Event Information

Event Timing

The race is on Saturday the 15th of November 2025 with the following start times (subject to change):

12 Hour: 6am

8 Hour: 9am

4 Hour: 12pm

Registration and race briefing are planned to take place on Friday evening in St Arnaud. It is mandatory for at least one person from your team to attend the briefing on Friday. The prize giving will be held either on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning in St Arnaud.

Kayak Stage (12hr only)

The 12hr race includes an optional water stage. Details for this are still to be confirmed as planning for the new course in Nelson Lakes continues. Your team will have to provide your own watercraft to complete this stage, we will advise whether this stage is to take place on the lake or river closer to the time so your team can decide whether to bring a kayak or packraft. If kayaks are allowed, only a sea kayak style with watertight hatches and sealed bulkheads will be permitted, multisport kayaks and surfskis are not allowed for safety and fairness reasons. You'll also have to provide your own PFD/lifejacket, sprayskirt, and paddles. 

If you aren't keen on this stage or cannot source a kayak for the event you are still able to complete the 12hr event, we will have an alternative for you that does not involve paddling. However, this will be a slight disadvantage in terms of points on offer for the event, which may impact your team's final placing. 

Team Size

You can race in a team of 2, 3, or 4 people.

Team Categories

There are 3 age categories available in each race duration, Student, Adult, and Family. All members of a Student team must be currently enrolled at either primary or secondary school. Family teams must have at least one adult (over 18) and any number of school students. Adult teams are also split into Male, Female, and Mixed gender categories. 

The minimum age to take part in the event is 10. Any competitors under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18 unless special permission has been granted by the race director based on the team's previous experience. Please get in touch if you have any questions. 

Prizes

Prizes will be given to the team with the most points in each category. Thanks to our generous sponsors we will have a fantastic array of spot prizes that everyone will go into the draw to win.

Support Crew

No support crews are required. This creates an even playing field and means you don’t have to rope in support crew. 

The races will start and finish in the same place so you don’t have to sort any transport, however there may be a bike and/or watercraft drop that must be completed before the start. This will be confirmed closer to the event. You can leave your helmet, bike shoes and any additional food/water with your bikes to collect when you reach the transition.

Spectators are welcome to head to other points on the course to take photos and cheer their team on, but they cannot provide any assistance. For safety reasons, supporters should not venture on course without checking with the organisers first. Teams must be self-sufficient while out on course. 

Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)

We strongly recommend teams in the 12 hour event carry a PLB during the event. If you don't have one they are available to purchase from our sponsor Gearshop here, or you can hire one from a number of outdoor shops, see this list for some options.

Compulsory Gear

If you're missing any of the gear on the list below, then head into Gearshop and get sorted! Their team can provide recommendations for gear ideally suited to this event that meets the compulsory gear requirements. No excuses for failing the gear check now!

Individual (must be carried by each person)

• Survival Blanket

• Thermal top long-sleeved - Merino or Polyprop

• Thermal bottoms

• Beanie

• Whistle

• Thermal gloves

• Water proof Jacket - ( this must be seamed sealed ) no wind breakers, plastic ponchos, puffer jackets)

• Cycle helmet

• Head lamp with spare batteries

• Mountain Bike (brakes must work, wheels safe, tires in good condition)

• Rear Red Flashing Bike light

• Running shoes

• Backpack

• Food & water - Race day is likely to be hot so ensure you take adequate water, there will be some water on the course but you should plan to be self sufficient.

• If providing your own watercraft in the 12hr you must also have a PFD/lifejacket, spray skirts, and paddles.

Team

• First Aid kit: Minimum- triangular bandage, crepe bandage, strapping tape, knife or scissors, antihistamine, gauze bandage

• Compass - 1 per team

• Maps x 2 (Provided)

• Cell Phone (Fully Charged)

Gear Check

You will need to have and carry the items on the gear list. We will also be collecting the cell phone number from the phone you will be taking.

There will be spot gear checks during the race and if you don’t have an item a 1hr time penalty will be given to your team.

It is the responsibility of each participant to ensure that their equipment (including bike) is in good condition. However the event organisers reserve the right to prevent participants from starting if they feel that the condition of their equipment poses a risk to themselves or others. 

Cancellation

In extreme weather or Force Majeure the event may be cancelled at any time. In this situation entry fees are non-refundable, although we will do our best to reschedule the event.