

A team which has left the course prior to the finish gate, or could not reached the finish gate in time, must contact the organizers as soon as possible to inform them about their wellbeing or problems and, thereafter, show up at the finish gate and return all electronic chips.

Rules of admittance of teams to the European Championship

The organizers of the 2017 Adventure Racing European Championship have limited the amount of participating teams by 25.

The organizer provides equal kayaks (baidarkas) to the 25 teams. The kayaks are of frame construction with inflatable elements, "Vector 2" made by the Russian company "Triton".

International teams are admitted without any conditions concerning their sporting level.

Russian teams are admitted with regards to their results in former adventure races of non-stop type, 48 hours or more, which they have to proof by a copy of the race report. This is, for European or International races: rank 10 or better, for established Russian races: rank 3 or better. Participation during the years 2014-2016.

If there are more than 25 applicants, the teams which applied first will be admitted first.

Payment of the start fee

All registered teams must pay an start fee for participation in the Race.
The entrance fee is 880 Euros for a team of 4 racers.

The start fee includes:
- transfer from St.Petersburg (Pulkovo Airport) to the Race Center
- transfer from the finish to St.Petersburg (Pulkovo Airport)
- special offers on accommodation in Red Fox tents (sleeping bags, mats) upon request

Starting package:
- race bag
- official race bibs
- numbers for bikes and kayaks
- race T-shirt
- race bandana
- set of waterproof maps
- waterproof route sheets

Equipment for special stages:
- kayaks rental (including supply to the race center)
- ropes at technical stages

- electronic punching system SFR
- food and drinks (hot and cold) on transitions
- first aid in case of emergency

Return policy
If, for any reason, you are not able to participate in the race, you may cancel your participation with refund warranty on the conditions below, or you may register another person to join the team instead of you. For money refund, please contact us by email at rfar@redfox.ru.

- 50% return in case of cancellation notification, by March, 15th, 2017
- 30% return in case of cancellation notification, by April, 10th, 2017
- No returns possible after April, 10th, 2017

For returns of parts of the entrance fee you need to contact us by e-mail rfar@redfox.ru.

Registration procedure step-by-step

1. The team informs about its arrival and confirms the final team line-up.
2. After that, the whole team has to undergo a pre-race gear check of all mandatory equipment.
3. Each competitor has to show his medical and accident insurances, covering extreme sports activities in Russia. Please contact your insurance company before arriving to Russia and find the type of insurance which is fitting your needs during the race (first aid/ evacuation/ transportation to the nearest hospital/ medical treatment). Insurances cannot be concluded on spot.
4. The team receives start bibs, start numbers for their bikes and kayaks, maps, route sheet and T-shirts from Red Fox.
5. Each competitor receives the electronic chip for marking at the check points.
6. Each competitor has to personally sign the disclaimer, in which the organizer disclaims all responsibility for the participants' health and life during the course.
7. The team passes the test section for rope work in the Race Centre.

Ecological ethics

The organizers may exclude teams from the course, if they their behavior does not confirm with ecological ethics and causes harm to nature. During the course, all garbage has to be taken along and returned to the garbage bins at the Race Centre or villages or towns nearby.

Sports ethics

The Race Regulations require that the teams have to respect each other and behave kindly and attentively. In difficult situations and emergency, the teams must help each other in all possible ways. According to the Race Regulations, mutual aid between humans is valued more than results in the race.

Audience and support crew

According to the Race Regulations, only mental support of the teams is allowed. Outside assistance is allowed only regarding the preparation and passing of gear and food in the transition areas. In case of receiving physical help from outside, the team will be disqualified.

Start bibs and placement of sponsors' names

During all stages of the race, the competitors have to wear their bibs with start numbers, which they have received during registration. The bibs have to be worn on top of all clothing and, during the paddling stage, on top of life vests. If the start bib is not worn properly, there will be a penalty of 1 point.

Penalties and disqualification

There may be on-course gear checks during the Race. Lack of one item of mandatory gear involves to a penalty of 1 point.

The team may be disqualified due to following violations:
- receiving physical outside assistance;
- use of means of transport and gear, which are not allowed during the course;
- violation of the Race Regulations and safety instructions;
- violations of sports ethics;
- violations of ecological ethics.

All disputes regarding results of the race, penalties and any other matters are solved by the chief judge. Appeals have to be submitted in written form not later than 30 minutes before the beginning of the awards ceremony.

Determination of the winners

Winners are determined by the maximum amount of points gathered during the course, not exceeding the time limit. In case, if several teams have passed equal number of check points, then competition time is taken into account.

Teams which have passed the obligatory check points in wrong order, or which have not passed one or more obligatory check points will be ranked lower, than other teams, which have passed the check points in the right order.

Finish

The competition time of a team is determined at the finish check point. The time is noted when the last team member passes the finish line. After finishing, all competitors have to handle their electronic chips to the judges in the judges' tent.

Exceeding the time limit

Time limit for the Race = 72h (+ 1h for reserve).

This means that, if a team is not able to pass the whole course in the given time limit, it has to shorten their course and reach the finish line not later than the established 72h.

In case, if a team exceeds the time limit for more than 1 hour it will be disqualified.

All teams which could not reach the finish line in time must contact the organizers by phone and inform about their current location and conditions, if possible.

Awards

The teams who win 1st - 3rd place are awarded with medals and prizes from the sponsors.

Changes to the race program

The organizers reserve the right to make changes to the race regulations in case of urgent necessity or occurrence of an unpredictable situation.

You and your team are cordially invited to
the 2017 Adventure Race European Championship!