Final Bulletin (released Sunday 9th November)
The final bulletin will be published the weekend before the race and will include a schedule for race pack collection, registration, and briefings. Please save any logistics questions until after the bulletin has been published.
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: 11am
Registration and race briefing for the 12 Hour event will 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.
For 4 and 8 Hour teams, there is the option of registering on Friday evening or Saturday morning, and the race briefing will take place just before the start of each event on Saturday.
The prize giving will be held on Saturday afternoon in St Arnaud, as soon as possible after the majority of teams in each event have finished.
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.
Those in the 12hr must also provide their own paddle, PFD, wetsuit, throw bag, accessible knife, repair kit, and whitewater-specific helmet (e.g CE/UKCA EN1385:2012 approved).
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)
PLB (12hr only)
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.