RACE RULES FOR THE

Race Rules for the Red Fox Adventure Race 2021

Goals and Objectives

Promotion of a healthy life-style. Popularization and development of adventure races as a relatively new sport in Russia. Attraction of new people into outdoor sports. Introduction of the unique nature and landscapes of the North-Western Region of the Russian Federation to adventure racers from all over the world.

Organization

Organizer of the Race: Red Fox Company
Chairman of the Organisation Committee: Olga Moroz
Race Designer and Chief Judge: Ilya Stroganov
Vice Chairman of the Organisation Committee and Safety Manager: Denis Kuprienko
Responsible for Installation of the Rope Stage: Alexander Ovcharuk
Supervisor of the Volunteers: Dmitry Bulavinov
Manager of the Race Centre: Ilya Kuznetsov
Electronic Timekeeping: Jury Gultjaev
Chief Secretary: Aljona Strepetova

Date and Location of the Race Center

The Red Fox Adventure Race 2021 will be held in the picturesque Leningrad Region, on banks of Ladoga Lake on June, 11th-14th, 2021. Starting point of the Race – Podborovye village.

Accommodation for participants and organizers will be organized in tents.

Information on Race Rules, time of briefing and gear check will be given in the Race Program (Race terms - June, 12th-14th, 2021. Details of program will be published no later than May 1st). Information on location of tented camp for accommodation of participants and location of the Race Centre will be published in the news.

Race Format

The Race is an adventure race with different ways of traveling: mountain biking, kayaking, trekking, swimming, rowing on inflatable floating devices, roping. The Race format is a non-stop adventure race.

Line-up of Teams

For each class/course, short or long, there are three line-ups (groups):
1. team of 4 racers (minimum one woman)
2. team of 2 racers – man/man line-up
3. team of 2 racers – man/woman line-up

Each racer has to reach the age of 18 by the start of the Race. Each team has to elect a captain.

Rules for Passing the Different Sections

The Race course consists of several stages (obligatory stages and additional stages).
The main way of traveling during each stage is specified.
All stages must be passed in a specific order.

During the obligatory part of the Race, teams also may pass additional stages or visit additional check points according to their time and abilities left over. Additional stages are supposed to be passed in the order proposed by the organizers, or may be missed.

Each stage contains a certain number of checkpoints. Most checkpoints are obligatory and need to be visited in the order specified in the route sheet, some checkpoints are optional and may be visited in any order.

For separate stages there might be special regulations for passing, which will be specified in the route sheet.

The route sheet clearly describes which checkpoints belongs to which specific stage and when they can be visited.

* The changing of the course of different stages assumes passing the Race Center and transition areas.

Mandatory Equipment

The team members must carry all mandatory personal and group equipment indicated for each of the stages. The judges have the right to check equipment on-course. There will be a penalty of one point for every single missing item.

Before registration, each racer must personally undergo a gear check specified by the Race Rules. Participants who have not undergone the gear check or who have presented equipment inappropriate to the requirements are not allowed to start. Detailed technical requirements for mandatory equipment for the fix rope stages can be checked here: Technical Requirements for Mandatory Equipment for Fix Rope Stages.

During the entire Race, all teams must carry the following mandatory team equipment:
1. First aid kit in a sealed dry bag. It must contain: 2 sterile bandages of 6 cm width; adhesive plaster minimum 3 cm width; cotton padding; anaesthetic (Paracetamol or other); anti-inflammatory (Ibuprofen or other). 2. Knife.
3. Matches in a sealed dry bag.
4. Mobile phone fully charged in a sealed dry bag.
5. Map and route sheet (provided by the organizers).
6. GPS tracker in a sealed dry bag (can be provided by the organizers).

During the whole Race, every team member must carry the following mandatory personal equipment:
1. Compass.
2. Whistle.
3. Headlight with a double stock of batteries.
4. Start bib (provided by the organizers).
5. Electronic chip fixed on competitor's wrist (provided by the organizers).

Mandatory team equipment for the mountain bike stage:
1. Odometer (present in any bike computer).

