Results Up <click here>
Competitor email 1 -2 March 2009. If you didnt' receive it <click here>
Competitor email 2 -10 March 2009. If you didnt' receive it <click here>
Team Lists <click here>
For this season's Grand Finale, AROC Sport is moving to a new location! Port Stephens has it all: crystal-clean waterways, the largest Marine Park in NSW, glorious beaches, untouched national parks, a 32km long coastal desert wilderness and a host of fun-packed sporting and recreational activities. All this just 2 1/2 hours drive North of Sydney, with a host of transport options absolutely perfect for your adventure experience!
Port Stephen's natural environment provide the perfect setting to play... everything from bushwalking, horse riding, 4WDing, quad bike riding, sailing, dolphin watching, whale watching, parasailing, surfing, tobogganing, kayaking, fishing, scuba diving and the list goes on. When it comes to the relaxing side of life you will find great restaurants, wineries, a brewery and a fantastic range of accommodation to suit your circumstance and budget.
For the navigationally challenged, Port Stephens is an area extending north from Hexham on the Pacific Highway, through Raymond Terrace and to Karuah in the North to Nelson Bay and Shoal Bay in the east. The F3 freeway takes virtually to the door of Port Stephens and the Golden Highway from Dubbo takes you straight in from the west. Newcastle Airport is in the heart of Port Stephens and so it's easy and quick to get to Port Stephens.
The Port Stephens / Nelson Bay area is the perfect location for a weekend away with the kids to book you accommodation now and plan your stay. Why not try our preferred accommodation provider (more details below) - Port Stephens Beachside Holiday Parks and Samurai Beach Resort: they are offering some special deals to Paddy Pallin Adventure Racers only! If they are unable to suit your needs you can always try the Port Stephens Tourism website by clicking here.
If you are flying to the event via Newcastle Airport, click here for transfer options.
The course is secret until you pick up your maps at registration. But what we will tell you is that there are lots of different legs so there is never too long at any one discipline. For the Classic Course, if you add up the different legs the total distances will be up to 4km kayaking, around 15-20km on the bike and between 7-10km on foot. The Novice Course is about half the Classic Course distances. The Advanced Course will include a bonus leg and is available to the top 30 teams or those that finish the Classic Course within a certain time.
Disciplines include kayaking (kayaks, paddles and PFDs provided), mountain biking and running/walking and some surprises. You will be given maps and instructions at registration and it is up to you to navigate from checkpoint to checkpoint. Remember the whole team travels together.
You can compete in the Corporate Challenge by emailing Alina and asking to be entered in this additional category. Your team will then contend with other corporate teams for the Corporate Challenge and the well-deserved bragging rights on Monday morning (leaving you Sunday to take care of these muscle aches!). To enter this category you must satisfy the following 2 criteria: at least 2 out of 3 of the team members must be from the same company and your team name must integrate your company's name.
Entry confirmation and any further event information not contained on the web site will be emailed to the Team Captain. It is the Team Captains' responsibility to pass this information on to their team members.
Accommodation
Port Stephens Beachside Holiday Parks and Samurai Beach Resort are offering some special accommodation packages to the participants. Check out the options below and don't wait to book your accommodation so you can stay with your friends and family and make a weekend out of it!
Samurai Beach Resort
562 Gan Gan Road, One Mile Beach NSW 2316
Phone: (02) 4916 3400 or FREECALL: 1800 822 200
info@samuraibeachresort.com.au - www.samuraibeachresort.com.au
• Short Breaks Package (2 nights) from only $308 - SAVE 17%! Conditions apply. Valid from 11.3.10 – 15.3.10. Price is based on a Studio style room for 2 adults.
• Short Breaks Bonus Package (3 nights including a FREE $25 fuel voucher to help get you home) from only $393 - SAVE 32%! Conditions apply. Valid from 11.3.10 to 15.3.10. Price is based on a Studio style room for 2 adults.
Fingal Bay Holiday Park
52 Marine Drive, Fingal Bay NSW 2315
FREECALL: 1800 600 203
fingalbay@beachsideholidays.com.au - www.beachsideholidays.com.au
• 3 Night Long Weekend Package (Powered Tent or Van Site) for only $100 - SAVE 17%! Conditions apply. Valid from 27.1.10 – 31.3.10. Price valid for 2 persons. Additional charges apply for extra adults / children on each site.
Shoal Bay Holiday Park
Shoal Bay Road, Shoal Bay NSW 2315
FREECALL: 1800 600 200
shoalbay@beachsideholidays.com.au - www.beachsideholidays.com.au
• 3 Night Long Weekend Package (Powered Tent or Van Site) for only $100 - SAVE 17%! Conditions apply. Valid from 27.1.10 – 31.3.10. Price valid for 2 persons. Additional charges apply for extra adults / children on each site.
• 3 Night Long Weekend Package (Outrigger – 2 bedroom villa) for only $465 - SAVE 15%! Conditions apply. Valid from 27.1.10 – 31.3.10. Price valid for 2 adults and up to 3 children.
Halifax Holiday Park
Beach Road, Little Beach, Nelson Bay NSW 2315
FREECALL: 1800 600 201
halifax@beachsideholidays.com.au - www.beachsideholidays.com.au
• 3 Night Long Weekend Package (Powered Tent or Van Site) for only $100 - SAVE 17%! Conditions apply. Valid from 27.1.10 – 31.3.10. Price valid for 2 persons. Additional charges apply for extra adults / children on each site.
