EVENT REGISTRATION & ADMINISTRATION

EVENT REGISTRATION AND PRE-EVENT ADMIN

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Formal Registration for the event is completed in 3 phases:

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1.) Online enrolment, payment – COMPLETE

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2.) Submission of Event Participation Form and Medical Declaration (by 15th September).

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• Event Participant Form: HERE

• Medical Declaration: HERE​

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3.) Physical registration at El Chalten on 16/11/2024. You will complete a final physical kit check with our event team, do a short final paperwork exercise including checking your insurance company contact details, present some ID and do a medical interview with our medical team. You will also receive your GPS devices for those who have rented them (more below on that) , trackers and other items. There will of course be some briefings. 

THE ROUTE

ROUTEFINDING & GPS

The manner in which you will make your way through the course is to follow a GPS device. We recommend you bring your own GPS device that you are familiar with and have practiced using prior to the event. If you DO NOT have your own device/s, we do have some options – and we would ask that you read this section in detail so you understand what we are advising/ recommending and what we have available to assist you, if you so wish.

If you would like to rent any of our available devices, you must let us know in the pre event admin form.

We will also provide all participants with a GPS tracker, which is a separate device and is covered in the relevant section below.

You will also be required to have your own phone, with battery pack back-up for charging in the field.

There are therefore multiple devices under consideration here.
 

• Navigation/GPS devices

• Tracker

• Phone

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Let's start with GPS devices. 

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1) BIKE DEVICE

• If you have your own bike-mounted device (like a Garmin Edge, for example) and are comfortable with its operation, this is the preferred choice whether you have rented a bike from us or not. We will provide GPX files much nearer the time for you to upload to your own devices.

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• A mobile phone with a power pack, plus a bike mount is a perfectly reasonable and indeed very user-friendly solution here too, provided that you can ensure the combination is waterproofed. This was popular with riders in 2022 and it allows you to use your own technology, with which you are already familiar. You also do not have to invest in any expensive tech devices. You may need to purchase a handlebar mount for your phone, but this is easy to source and inexpesnvie (and handy for day-to-day use at home, too!)

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• For participants who do not have their own bike-mounted device and/ or do not feel comfortable using their own phone, we will be able to rent you a handlebar-mounted Garmin Edge bike navigation device. You will tell us whether or not you need one of these in the admin form, linked below. This device attaches to your handlebars and you follow it like a satnav device. It does not have a basemap and you follow a line on the device. These are £35 to rent.
  
  It should be noted, that the bike ‘nav’ is very simple. On the first bike day, there is literally 1 junction. On a later day, there is a section where you ride through El Calafate town but this is as difficult as it gets. It is very intuitive. So back to the advice above, if you have a decent phone and can mount it to your handlebars and waterproof it, this is a very good solution.

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2) RUN/TREK DEVICE

• For the foot section, if you have one, your own GPS watch is the go-to advised piece of kit to use and we will again provide GPX files to use on your own device.

• For those who do not have a GPS-enabled watch, you can hire a GPS watch (Coros Apex Premium) from us.

• These devices will have the route uploaded onto them and have extremely good battery life. The Coros watch does not have a basemap and the Garmin 66i does.
  These can be chosen to be rented via the admin firm linked below. Coros watch hire is £35.

• For those using our rental equipment, we will provide guidance in the use of these devices upon arrival to El Chalten for Registration.
  
  The webinar will also be a great opportunity to learn more about the navigational devices recommended for use in the event.

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3) TRACKER

Separate from the devices above, we will issue everyone with a tracker, which both provides a tracking function for us to keep take tabs on where you while out on the course; and for your supporters to track your progress.

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(Please note that this is a separate device from the GPS navigational devices – it is very light and small and will likely attach to the outside of your bag with tape, or stuff into a pocket. More is explained on tracking in the section below).

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4) PHONE

It is also mandatory to be carrying a phone at all times on the trip, with the ability to charge it via portable battery pack. This device can absolutely be your primary nav device on the bike stage, mounted to your bike and waterproofed accordingly. You may also use it as a back-up on the trek stage.​

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We will ask in all cases that you will upload the route files to your phone, to use as a handy back-up. For both the bike and trek routes, a phone with the route showing on an App is a very good choice, provided it is waterproofed from the elements.

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If you are keen to practise using your phone to navigate, download a suitable App such as Garmin Explore or Garmin Connect (there are loads of great Apps but we use these a lot) and practise uploading GPX files to the phone and following them in the App. It really is easy once you know how to get the files into the App on the phone. If you want assistance, please email events@ratrace.com and we will be happy to talk through any of the tech side of things for those who are not comfortable with it.

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WAYMARKING

We will NOT waymark any of the route.

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ON THE WATER...
Keep the kayak pointing downstream! You do not need to navigate on the river and you will be in a group with our water safety team at all times. However if you wish to track your progress down the river, a GPS watch is the recommended piece of equipment to do that with.

In general, as you can see, this event is operated with GPS as the main method of route guidance. If you do choose to use your own devices (recommended), it is important that you are well versed in the usage of your own devices and that you are confident in their battery life and reliability.

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ROUTE GPX FILES

We will make available route GPX files for you to upload onto your own devices as you see fit. These files will be provided much closer to the commencement of the event, once we are satisfied we have the definitive version to share. Experience has shown that we will never share the these files until it is the final, final, final version. Or else we end up with version control issues that are hard to resolve. We do do always reserve the right to change the course, the distances or the disciplines of course. These files will be issued at the 1-week out email phase.

