Odyssey Endorphin Fix 2 Day AR

Date

Location

Venue

Distance

Duration

Disciplines

Divisions

Fees

Included

Important Dates

Schedule

These are the correct times for the Endorphin Fix. (updated 6/21/11) There was a typo in the newsletter.

Friday, June 24, 2011

          Check in-6:00am-9:00am

        Race Brief-9:30 am

          Race Start-11:30am

Sunday, June 26, 2011

          Race Finish- 1:00pm

       Post Race Food- 11:00-2:00pm

       Awards Ceremony-2:00pm

Directions

AIRPORTS:

Closest:
Charleston, WV Yeager Airport - National
Beckley, WV - USAirways/private

Other Airports Nearby:
Charlotte, NC - international
Roanoke, VA

Directions to ACE Adventure Resort

ACE Adventure Resort Coordinates:
Latitude, Longitude: W 81 5' 48", N 37 58' 27" UTM: 491502.47, 4202970.87

IMPORTANT NOTE: When using GPS units for directions – they will sometimes give the seemingly shortest or most direct instructions – this may not be the most practical course of action as they do not have all the roads correctly inputed. Use the following directions when you get close to our location. Any problems give us a call 1.800.787.3982.

 

From the East via I-64 West (or I-81 South):
Take I-64 West to I-77 North and then take **Exit #48 to Beckley/Summersville onto US Route 19 North. Drive approximately 11.2 miles to the (East) Main St. exit. At the stop sign turn right (North). Follow directions from Main St. below.
**This is the area we have problems with our guests using GPS units. The unit will instruct you to exit I-64 before exit 48, which will increase your drive time significantly**

From the North via I-77 South and I-65 East:
From Charleston, WV, take I-77 South / I-64 East to Exit #48 to Beckley / Summersville onto U.S. Rt. 19 North. Drive approximately 11.2 miles to the (East) Main St. exit. At the stop sign turn right (North). Follow directions from Main St. below.

From the North via I-79 South:
Take I-79 South to Exit #57 to Beckley onto U.S. Rt. 19 South. Drive approximately 57.8 miles to the (East) Main St. exit. At the stop sign turn left (North). Cross overpass and… Follow directions from Main St. below.

From the South via I-77 North:
Take I-77 North / I-64 West to Exit # 48 to Beckley/Summersville onto U.S. Rt. 19 North. Drive approximately 11.2 miles to the (East) Main St. exit. At the stop sign turn right (North). Follow directions from Main St. below.

From Main Street Exit:
Take the first left (directly across from the Little General – BP Gas Station) onto Minden Rd. (ACE sign). It is approximately 2.9 miles to ACE (check your odometer). At one point you will make a sharp left, cross a small wooden bridge, and make a sharp right. At mile 2.1 you will turn right (ACE sign on large pole) – do not go straight on Rocklick Rd. At mile 2.9 turn left at the ACE Adventure Center entrance and follow OAR event signage for parking and check-in.

 

Lodging        

Free camping for racers. You must reserve ahead of time. Let them know you are part of the Odyssey Event.

Lodging at Ace Adventure Resort

Try one of the deluxe log homes with hot tub, TV, AC and kitchen or bring your own gear or rent a tent and sleeping bag from ACE. There are several choices from campgrounds with bathhouses, family style tents on platforms to bunkhouses. For more information and to book directly with ACE.

Certifications

Support Crews

Update- 6/21/2011

Most of the recommended and required gear can be purchased from MadAthlete.com

PERSONAL - To be carried by each competitor during the entire event.
* Competitors are responsible for their own food, drinks, and electrolyte replacement.
* Lighter
* Compass (1 per every 2 competitors on a team)
* Knife, within easy reach, minimum blade of 2.5", folding OK
* Whistle
* Cell Phone (1 per every 2 competitors on a team) - Fully Charged
* Synthetic, moisture-wicking top (i.e. Underarmour, Capeliene) top
* Waterproof shell/jacket MUST have taped or sealed seams
* Fleece or wool top
* Fleece or wool hat
* Space blanket
* Head lamp with extra batteries for minimum of 8 hrs

 

Each TEAM/soloist competitor must possess permanently throughout the event:

