These rules are written to ensure the safety and integrity of the racers, race promoter, volunteers, land managers and facilities. Bushwhack Adventures event staff and volunteers will enforce the rules.
The rules for adventure racing fall into that confusing gray area where we try to reconcile the desire to experience the freedom and adventure of charting one’s own course with the need to provide a common basis upon which to measure the performance of teams and determine a winner. The amount of freedom that can be given to teams is dependent upon how well they exercise their ability to race in a fair and honorable manner.
The fundamental rules of adventure racing are fairly simple. Teams of racers must travel by self-propelled means as they navigate their way to various checkpoints. Race directors spice up an AR with a course design that provides challenges for the teams to overcome. Most AR’s are set in wilderness locations and include the opportunity for teams to use their skills of map & compass navigation, mountain biking, running/trekking, paddling and rope work. Other types of challenges are sometimes included along the way, such as mental tasks and brain games. The goal is for teams to use their combined resources and skills to get through a course as efficiently and as fast as possible while following the rules and instructions set out by the race director.
Below are some basic rules for the 2008 Gold Nugget Adventure Race. Additional rules and instructions will be provided through this website and at the pre-race briefing.
Scoring
Scoring will be based on total points collected by a team, minus any point penalties. Checkpoints will be worth varying point values, and will be listed in the race passport. Teams must choose which checkpoints to go after, based on their strengths and the time remaining. Working out your route strategy is part of the race challenge.
Race management
- All participants must be at least 18 years of age.
- Team members must complete all registration forms and sign all waivers prior to competing.
- Teams may continue unofficially if a team member drops out, upon race official approval, as long as at least two team members remain.
- The race director reserves the right to modify the rules or the course at any time. Any protests can be made after completion of the race to the race director by the team captain.
- All decisions by the race director are final.
- The winner of each category on each course shall be the team with the highest point total after any point penalties have been applied.
Course Cutoff
- There will be absolute finish cutoff times for each course. For the 4 hour course, the cutoff time will be 4 hours after the official start of the race. For the 8 hour course, the cutoff time will be 8 hours after the official start of the race. For the 12 hour course, the cutoff time will be 12 hours after the official start of the race. Teams not returning to the finish line by their respective cutoff times will lose 10 points for every minute past the deadline until they finish.
Permitted activities
- Teams are permitted to help each other during the race. Teams may be awarded a time/point bonus for helping other teams in emergency need.
- Towing of teammates is allowed on all legs.
Ten Point Penalty
- Failure to produce any piece of mandatory gear during random gear checks during the race.
- Official race numbers must be shown upon request at any manned CP and the finish line.
- All members of each team must remain within 100 meters of each other during the event.
Disqualification:
Non-compliance with any of the following rules will result in team disqualification.
- Teams must obey instructions from race officials.
- All racers and spectators must follow a Leave-No-Trace ethic (i.e. all garbage and gear must be carried out by racers and support crew).
- Teams must follow race instructions given by the Race Director, race officials, or found in the race passport.
- Teams must avoid any specified off-limits areas and trails. At all other times it is up to the team to decide navigation from CP to CP.
- The use of any electronic device (including laptop computers, GPS, cellular telephones, etc) other than watches or compasses is prohibited at any time.
- Teams must exclusively travel under their own power during the race.
- Support crews may only render assistance in the Race HQ TA (transition area).
- Helmets must be worn properly during all mountain biking legs.
- All teams members must properly wear a Type III PFD during the paddle legs.
- Teams must provide assistance to any person in danger.
- Interference or alteration of a trail marking, sign, control flag, or punch device is prohibited.
