FAQ X-Marathon 2014

 


Q: In relation to the GPS device -requirement would a phone with a GPS app that can show your exact long and lat be sufficient?

A: GPS device is a safety item. As far as you will be able to provide us with a coordinate where you're (in case of emergency) that's fine. The problem with the phone that if you do not have reception you might not be able to use it as GPS, therefore we suggest to use a proper GPS (watch with GPS is fine if it shows coordinates)

 

Q: For the 'night red flare' do you mean an emergency marine flare?
A: Emergency flare- yes, marine flare.

 

Q: In relation to the water elements with a tube - would it be possible to use the same tube for the bike transport as well as the swim or are they being stored in different locations?
A:Tubes- you can use the same tube, but you might want to use something lighter and smaller for swim as you need to carry it on trek and bigger for bikes, up to you!

 


Q:Also, will the bike transport be like GeoQuest this year where we swim with the bikes or will we be towing the bikes behind a kayak?
A: You will be towing bikes behind a kayak.

 

Q: My mate and I had a brief look at the X-marathon race and are interested in participating but we have next to no experience with these sorts of events. We've both been mountain biking before but I'd say that'd about the extent of our talents.
We were interested in the adventure race (medium distance event) but are now beginning to doubt whether we can actually finish it. The event description says that there is a 12-hour time limit. Is that 12-hours if you're going at a decent pace or slowly? How much harder is the intermediate race to the easier one? and would it be suitable for us if we have little experience?

A: The hardest part of the event for most of teams is navigation and mountain biking, if you, guys, have mountain biking component covered you're already half way there:). Navigation is not particularly complicated in general terms but you need to be able to read a topographical map. Some people naturally are pretty good with that, others struggle a bit more and need to gain some experience to build confidence but everyone certainly can do it. We had teams who had never done navigation based events before and they completed 12h course.

Saying 12 hour course we mean that this is a maximum amount of time you can be on the course, generally the fastest teams will do it within about 8 hours, the slowest teams might skip some of checkpoints and finish within 12 hour. Course is designed the way that there is always an option to drop some checkpoints.

 


Q: Do we need to provide gear boxes for the x-marathon?
A: No, you don't need boxes, we will give you some bags for TAs, some waterproof bags would be good to put inside those bags and they're not completely waterproof, but thick rubbish plastic bags will do as well;

 

Q: What sort of boats are suitable for PRO course X-Marathon 2014? Is double ski with understeering rudder will be ok?
A: Double ski is the fastest way to go, paddle legs will be on Eildon lake which is suitable for any sort of flat/ocean boats. It can get choppy if it is a windy day, so take a boat according your abilities.

 

Q: Can we use the same tube for a paddle with bikes and a swim?
A: Yes, you can but we suggest to use a lighter version for the swim and something bigger for the bikes transportation. As “swim tubes” you will have to carry with you during the whole trek leg, “paddle tubes” do not need to be carried at all, as this section starts at TA1 and finishes at TA2 and then back from TA2 to TA1.

 

Q: Can we use PFD for the swim section?
A: Yes, you can but you have to carry them with you over the trekking leg.

 

Q: Can we take fins for the swim?
A: Yes, no dramas with fins but you have to carry them over the trekking leg.

 

Q: Red Night Flare" is this a red hand held flare or the red parachute flare?
A: Red hand held flare.

 

Q: Do we need a support crew to cart gear around or can this be completed unsupported?
A: Race is completely unsupported, you will have to drive your kayak or/and your bike to some transition area and then pick them up after the race, other gear will be transported by race organisers.


Q: Can we use something like bellow in the swim or does it have to be a tube? Can you use flippers/hand paddles in the swim? When you take your bikes, do you have your kayak as well (so tow the bikes with kayak or put them on deck of kayak somehow)?

 

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A:Yes, this mat is fine for the swim! You can take flippers/hand paddles if you want (you will have to carry them for the entire trek leg though).