* Trowel (For burying human waste in catholes 6-8 inches deep at least 200 ft from water, camp, or trails)
* (1) First aid kit as indicated below

* (1) Emergency strobe light (not a bike light or headlamp). The emergency strobe light must emit a bright white light    that can be seen at least 2 miles or more. Example- Princeton Tec Aqua Strobe
* (1) Small dry bag (or more than one is even better) for the safe-keeping of your cell phone. These bags MUST BE      WATERPROOF. It is to your benefit to make sure you have the best waterproofing system you can find.
* Passport, which must be carried and signed at each CP (given pre-race)
* List of the RULES
* Complete set of legible maps (given pre-race)

* Fine Point Sharpie pen
* Gear Bin (55gal Rubbermaid or similar or smaller) for extra food, water, and gear- (will see at least once)

Emergency First Aid Kit (to be carried by each team/soloist at all times)
* 4 doses of pain/fever medication (Ibuprofen/Tylenol)
* (4) Betadine, iodine or alcohol swabs
* (4) standard Band-aids
* Iodine tablets for water purification
* (1) 3" ACE Bandage
* (4) 4”x4” gauze pads
* Medical tape or duct tape
* Antibiotic Cream: i.e. Neosporin
* (1) pair of surgical gloves
* Epi pens are strongly recommended for individuals with allergies to insect stings, etc.

The brand names are cited as references and may be replaced by an equivalent product. This mandatory emergency first aid kit will be checked at certain points in the competition. This is a minimal treatment list. We recommend you carry the amounts of medical supplies able to treat/remedy illness or injury for 48 hours.

Specific equipment for the paddling section

Inflatable Kayak(s)(duckies), PFDs, and double bladed paddles will be provided.

No personal paddles will be allowed. Soloist/teams will be required to use the outfitter's PFDs and paddles for the paddling section(s). (Soloist/teams will have to provide their own PFDs for the river swim section(s))

Soloist- Single kayak

2 Person- Tandem kayak

3 Person- Single and Tandem kayak

4 Person- (2) Tandem kayak

* Canoe(s) - Must be made of ABS, Royalex, or similiar. You may use Kevlar, Carbon Fiber, or Aluminum (or any combination), but will not be eligible for the premier division.

* Personal paddles
* Type 3 Coast Guard-approved non-inflatable life jacket. Needs "liberty of movement" and minimum buoyancy of 14 pounds and in good condition
* Whistle attached to life jacket
* Knife attached to life jacket, minimum blade of 2.5", folding OK
* One (1) per boat 2 to 3-foot runner for strapping gear to canoe.
* One (1) per boat: commercial safety throw bag with 50' buoyant rope
* Dry bag large enough to fit all mandatory items

* Glowsticks(any color)- 2 per person and 4 per boat

Specific equipment for the River Swim section: (soloist/teams will swim with packs w/all mandatory gear)
*Ocean style "Boogie Board" (no 'kick' or 'swim' boards are allowed) we recommend a leash for all boards
*Type 3 Coast Guard-approved non-inflatable lifejacket. Needs ”liberty of movement” and minimum buoyancy of 14 pounds and in good condition - ACE Adventure Resort will be providing PFDs
* ANSI/Snell or CPSC-approve bike helmet
* Knife attached to PFD, within easy reach while on water, minimum blade of 2.5", (folding OK)
* Whistle attached to PFD, within easy reach, while on water

* Commercial safety throw bag with 50' buoyant rope(1 per soloist/2 person team;2 per 3person/4person team)

* Bag big enough to carry swimming gear- NO Trash Bags

* Wetsuit, elbow, and knee pads are strongly recommended

*Boogie Board fins are recommended

Specific equipment for the mountain bike section:
* Mountain bike marked with team number (All Bikes to be tagged at check in w/team # )
* Bike helmet- ANSI/Snell or CPSC-approve
* Reflective tape (1" x 6" for helmet) to be cut and placed on side and back of helmet
* Front and rear lights; white light mounted to handlebars and red blinking light for rear
* Extra batteries for front & rear lights with minimum battery life of 8 hours
* Bike tire repair kit and bike tool- PER TEAM ; spare tubes, pump (or other tire inflation device)

Needed but not required during the race

* Duck Tape to label swim gear and bikes with team name and race #(given at check-in)

 

The timing of the event begins at the start of the race and officially ends when the entire team or soloist crosses the finish line. Each team is required to stay together for the entire race. If a team is found separated on the course, it can be judged “unofficial” or fined a penalty. You must remain within visual/verbal distance from your teammates at all times (100ft).

