Not sure if you're ready to race yet? Want to learn more about AR from the inside? Interested in getting a free race tshirt, free food/drink, and credit towards a future AR? Sign up to be a volunteer for the Impossible Panther AR! Contact us for more info.
For those of you who didn't come out to race, you missed a great one! The weather was gorgeous, the uphills were heinous, the downhills were fast, the water was cool, and I heard lots of laughing and saw tons of smiles through the dust and sweat.
Impossible Panther BLOG You can post comments and questions and get feedback from the Race Director. Visit http://ipar07.wordpress.com/.
Sponsored by God's Country Outfitters
Bushwhack Adventures brings more Adventure Racing to the Uwharrie National Forest with the first annual Impossible Panther Adventure Race, to be held May 19, 2007. Why the "Impossible Panther"?
Teams of 2 or 3 racers will navigate their way to checkpoints (CP's) while they travel on foot, on bike, and on water* through the courses. Teams may encounter "special challenge events" along the way.
The Impossible Panther AR will feature three course length options: a 4 hour "sport course", an 8 hour "challenge course" and a 12 hour "long course".
The Sport Course is perfect for racers new to adventure racing. This course features a fixed CP format. Teams must navigate their way to CP's in a specified order. Time penalties will be given for missed or skipped CP's. The winner will be the team who ends up with the fastest adjusted finish time.
The Challenge Course is designed for racers who are ready for a little more challenge than the sport course. This course features a modified rogaine format, where teams have 8 hours to find as many CP's as possible. Some CP's will be mandatory, with point penalties for missing or skipping them, but otherwise teams can visit CP's in whatever order they choose. Each CP is worth a certain point value, based upon it's distance from the start/finish. The winner will be determined by the total number of points earned.
The Long Course is great for more experienced adventure racers who are ready to put their navigation and strategy skills to the test. This course also has a modified rogaine format. Teams will have 12 hours to find as many CP's as possible. Some CP's will be mandatory, with point penalties for missing or skipping them, but otherwise teams can visit CP's in whatever order they choose. Each CP is worth a certain point value, based upon it's distance from the start/finish. The winner will be determined by the total number of points earned.
Navigation skills will be emphasized in the Impossible Panther AR. Teams will be given a map and a "race passport" containing coordinates for the CP's and other special instructions. Be prepared to exercise the following navigation skills: plotting UTM coordinates, choosing the best route between CP's, using a compass to shoot and follow bearings, correcting for declination, pacing, and more.
The location of the race HQ/Start/Finish will be the Badin Lake Group Camp. Detailed directions will be provided upon registration. Participants are invited to take advantage of free camping on site before and after the race. Plan to come out and enjoy the company of other adventure racers both on and off the course!
* Boat Note: In an effort to keep entry fees as low as possible, Bushwhack Adventures will allow teams on the Challenge and Long course to provide their own canoes/kayaks or arrange for rentals locally from God's Country Outfitters.
Mountain biking:
Options encountered on course may include singletrack, doubletrack, widetrack, gravel roads, and paved roads.
See also: bushwhacking, bikewhacking, hike-a-bike, and surprising elevation changes.
Paddling:
Options encountered on course may include flatwater, whitewater (if the wind is up), and ice boating (if the temperature is way down). Teams on the Sport course will have watercraft provided for them. Teams on the Challenge and Long courses may bring their own canoes or kayaks, or may arrange for rentals locally from God's Country Outfitters, call Christian at 704-985-3020.
See also: rivers, rapids, ledges and pools, secluded coves, open lake, and motorboat wakes.
Trekking:
Options encountered on course: yes.
See also: more options.
Navigation:
Options encountered on course may include plotting UTM coordinates, reading contour lines, adjusting for declination, shooting an azimuth, reading a bearing, and pacing.
See also: "not on the map", "inaccurate map", and 1:24,000 map scale.
Notes:
- The ability to make basic forward progress is required in all disciplines. No points will be awarded for grace or style, but time savings may be realized when more speed, accuracy and efficiency are exercised.
- Ratio of mileages in each discipline is determined by each team's navigation choices. A more accuate guesstimate will be posted close to race time.
Sport Course: 3-4 hours
- Co-ed
- All-Male
- All-Female
Teams may be 2- or 3-person.
First place team wins cash.
Entry fee is $40 per person.
Challenge Course: 8 hours
- Co-ed
- All-Male
- All-Female
Teams may be 2- or 3-person.
First place team wins cash.
Entry fee is $60 per person.
Long Course: 12 hours
- Co-ed
- All-Male
- All-Female
Teams may be 2- or 3-person.
First place team wins cash.
Entry fee is $70 per person.
Notes:
- Support crews are allowed but not required. They may only provide support in the Race HQ transition area.
- Entry fee includes race passport and map, race numbers, race T-shirt, on-site camping and post-race meal.
Individual Gear:
Mountain bike
Bike helmet
Whistle
All racers on the Sport course will need to bring a Type III PFD.
If teams on the Challenge and Long courses are bringing their own boat(s), then each member must also have a Type III PFD and a paddle. (Rentals through GCO will come with a PFD and paddle.)
Team Gear:
Compass
Waterproof map/passport container
Basic first aid kit (in case of arterial bleeding, first degree bone fractures, etc), including:
- four 4"x4" compress bandages
- one 3" ace wrap bandage
- one roll of 1" waterproof medical tape
- one cell phone in waterproof container
Notes:
Cell phones are for emergency purposes only. Note that service may not be available on all parts of the course, so having a team plan for sending someone for help in case of emergency is advised.
All mandatory gear will be checked by race staff at some point during the race.
Provided gear includes race numbers, passports/instructions and course maps.
May 18, 2007
Team Check-in (optional; all courses) and Friday night camping check-in: 5 - 9 PM
May 19, 2007
LONG COURSE
Team Check-in: 5 - 5:45 AM
Pre-race safety briefing: 5:45 AM
Race Start: 6 AM
Race Cutoff: 6 PM
CHALLENGE COURSE
Team Check-in: 7 - 8:45 AM
Pre-race safety briefing: 8:45 AM
Race Start: 9 AM
Race Cutoff: 5 PM
SPORT COURSE
Team Check-in: 10 - 11:45 AM
Pre-race safety briefing: 11:45 AM
Race Start: High Noon
Race Cutoff: None (expect to finish around 4PM-ish)
Awards ceremony (all courses), post-race cookout, and party: 6:30 PM until
Notes:
- Team check-in will consist of registration paperwork confirmation and racer sign-in. Gear checks will be done during the event.
- Group tent camping on-site for both Friday and Saturday nights is included free for team members and a few support people (please be reasonable). Bathrooms, drinking water and showers are available at the site.
- Two other USFS campgrounds are available nearby - Badin Lake CG and Arrowhead CG.
- There are several motels located in Albemarle and Asheboro. These are roughly 30 minutes away.
Impossible Panther AR
When:
May 19, 2007
Where:
Uwharrie National Forest near Troy, NC
Length:
Sport course ~4 hrs
Challenge course 8 hrs
Long course 12 hrs
Disciplines:
Mountain biking, trekking, orienteering, water event*.
Team Size:
2 or 3 person;
Team Divisions:
Coed, Male, or Female.
Req'd Gear:
Mtn bike, canoe/kayak, see list for more.
Entry Fees:
$40 per person - 4 hr
$60 per person - 8 hr
$70 per person - 12 hr
Prizes:
1st place in each division on each course wins cash. Drawings for gear +, for everyone.
Reg. Deadline:
May 15, 2007
Bonuses:
Free camping before and after; post-race meal.