Mandatory personal equipment for the mountain bike stage:
1. Mountain bike with red rear light.
2. Helmet.
3. Bike gloves.
4. Team’s number (handed over by organizers during registration), which must be fixed on the front of the bike.

Recommended equipment for the mountain bike stage:
1. Clothing according to weather conditions.
2. One spare tube for each team member.
3. Bicycle repair kit.
4. Food supplies for the whole stage.
5. Bike map-board on handlebar.

All participants must obey traffic rules and regulations. It is mandatory to use a helmet during the whole MTB stage.

Mandatory team equipment for the kayak stage:
1. For teams of 2 racers: Two-seat kayak and one pair of paddles.
2. For teams of 4 racers: 2 two-seat kayaks and 2 pairs of paddles.
It is allowed to use kayaks of any model. The kayak must be equipped with floatation bags corresponding to its model. All standard details of frame and body of the kayak must be in working condition.

3. Kayak repair kit in case of damage of frame or body of the kayak.

Mandatory personal equipment for the kayak stage:
1. Life vest.
2. Skirt.

Recommended equipment for the kayak stage:
1. Map-board in А3 format.
2. Gloves with good grip.
3. Clothing according to the changing weather conditions and an additional spare set of clothes packed in a dry bag.
4. Food supplies for the whole stage.

All participants must wear life vests during the whole kayak stage.

Both stickers with the team's number (handed over by the organizers during registration) must be placed on the kayak in a way that allows to easily identify the kayak in the transition area.

Recommended equipment for the trekking stage:
1. Clothing according to expected weather conditions which provides protection while moving in the forest.
2. Footwear with metal spikes.
3. Food supplies for the whole stage.
4. Insect repellent. There can be a lot of mosquitoes!
Mesh or mosquito net will allow you to sleep in the forest.

Mandatory personal equipment for the rowing on inflatable floatation devices stage:
1. Inflatable floatation devices, meeting the following conditions:
- Easily transferable;
- Quickly inflatable (collect and disassemble the rowing device will be necessary several times – details will be specified later);
- Durable, able to withstand heavy load (hermetic bags, beach mattresses and toys are unacceptable);
- Capable to transport the athlete to a distance of up to 300 m, so that he/she does not get wet totally;
- Easily repairable in case of damage/emergency.

The number of inflatable floatation devices per team is not regulated.
Organizers don’t provide any inflatable floatation devices and pumps for inflating.
Any kind of paddles for rowing are allowed.

2. Repair kit for the given floating device in case of damage.
3. Life vest.

Recommended equipment for the rowing on inflatable floatation devices stage:
1. Packraft or similar (trail) boat. You can also use inner tires of cars, rugged inflatable mattresses, swimming circles (all these devices need to allow to move in a sitting manner; technical characteristics of permissible load must be provided during gear check).
2. Kayak paddle.

During gear check all inappropriate floating devices will be rejected!
All participants must wear life vests during the whole rowing on inflatable floating devices stage.

Mandatory team equipment for the fixed ropes stages:
1. Static rope 25 meter long (diameter not less than 9 mm).

Mandatory personal equipment for the fixed ropes stages:
1. Harness.
2. Alpine or bike helmet.
3. Self-belay with 2 loops.
4. 3 carabiners
5. Descender. Recommended: Reverso, ATC or other. Figure-eight descender is admitted.
6. 2 rope clamps. Recommended: Jumar, Basic, Croll, Pantin. Prusik knots are forbidden.
7. Tradle for Jumar (if you use a Jumar).
8. Gloves.

Please see all detailed technical requirements for mandatory equipment for the fix rope stages on our seperate page: Technical requirements for Mandatory Equipment for Fix Rope Stages.

Forbidden equipment
1. GPS devices (even if used only as odometer!).
2. Motororized or mechanical devices for transportation, which are not mentioned in these Rules.

Checkpoints – CP

Checkpoints are exact points which the team has to pass and mark.

The checkpoints are located at or on distinctive natural or artificial objects. Checkpoints are marked on maps by circles, the center of which shows the exact position of the checkpoint.