Soldiers Point Holiday Park
Ridgeway Ave, Soldiers Point NSW 2317
FREECALL: 1800 600 204
soldierspoint@beachsideholidays.com.au - www.beachsideholidays.com.au
• 3 Night Long Weekend Package (Unpowered tent site) for only $75. Conditions apply. Valid from 27.1.10 – 31.3.10. Price valid for 2 persons. Additional charges apply for extra adults / children on each site.
• 3 Night Long Weekend Package (Powered Tent or Van Site) for only $100 - SAVE 17%! Conditions apply. Valid from 27.1.10 – 31.3.10. Price valid for 2 persons. Additional charges apply for extra adults / children on each site.
Event Hub / Bike Drop
The event hub is at Fingal Bay Oval. This is right next to Fingal Bay Holiday Park. <Click here> for a Google map. The Novice Course will start from the Event Hub while the Classic course teams will catch a bus from the Event Hub to a remote start location.
There will be lots happening at the Event Hub. AROC Staff know the importance of a good caffeine fix and we have secured the Hunter's finest mobile baristas, Newcastle Mobile Coffee, who will be frothing the milk from 7am. The Soldiers Pt. Lions Clubs will be cooking up a storm on the post race BBQ. To help cool the body after your race there will also be an ice cream van on hand. Our series sponsors will be there - The Gu hydration drums will be at the finish supplemented by Red Bull energy drink. Paddy Pallin will have a store with heaps of goodies to check out and some great specials (see below) - so bring your credit card! Salomon will be set up next to the Paddy Pallin store with a display of adventure racing shoes and back packs. There will also be AROC t-shirts, hats and buffs.
There is a different bike drop for the Classic and Novice Courses.
Classic Bike Drop:
The classic bike drop will be at the intersection of Kingsley Dr and Noamunga St, Boat Harbour. It is a 20 minute drive from here to the Event Hub.
Novice Bike Drop:
The novice bike drop will be at the south end of Fingal Beach on Marine Drive. It is 600m from the Event Hub.
Parking
Parking will be available within Fingal Bay Oval adjacent to the Event Hub.
Event Schedule
Tuesday 2 February |
|
6:00-9:00PM |
Gear & Info Night at Paddy Pallin Kent Street, Sydney CBD including NOVICE BRIEFING (see Novice Corner) |
Friday 12 March |
|
7:30– 9:00PM |
Novice Briefing (not compulsory) - Recreation Room - Shoal Bay Holiday Park |
Saturday 13 March |
|
| CLASSIC COURSE |
|
7:00AM |
Bike Drop Open (Classic Course) |
7:30– 8:30AM |
Classic Course Registration* |
9:20AM |
Classic Course Race Briefing |
9:30AM |
Classic Course board busses to start |
10:00AM |
Classic Course Race Start |
| NOVICE COURSE | |
8:00AM |
Bike Drop Open (Novice Course) - check the location IT IS DIFFERENT FROM THE CLASSIC BIKE DROP |
8:15 - 8:45AM |
Novice Course Registration* |
9:50AM |
Novice Course Briefing |
10:00AM |
Novice Course Race Start |
3:00PM |
Presentation |
*At registration all team members will be required to sign an indemnity form. Maps will be given out at registration.
Novice Briefing
The novice briefing is at 7.30pm, Friday 12th at Shoal Bay Holiday Park in the recreation room. This briefing is open to any novice or any person who wants a recap on how the event works, how to prepare your maps and what to expect. We will also run a basic navigation and map reading lesson. If you haven't done an AROC event before or your navigation skills need a bit of wake up we really recommend you attend this briefing - it will make the event much more rewarding and enjoyable.
Please being a compass to the briefing session.
Registration
We recommend that you get to the registration early to make sure you have time to look over the course and prepare your maps. You will need to come to the pre-race briefing ready to start.
Only one team member needs to come to register for the team. That person must however have with them an indemnity form signed by the whole team and all the team and personal mandatory equipment. Print out the indemnity form and have it signed before you come to registration. Note that your whole team can sign one form. If you are under 18 years of age you will need to print off your own form and have this form signed by your parent or guardian.
At registration you will need to:
• Hand in your signed indemnity form
• Check your team details and make changes if necessary
You will receive:
• Maps
• List of control descriptions
• Control card
• Course instructions
• 1 Sport Ident timing stick (must be returned after the event)
• 3 race bibs (these must be returned after the event)
Note that failure to return the timing stick will incur a $60 fee. Unreturned bibs will be charged at $50 each.
Mandatory Equipment
Adventure Racing is not on a fixed course and you will travel through bush and urban areas. For your safety there are certain items that each individual or team must carry during the event. The mandatory equipment applies to both the Novice Course and the Classic Course teams.
All competitors will need to supply their own mountain bike and helmet, food and water.
Each person must carry on themselves at all times during the event:
Each team must carry at all times during the event the following team mandatory equipment:
Although not compulsory we STRONGLY RECOMMEND a Sea to Summit brand A4 size waterproof map case or Aloksak to protect your maps. Nothing else will keep your maps dry. If you need to purchase any of these or any other adventure racing products go to www.paddypallin.com.au.
AROC Sport will provide kayaks, paddles, PFDs ("life jackets"), maps and instructions.
Race Rules
Please read the race rules. Race Rules can be found under the heading "INFO" >"Rules" – or you can click here.
For some tips for beginners and a sample Classic Course <click here>
For general pre-race information and instructions <click here>
