Hey Gang,
The 2010 Cold Foot Classic is coming up soon. For all the information please visit:
http://www.ykmultisport.com/rock-and-ice-2010/For additional information email us at rockandice2010@gmail.com
The Event
The Rock and Ice is a 50 km, continuous and fully supported foot or classic ski event on an ungroomed trail. Compete solo or as a team of up to five participants. There are 4 road-accessible check points along a well marked trail and racers are encouraged to cache food, gear and have a support crew on stand by. This is an event, not a race. We will allow ample time for everyone to finish safely.
The lake sections of the course will be marked with orange pin flags and/or reflective lath at intervals of between 25 and 100 meters depending on terrain and visibility. The track is not set for xc-skiers. Competitors are responsible for (1) staying on the course; (2) slowing down to pay attention to course markings or the absence of course markings; and (3) keeping track of their location on the map provided. In the event that a competitor does not see a mark for 100 meters and they are not on the obvious or logical course, they should immediately return to the last known marker to find the correct course. In general, course markings will be visible under normal lighting conditions. Abnormal conditions may include snow, fog, wind or any other condition that reduces visibility.
The Start
We have booked the Yellowknife Ski Club Chalet for the event. This provides a heading building with parking, washrooms, waxing facilities, a starting stadium, water and a canteen. The event will start and finish at the Chalet. You may leave personal belongings at the building. If they need to be secured, please speak to one of our volunteers. Currently, we plan to have coffee and muffins available prior to the event start, and a hot meal ready for you on your return. There will be an event briefing at 08:30, and mass starts for each event (ski and foot) starting at 09:00. All participants must complete the course by 22:00.
The Route
The event route is approximately 50 km. The event will start and finish at the Yellowknife Ski Club. From the Ski Club trails, it will follow ungroomed snowmachine trails to Yellowknife Bay, Walsh Lake, Prosperous Lake, Hay Lake, back to Yellowknife Bay, and back to the Ski Club trails. You may do the event solo, or in a relay team of up to five participants. For the safety of our participants, we will be instituting cut-off times. The cut-off times will allow 11 hours to complete the event, or an average speed of 4 kmph. The checkpoints, aproximate distances and cut-off times are as follows (not including the distance in the Ski Club trails):
Yellowknife Ski Club chalet, start at 09:00
Walsh Lake checkpoint, 11.5 km from start, cut-off time at 12:00
Prosperous Lake checkpoint, 21 km from start, 9.5 km leg, cut-off time at 15:00
Cassidy Point checkpoint, 28 km from start, 7 km leg, cut-off time at 17:00
Detah Road checkpoint, 39 km from start, 11 km leg, cut-off at 20:00
Yellowknife Ski Club chalet, 49 km from start, 9 km leg, finish by 22:00
The course will be marked with branches in the snow. Race staff will make every effort to keep the course markers visible and in place, however it is possible that markers may be taken, buried, blown over, covered or otherwise made difficult or impossible to find. It is the responsibility of the competitors to pay attention to the markings and to make intelligent decisions when following the course. Competitors/teams removing or changing the location or direction of course markings will be immediately disqualified.
Categories
There will be six categories for this event:
men’s solo ski
men’s solo run/snowshoe
women’s solo ski
women’s solo run/showshoe
team ski
team run/snowshoe
Teams can have from two to five members. You may switch out team members at the four checkpoints, and ONLY at the checkpoints. We encourage mixed teams. All checkpoints are road accessable, and you are welcome to come out and cheer on your team!
Timing
Bib numbers will be provided to all participants, and we will be recording times at all checkpoints. Remember to make sure that checkpoint staff get your bib number, both for safety and timing reasons. If they don’t get your bib number, we may send search and rescue staff to look for you.
Playing Safe
Arctic Response will be be tracking the event, collecting times and bib numbers, and ensuring the trail is well marked and safe. The Yellowknife Search and Rescue will also be on hand, should someone go missing.