COURSE CHANGES

The nature of an adventure is that sometimes, the uncertain becomes certain! That is all part of the adventure. Whilst we will always strive to pull off ‘Plan A,’ it may well be that for any one of a number of reasons, we cannot do so and we need to wheel put Plan B, C or D. We do line up contingencies for many eventualities of course. But it is worth knowing that the course may change if we deem it prudent for your safety or for other operational or weather-based reasons and we must always reserve the right to do so. Ultimately our skill and judgement in organising such events is part of why you are entering, so we must be able to exercise this on your behalf where we deem it necessary. If we do have to make a route change, we will strive to inform you in good time (if that is possible). Usually, these unforeseen changes simply add to the flavour of proceedings and provide for a good story to tell at day’s end!
 

COURSE CUT OFFS & WITHDRAWALS

This event is not about cut-offs. But, having a ‘cut-off’ and a ‘sweeping’ structure is an important part of our Event Management Plan and Risk Assessment processes. Cut off times are independent of any other factors that occur earlier in the course such as start time, injury, going the wrong way, time taken at Pit Stops, head winds; and whether it is your fault or not. We understand that missing cut offs can be tough to take but please remember this is not the crew member’s fault that breaks the news to you, should it happen to you. Please also remember that if this does happen to you, the Event team’s decision is final.

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If you are cut off, there will be no option to re-start from where you were cut off the next day. (The event only ever moves forwards). You may however re-start the next day from the official re-start location; subject to the discretion of the event team.

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There are a number of reasons why you may be cut-off or withdrawn from the event. These could be medical, pace, kit, personal or other factors.

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It is OK to retire and to be taken forward to the overnight accommodation. We’d rather you re-started the next day vs suffer meaninglessly and spoil it for yourself. We call this being ‘boosted.’ As far as the time available goes to avoid a cut-off, there is no ‘set’ cut off time each day. (i.e. Time limit or published time). Instead, we require all participants to be at the finish location before nightfall. If this is looking unlikely you will be ‘swept’ forward. That is the cut-off. Above all else, please remember, this event is not about cut-offs. It is about getting the most out of this magical environment. We will not cut you off and sweep you forward unless we really have to. And if we do, it is for your own safety.

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‘BEDDING DOWN INTO THE COURSE’

It is probable that when you set off on the Challenge on day 1, the first hours of the first day may be a bit hit n’ miss. Pace, temperature regulation, kit selection, footwear or glove niggles. All to be expected. Embrace that ‘bedding down into it’ phase and listen to your body and to your kit. Expect some unexpected phenomena (not UFOs, just unusual kit or bike issues that you may not have quite been expecting). Use this time to just A couple of hours in, you’ll have worked out enough to be comfortable…

TRACKING DEVICE

At registration at El Chalten you will be issued with a small tracking device. It will be in a waterproof container. It is your responsibility to look after the device until you return it to us at the finish line in exchange for your medal. This device not only allows those at home to follow you on the route, it acts as a tracker for us too, meaning we can use it to help us see where you are throughout the event. The tracker is not 100% accurate 100% of the time however, particularly here in Patagonia. We know the limitations of the technology and this is why we do not rely on the trackers solely in our safety system; there are of course several other components of that system. 

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Tracking will go live on the morning of the first day (i.e. the start of the event) at 0700 local time. The trackers rely on GSM signal to report, which in Patagonia is sometimes available and sometimes not. This can mean there is frequently a delay on tracking or that the tracker will appear to have stopped in various locations. Sometimes, our team back at base will increase or decrease the reporting frequency, so those watching at home will sometimes not see your dot moving, or see you moving very slowly. Or they may see you adrift from others in the group (for example if you have not turned the tracker on!). They may see you ‘ping forward’ very quickly if you are in a vehicle or if your tracker goes from not reporting to suddenly back in service and reporting again.

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All of this is known to us. But it can seem unusual if someone is watching this at home and is getting confused about what a dot is doing. it is therefore REALLY important that you ensure anyone watching at home knows this, for their own peace of mind and for our own safety systems. Experience shows that if someone watching at home does not understand this, they can sometimes unwittingly commence full rescue missions by panicking, calling in the cavalry and sparking confusion for us as organisers. As such, it really is a very important point to note. If we have any issues or snagging with tracker units, our basecamp team can see this and we will pull them back in and reset them for you.

Just to be 100% clear, we know the trackers will not be 100% accurate 100% of the time. We need you and your supporters at home to know that, too. It is a tool in our inventory. But it does have limitations. Particularly in this remote location.

As with any GPS units that you use from us, you must return the tracking device at the end of the event or whenever a member of staff asks for you to do so (for example to check a setting or to charge it). Do also hand to a member of staff should you drop out on any day. As with all electronic devices, there is a replacement cost for loss or damage. For the tracker, it is £150.

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PITSTOPS

Our Pit Stops are put in place to support your needs. 

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We will offer water and a range of snacks at all Pit Stops, there to support your own range. You should bring plenty of snacks along with you, and there is opportunity to purchase further supplies at supermarkets in our journey’s beginning point, El Chalten.

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Run / Trek Leg – you will be predominantly self-supported here, as there is no vehicle access for us within the park. We can provide limited snack top ups, and water from the streams at the foot of the mountain is drinkable.

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Bike Legs – PS’s approximately every 30km at the roadside.

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Paddle Stage – we recommend a good feed before, and we will give you a Pit Stop on your transition out of the water. Carry a snack or two, but best to focus on the paddling here to avoid an unintended swim!