Checkpoints themselves are marked by white-and-orange signs, the size of which may be different, depending on the objects on which they are located. At some checkpoints, only the station of electronic punching may be installed, without a sign indicating the checkpoint itself. This will be indicated specifically in the route sheet.

The signs of checkpoints are visible from the waypoints, shown in the legend, but not at an earlier stage. The station of electronic punching is installed right near the signs.

It is possible that special checkpoints (hidden on the map) may be installed. The way of finding them will be described separately.

Any other important information concerning any of the checkpoints is given in the legend.

Legend

The legend describes in words the location of an object, at or on which a checkpoint is located. The legend is included in the route sheet.

Route Sheet

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

Electronic Punching

Checkpoints are equipped with electronic punching system SFR. The according SFR-chip will be handed to the competitors during Race registration and has to be fixed by the judges on each competitor's wrist.

Only the judges will remove the SFR-chip from competitor's wrist at the Race finish.

Registering at a checkpoint is obligatory for each team member, otherwise passing of the checkpoint will not be valid for the whole team!

The time of passing a checkpoint from first to last member of a team cannot be more than 1 minute. This does not apply to rope stages and other special sections that will be mentioned in the route sheet.

If a chip fails or breaks due to pressure or other impact, do not panic and continue the Race in normal order and at your pace. Continue to mark checkpoints on the Race with all other chips and inform the timekeepers on the way.

There is a slight chance that an electronic checkpoint or chip may be out of order or has been removed by outsiders. Please do not stop the Race to call to the organizers, just continue and inform the organizers about it at the first chance or on arrival at the Race Center. If there has happened something like the above, this checkpoint will be scored anyway for your whole team.

For score keeping of intermediate results during the Race, the teams need to pass the timekeepers at the Race Center every time they reach it.

Transition Areas - TA

Transition areas are located in places, where teams will change Race stages and mode of travel.

The teams must deposit their equipment near the team’s number (if there is a place with numbers) or at the place shown by the volunteer judges.

Working hours of transition areas are indicated in the route sheet.

Transportation of individual or team gear to transition areas is not provided (but may be included, it’ll be specified later).

Preliminary transportation of individual or team gear by participants or support group is prohibited!

Transition areas are served by volunteers. Their responsibility, among others, includes control of observance of the Race Rules by the participants.

Maps

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

Maps are designed on the base of topographical maps of the area with a scale of 1:250 000, satellite imagery and field work, done in the 2020-2021 years. The maps are laminated on both sides (matt laminate).

There will be several maps with different scales for different sections of the Race. Some routes or parts of the routes may be shown only on satellite imagery or schemes.

Each competitor will get a full set of maps. We recommend to bring along thin permanent pen markers for marking your routes on the maps.

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 maintain a good reaction throughout the whole Race.

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

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

Cell phone connection is not available at any point of the Race. On top of hills or on wide open waters the connection normally is good. "Megafon" is working better than all other providers.

All competitors must wear life vests during kayak, rowing on inflatable floating devices and swimming stages.

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

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

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

A team which has left the Race before arriving to the finish line or could not reached the finish line in time, needs to contact the organizers as soon as possible to inform them about their situation (well being or problems) and show up at the finish line later on to return all electronic chips.

Payment of the Starting Fee

All registered teams must pay a starting fee for participation in the Race.

Class "Long" and "Middle"
- 67 Euros for each participant - from March 1st to March 15th, 2021
- 79 Euros for each participant - from March 16th to April 15th, 2021
- 90 Euros for each participant - from April 16th to May 15th, 2021

Class "Short"
- 45 Euros for each participant - from March 1st to May 15th, 2021

Registration Procedure Step-by-Step

1. The team captain informs the organizers about their arrival and confirms the final team line-up. He receives a token for undergoing the pre-race gear check.
2. Then the whole team has to undergo the pre-race gear check of all mandatory equipment. If everything is all right, the judge makes a mark on the team's token, and the team can continue with registration. If the equipment is not full or not meeting the requirements, the team has the opportunity to buy it in the Red Fox shop at the Race Center and undergo the gear check once more.
3. Each competitor has to show medical and accident insurance, covering sports activities in Russia. Please contact your insurance company before traveling to Russia and check out the type of insurance which is fitting your needs during the Race (first aid/ evacuation/ transportation to the nearest hospital/ medical treatment). Insurances can be also concluded on spot. Each participant has to fill in and personally sign the disclaimer, in which he disclaims the organizers responsibility for his/her health and life during the Race.
4. After that, the team receives start bibs, start numbers for their bikes and kayaks, maps, route sheet and T-shirts from Red Fox.
5. Then each participant receives the chip for electronic punching from the timekeepers.