All racers must check in at Yellowknife Ski Club before 8:30 am Saturday, 20 March. All racers must stop at each check point and register their bib number with the Checkpoint Managers. Failure to do so may result in your footing the bill for an expensive search and rescue effort. Checkpoints will supply water for racers. Additional goodies may be supplied by CP managers if they choose. Plan your caches well in advance, if you need them.
Cut-off times have been instituted for each checkpoint. The cut-off times will allow 11 hours to complete the event, at an average speed of 4 kmph.
Mandatory Equipment
To keep the event safe and fair, and to set a good example for anyone out skiing so far from town, we will require that the following items be carried by all participants, throughout the entire event. There will be an equipment check prior to the event, and random checks at all checkpoints for relay teams. Overlander Sports have a copy of this mandatory list, and they can help you get prepared. The following items must be carried for the entire event by all participants:
Route map (provided by us)
Thermos (1 litre at least)
Fire starter (i.e., lighter or matches)
First aid kit (with blister supplies)
Headlamp & batteries
Red LED light for your backpack
700 calories of food (i.e. 3 or 4 granola bars)
knife or multi-tool
space blanket or bivvy bag
spare touque
spare mitts
sunglasses
A note on food- for an event like this, you should be planning on eating at least 200 calories per hour, and drinking a litre every 2 or 3 hours. Ideally, bring food that is high in carbohydrates, such as granola bars or energy bars, and have your thermos filled with warm energy drink. The 700 calories is certainly not enough to get you through the event, it is a bare minimum to get you to the next checkpoint. You may need someone to meet you at a checkpoint with extra food.
Registration and Volunteering
We prefer that participants register on-line. Only Visa and Mastercard are accepted for payment. Participants under the age of 19 will require an adult to assist with registration. To register, go to one of the two links below. The deadline for registration is 12 March, 2010.
http://www.zone4.ca/onlinereg.asp?ID=2757 (use this link to register for the solo event)
http://www.zone4.ca/onlinereg.asp?ID=2758 (use this link to register for the team event)
If you would like to register as a volunteer, please complete the the volunteer registration form and email it back to rockandice2010@gmail.com
If you can’t register on-line, you may also register by paper registration form at Overlander Sports, by13 March, 2010. Payment must be made in cash. A volunteer will then enter your registration information to the Zone 4 websites above.
There will be a briefing at the Ski Club on Friday, March 19 at 6 pm. All participants are expected to attend this briefing. Bibs will also be distributed at this time.
Our Sponsors and Volunteers
We would like to thanks a number of organizations that have allowed this event to happen:
The Yellowknives Dene First Nation, for providing input on the course
Arctic Response, for providing event tracking and safety advice
Yellowknife Search and Rescue, for just being there
Yellowknife Ski Club for their support
Yellowknife Multisport Club, for help with insurance
Last but not least, the volunteers who made this happen
We would also like to thank our corporate sponsors for kindly providing volunteers, sponsorhsip and prizes:
BHP Billiton
Overlander Sports
Aurora Village
Superior Propane
Ron’s Auto
Taylor Geomatics
Mel and Lorna Palmer
Clear Arctic Springs (www.tundratransfer.com)
Questions? Feel like volunteering? Email us at rockandice2010@gmail.com
FAQ
Is the course groomed?
No, the course is not groomed (except for a few kilometres in the ski trails between the Chalet and Back Bay). This is a trail run/xc-ski/adventure race and not a sanctioned loppett. There are actually 2 road crossings where racers will need to remove their skis and cross a double lane, paved road.
Is there a mandatory gear check?
Yes. There will be a gear check prior to the event, and random checks for relay team members at the staging points. A copy of the mandatory gear list is at Overlander Sports, and they can help to get you prepared.
Is there support?
Each staging point will have water. If you want food or a change of clothes, it is your responsibility to have someone drop these off for you at the checkpoint. The Prosperous checkpoint may not be roadside, but all checkpoints are road accessible.
How to relay members get to a checkpoint?
There are currently no shuttles services to or from check points. Racers are responsible for getting to check points and are responsible for their own transportation back to town. Car pooling with other racers, volunteers or media is the best option.