The course contains both mandatory checkpoints and optional checkpoints.

To remain official, a team/soloist must: complete the mandatory prescribed course; cross the finish line by the official race cutoff; obtain all of the mandatory checkpoints*; finish as a complete team.

*See “missing, stolen, misplaced CP(s)/inaccurate UTMs” for exception.

Incomplete teams must receive approval from Odyssey race staff to continue the race "unofficially". (more below)

The ranking of the race is determined by the Odyssey jury after any penalties and bonuses have been awarded.  “Official teams will be ranked by the total number of mandatory CPs acquired; in the case of a tie, we will count the number of optional CPs each team acquired and the team with the higher total count of mandatory + optional CPs will be ranked higher; if the grand total of mandatory + optional CPs produces a tie, then the team with the fastest total race time will be ranked higher.

Unofficial teams are out of the running for ranking, awards and prize dollars.

Prize dollars are awarded, on an overall finish basis, to premier division teams only.

PASSPORT: @ manned CPs: must be signed by race official. It is the competitors’ responsibility to ensure they have their passport signed and returned to them before continuing to the next CP.

@ UNmanned CPs: MUST be punched in designated location or it will not be counted & if clipboard provided, must write team #, name & time on sheet. (for your safety!)

Missing, stolen, misplaced CP(s) or error in Rules of Travel : Teams should search in the vicinity of any CP for no longer than 30 minutes and attempt to notify race officials (via phone or radio) and then proceed to the next CP. If there is a stolen/misplaced CP and/or error in Rules of Travel, team will receive a 30 min credit for time lost. CP will be removed from the course.

If a mandatory CP is not stolen/misplaced and/or there is no error in Rules of Travel, then the team will become unofficial unless it returns to acquire the CP.

If an optional CP is not stolen/misplaced and/or there is no error in Rules of Travel, then the team will not incur any penalty for failure to acquire CP.

A racer may lodge a protest anytime during a race event; the protest must be in writing, turned in at a CP and be documented in their passport. Post race: A written protest must be received by race management no later than 1 (one) hour after the official race finish. All protests must have team name & #.

Race management reserves the right to award bonuses and penalties throughout the race. We also reserve the right to add bonus time to teams who have aided others in distress, and assess time penalties for infractions not mentioned on this list.

*You may not travel on railroad tracks and unauthorized roads, as noted in the Rules of Travel or clearly stated at race brief. Anytime there is a specific road/trail to follow, you are required to do so. In most cases you may decide your route, but in the cases where we list road/trail numbers, you will be required to use that route. You must also obtain all of the Mandatory CPs in sequential order, unless otherwise indicated.

Please note *** If for any reason a team member is unable to finish the race, you must inform the race management AT ONE OF THE MANNED CPs. Your leaving the race course MUST be verified by a race official. Unless you are seriously injured, you will most likely have to ride YOUR BIKES/HIKE OR FIND AN ALTERNATE WAY back to the start/finish line. The nature of this adventure race does not permit us to promise to pick up racers who have decided not to finish.

OAR reserves the right to refuse an application from any team or SOLO competitor.
Competitors, support teams, and volunteers authorize filming or sound recording, as well as the use of such documents/productions for informational, advertising, or promotional purposes.
All athletes, support persons and volunteers must complete a Medical Waiver and must be cleared, in writing, by a physician if they have any medical conditions or abnormalities. They must also inform the Medical Team of any illness or injury that occurs during or in conjunction with the event.