Teams without any changes in team line-up with their insurances and signed disclaimers ready may undergo fast registration by the "green chanel".

* Mandatory gear check
The team has to show all mandatory equipment specified in the Rules to the judges.
The rope equipment has to conform to General Technical Requirements for Mandatory Equipment for Fix Rope Stages.
During gear check, all equipment must be put on a special canvas sheet with special sections.

Ecological Ethics

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

Sports Ethics

The Race Rules are based on the commonly accepted sport's principle of "fair play" where only the honest achieving of results and the absence of any malice in order to gain advantage is valued.

The Race Rules require that competitors and teams respect each other, as well as judges and organizers, and behave kindly and attentively. In difficult situations and emergency, the teams must help each other in all possible ways. According to the Race Rules, mutual aid between humans is valued higher than the results of the Race.

Audience and Support Crew

According to the Race Rules, only mental support of the teams is allowed. In case of receiving any physical help from outside, the team will be disqualified.

Start Bibs and Placement of the Sponsors' Names

During the whole 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 kayak and rowing on inflatable floating devices stage on top of the life vests. If the start bib is not worn properly, there will be a penalty of 1 point.

Penalties and Disqualification

If one of the participants of a team of two racers quits the Race for any reason, the second participant is not allowed to continue the Race alone. If this happenes in a team of four racers, the team can continue the Race outside of competition.

The team may be disqualified due to following violations:
- receiving outside assistance;
- use of means of transport, gear and other devices which are not allowed during the Race;
- violation of the Race Rules (for example, not following the judges' instructions);
- violation of safety instructions (for example, not wearing helmets during bike and rope stages);
- not wearing/attaching start bibs during any of the stages.

The following violations may involve penalties or disqualification (depending on the judges' decision):
- violations of principle of "fair play";
- violations of sports ethics (for example, deliberate blocking of movement of other teams/participants);
- lack of mandatory equipment;
- violations of ecological ethics (for example, leaving garbage in the forest).

All disputes regarding results of the Race, penalties etc. will be solved by the Chief Judge. Appeals have to be submitted in written form not later than 30 minutes after expiration of the Race control time.

Determination of the Winners

For passing of checkpoints the team will get a certain amount of points which is specified in the route sheet and maps. The first number of a checkpoint is equal to the amount of points given for passing this checkpoint All gathered points will be summarized for the final result. A team’s result is determined by the sum of the gathered points within control time.

The winners are determined by the highest amount of gathered points within control time.

In case of an equal amount of gathered points, the first place is awarded to the team which passed the finish line first. Teams which passed every possible check point receive the place according to their Race time.

Teams which have passed the check points in wrong order or have skipped check points will be ranked lower, than teams, which have passed all check points in right order.

Fall Out from the Race

In case, if a team decides to quit the Race due to equipment breakdown, mistakes or fatigue, the participants are supposed not to ask for help from the organizers, but return to the Race Center by their own efforts. The teams should ask for help of the organizers only in case of serious injury or illness.

Finish

The finish is located in the Race Center.

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

A team can finish the Race ahead of control time at its own decision, but must pass the finish line and must report the judges about finishing the Race.

Awards

The teams which took 1-3 places in each сlass are awarded by medals and prizes from the Race sponsors.

Teams which do not show up at the rewarding ceremony without reasonable excuse will not get their awards.

Changes to the Race Rules

The organizers reserve the right to make changes to the Race Program and/or Race Rules in case of urgent necessity or occurrence of an unpredictable situation.

You and your team are cordially invited to the Red Fox Adventure Race 2021!