These Are The General Rules.

They are intended to be a brief description of some,
but not all the rules in the Driftless Zone Adventure Race. 

The racers package will contain the  highly detailed rules that are of concern for each area of the race course. First and of the greatest importance, the

ENVIRONMENTAL RULES.
THESE ARE OF THE GREATEST IMPORTANCE!

     Anyone caught in violation of these ENVIRONMENTAL RULES will immediately be disqualified. Be they at the start, and only 100 yards into the race, or in first place and only 100 feet from the finish line. If any of these ENVIRONMENTAL RULES are broken you are disqualified!  We require these rules be followed on the entire course. All decisions regarding violations discovered by race officials are final.
CANOEING AND SWIMMING SECTIONS

     When entering or leaving a lake or river, if there is an obvious landing area or beach use it. If not, try to spread the wear and tear around so that after many competitors pass by, it will not look like we were there.
HIKING OR TREKKING SECTIONS

     Most of the areas you will be traveling through do not have any trails, it is your responsibility to find the best and safest route to pass through and not to leave a trail.  When possible, walk side-by-side so no trail is created. Try not to disturb the soil so that a trail becomes visible.
We know some areas of the course by nature of the terrain this will almost be impossible, you'll be taking some or the course with you, but everyone try your best to do as little damage as possible.

     When in areas of  the course that a trail does exist, try to use it. All trails are voluntary and you can take them if you wish, or if you think you have a better route, you are free to take it.

BIKING

     This year we finally have some off road biking for you all. Something that was lacking in years past. As always in the "Driftless Zone", The exact route taken is TOTALLY up to you! There will be some sections where you may choose to ride on paved or dirt roads. There may be some vehicle traffic. Some light to none, and then it could be quite heavy and fast.  During these sections follow road biking rules. Use hand signals and travel in single file with traffic on the side of the road or on the shoulder.

     Again, when in areas of  the course that a trail does exist, try to use it.
All trails are voluntary, and you can take them if you wish,
or if you think you have a better route, you are free to take it.
Sometimes after a strong or prolonged rain, we may need to use some trails.

ROPES AREAS


     Tread as lightly as possible during the event. This rock has been here since the last Ice Age, and most likely looking very much the same way it does now hundreds of years ago, and we want it to still be that way after we leave. 

     This is indeed a virgin formation we are climbing on here people.  It's private property.
The only climbing that has happened here is the climbing we have done setting up for this race.
We made special arrangements with the land owners to allow us to use this incredible cliff.  Lets treat it as nice as possible. Do none or as little damage as possible. And we will be allowed back again in future years.

REFUSE

     ALSO KNOWN AS TRASH, GARBAGE, LITTER, ETC.

     All waste must be removed from the course!  That means - you pack it in, you pack it out.
Failure to follow this one rule will result in disqualification from the race.
Proof of even one food wrapper left behind means disqualification
At all the manned checkpoints we will have trash containers. Use them please.
GENERAL RACE RULES AND INFORMATION

The racers package will have more complete detailed rules that deal with the areas between each checkpoint. This is just a general overview.

      The course remains unknown to all the competitors and support teams until the pre-race meeting Friday Evening. Prior to this meeting, teams are told only the disciplines they must be able to do in order to compete,  the required equipment list, and an approximate time to complete the course.

     This IS a supported race. You will need at least one support person and vehicle. They can meet with you at all the manned checkpoints.  Some of these will be Transition areas (TA's) They can bring you the needed equipment for the next leg of the race as well as take gear you will no longer need.

     At the minimum they will be required to bring your bike to you. As well  take it from you when your finished with it.  After you leave a checkpoint we will inform your support crew of locations of good photo and video opportunities, to watch you go by along the course.   Bridges, waysides, hills etc. Of course these are only good if you travel the expected route.  If you lay out in your opinion a route we did not think of, oh well. 

     Do not try to cheat at these locations though!,  We may or may not be watching. Any teams caught having contact with their support teams in any un-authorized locations along the course (unless it's an emergency of course) will receive a time penalty.

     You MUST be familiar with the UTM coordinate system on USGS topographic maps. There are many excellent web sites that explain fully how the UTM grid system works. One we found to be excellent is at. 

http://www.maptools.com/UsingUTM/index.html

     That is an excellent web page to learn the UTM system.  We will supply you with all the needed topo maps, and the locations of the checkpoints in the UTM coordinates. It's up to you to plot them on your maps correctly to learn where they are. And to decide your best course to the next checkpoint. By the way, This web page talks a LOT about how to use a GPS, in this race they

ARE NOT ALLOWED!