Each team and SOLO competitor will have mandatory items to carry while in the competition:
The following items may be checked at each CP, and/or possibly on the course:
- Passport(s), which must be carried and signed at each CP
- List of the event rules

- Rules of Travel
- Complete set of legible Odyssey-issued maps
- Mandatory safety and medical equipment
- Mandatory equipment for that section of the course

Disqualification From Competition:
- Use of GPS
- More than one hour late at the starting line
- Exceeding the deadline for any section, CP or ACP
- Disobeying instructions from a race official
- Disobeying instructions not to advance
- Abandoning a team member outside the checkpoints
- Unauthorized road/trail travel*
- Not portaging at mandatory rapids/portage sections
- Open fires
- Non emergency use of radios or cell phones
- Non-assistance to a person in danger
- Not wearing or improperly wearing a life jacket on the swim and/or paddle
- Not wearing a helmet while on the bike, swim or paddling in moving water
- Riding without lights from dusk to dawn
- Not wearing a helmet or climbing harness on the climbing sections
- Possession and/or use of a weapon
- Sabotage
- Use of an unauthorized means of transport
- Violation over the identity of a competitor or change of a team member during race
- Not following a roping-up line in a zone where this is mandatory
- Not clipped into safety line for climbing
- Loss of radio
- Littering (2nd offense)
- Removing/altering a trail sign or marking

One (1) Mandatory Checkpoint Penalty:
- Intervention by the Organization for assistance in water or climb
- Loss of passport or maps**
- Helmets and life jackets damaged or otherwise not in conformity with required standards
- Littering, disrespect for the environment (throwing of any waste that is not biodegradable or abandoning equipment) whether by the team or its assistance (support team, team reporters, or accompanying persons). First offense.
- Dispersed team
- Not wearing bib over clothing (except life vest)
- Missing item of safety equipment or mandatory equipment that is not in good order

**Make sure your maps and passports stay weatherproofed. You will need both of these items to finish the race. You may want to bring a highlighter to mark your maps, Ziplocs and duct tape for radio storage and map storage, etc.

ALL racers will have a chance to win swag from Hammer Nutrition, Zanfel and many others.

ALL Finishers will receive a prize.

TOP 3 OVERALL finishing 4 person Co-ed teams in the Odyssey Endorphin Fix Premier Division:

1st Overall - $1900 in Odyssey race vouchers + $400 toward USARA National Championship Race

2nd Overall- $1800 in Odyssey race vouchers

3rd Overall - $1700 in Odyssey race vouchers

These forms are specific for the Odyssey Endorphin Fix and will close June 17, 2011, when registration closes.

Adult Waiver and Image Release Form

Medical Form

Skills Waiver

Under Age Waiver and Image Release Form

Are boats provided?
Yes.  We are providing inflatable kayaks, PFDs/ and double bladed paddles.

Can I use my personal paddle, single blade or double bladed?

Yes, See Competitor Newsletter No. Soloist/teams will be required to use the outfitters PFDs and paddles.

What is the scale of the maps?
The maps will have varies scales, but at least one will be 1:24,000 scale maps. More information will be released in the competitor newsletter.

When will we get our maps and rules of travel?
You will get your maps and rules of travel after your team has completed check in.

What will be checked at gear check in?
Odyssey will not longer have gearcheck prior to the race. We WILL be checking gear on the race course. Each item missing will equal a penalty of one mandatory checkpoint.

What if I am not sure I have the correct piece of gear specified on the gear list?
We feel our gear list is specific. If you need clarification on an item email competitor@OARevents.com. We can always verify items in person at check in. Common items that need clarification: water proof top and bottoms have to have taped or sealed seams; must be a wool or fleece hat; knife blade has to be 2.5" long.

What is the refund and cancellation policy?

You are entitled to an Odyssey credit refund, minus the cancellation fee until the date registration closes for the race. You may apply the remaining balance (minus the cancellation fee) to any future Odyssey Adventure Racing event. You will have one year to redeem these credits. Contact registration@OARevents.com for credit refund.

Odyssey Adventure Racing does not accept responsibility for refunds or cancellations in the event of natural or national emergencies. Natural emergencies may include, but are not limited to sever weather including heavy rain, snow, tornados, hurricanes, river flooding, heat spells and cold spells. National or international emergencies may include, but are not limited to military conflicts, terrorist attacks, security threats, war and heightened security alerts.

No refunds after June 10, 2011

Cancellation Fee: $50 Solo; $100 2 Person Team; $200 4 Person Team

How do I get on the emailing list for the Odyssey eNewsletter?
We are glad that you want to be one of the first to know what is new and coming up with Odyssey. To sign up click here: Odyssey eNewsletter.

November 1, 2010: Registration opens

April 22, 2011: Discounted registration ends

June 10, 2011: Registration closes