Race Duration

     The Fastest Teams should finish in 14 hours.
 Average teams in 16-17 hours.
 And the Rest have the 20 hour window to officially finish!
Plus even if it takes you more than the twenty, we'll still be at the
finish line having a good time and cheer for ya as you come on in!

     All teams leave the starting area at the same time and travel through numerous areas and types of terrain using different modes of  travel.  All along the course are numbered mandatory passport checkpoints that each team must check into in the correct order.  Teams must check in with them all and work their way to the finish line as quickly as they can. All team members must arrive at all the checkpoints and cross the finish line together.

     Often several different routes may be taken; (unless it is stated in the racers package about areas that they must take a certain route, to avoid private property) The teams may choose any route as long as each passport control point is passed in the correct order, and no private property that is not listed in the racers guide is crossed. We do have some private property in the course, and it will be clearly listed as to be a part of the course.  All others are off limits. So, strategy and intelligence are just as or even more important than speed or physical endurance.  

      The first complete team that covers the course in the shortest time and crosses the finish line first is the winner. Not only are they the overall winner, but of course the winner of their class too.  As well as the first team to cross the finish line of any other class is the winner of their class. Each complete remaining teams will be ranked according to their finishing time. Teams can only be ranked when all members have crossed the finish line.

There are Five Classes this year.

Solo
2-Person
3-Person
4-Person NON-CO-ED
 4-Person CO-ED
  RACE TIMING

      Race headquarters control will keep the official time clock for the competition. The race clock is real time; it begins when the race starts and stops when the last place team crosses the finish line, or when the race time allotted closes.

     There will be at each manned checkpoint, timings of teams arrival and departures. These will be relayed by radio to the Race headquarters for logging and up dating of the leader board. The Race headquarters will be located at the finish line.

      Cut off times may be established, or race ending may be extended beyond the 6PM estimated finish time. Cut-off times Hopefully this year will not be used. But, to keep the course safe, we must have the possibility of implementing them. If teams fail to reach and depart designated points by a certain time, they will not be allowed to continue as a ranked team. They may chose to continue on the course un-ranked and can even skip to a different portion of the course. Or simply drop out and cheer others on. Cut off times may be adjusted during the race if needed for safety or timing needs at the sole discretion of the Race Director.

All the checkpoints will have the usual "O" type of marker flag. 
The usual orange and white square. 

CHANGES IN THE COURSE

    The Race Director reserves the right to add, modify, cancel parts, or change the course at any time. In order to keep the course safe as it can with reason. And / or with timing concerns.

DARK ZONES

There will be a "Dark Zone"  (pun intended) Where if you arrive at the biking leg of the race and it is still dark, you will not be allowed to proceed until the "Dark Zone" has ended.
The "Dark Zone" ends at 6 AM.  But you can proceed on into the "Dark Zone"  if your bike is properly lighted, and reflectorized. As described in Wisconsin Satutes shown on the "Equipment" page.

TEAM PERSONNEL

      All team members must be at least 16 years of age on the day of the race. If a minor (under 18) With parent or guardian's signature on the waiver, as well as theirs.

     The competitor and the Wisconsin Adventure Racing personnel are the sole judges of  whether the competitor should begin the race, or later in the race, continue competing or not.

      The Passport Checkpoint personnel  and Race Director reserves the right, with or without consultation of a doctor, to bar a competitor from starting or continuing in the race. Medical personnel may be on hand to aid in this decision, but their opinion is not a necessary part of the decision process.

     Every competitor must sign the liability waiver and image release and send it along with the completed team entry form with full payment before August 9th, 2007 the entry deadline. 

     SEPARATION RULE

    Once the race begins, team members must never be out of sight of each other. The first team member and the last team member must be able to see each other at all times.  (except in  situations as specified by the Race Director).

 TEAM UNIFORM

       There are no set uniforms. any type of clothing is allowed and up to each team as to what they want to wear for a certain segment of the race . A change of clothes is even allowed. Sponsorship logo diagrams and/or stickers are also allowed. Wisconsin Adventure Racing may or may not require you to wear a race identifier, (Bib number, mesh logo, etc.)

FOOD AND DRINK RULE

      Your support crew CAN  supply you with any food or liquids. But only at the designated manned checkpoints.  Any other contact with your support team may penalize you or even disqualify your team. (except in cases of an emergency of course)