Newsletter #2

Expedition Oregon 2019 Competitor Newsletter #2 Please note that much of the staff will be away at GodZone from March 5-20.  So if there is a delay in reply, please be patient. March 4, 2019

In seven weeks, the first of the teams will arrive here in Central Oregon to take part in the second Expedition Oregon.  We hope your training is going well and that you are as excited as we are!

The high desert, snowy mountains, lava fields, rivers and forests are waiting.

TEAM LIST

Getting to the start of an expedition race is sometimes the hardest part, as it takes a lot of training and planning. Sometimes, injuries or life complications get in the way.  So here is to hoping that all of you make it to the start line - and if you do - we have an amazing line-up of teams, from all over the USA, Canada, Mexico, South America, and Europe.  With many of the top teams from last year returning, this will be the most competitive Adventure Racing field in the USA this year!

While we are still waiting for confirmation on a number of teams, the list below represents teams that have confirmed entry into EO 2019:

BendRacing/Canada Quest AR Bones Nyara/Montbell Norcal AR Georgia MRC/MainNerve Perpetual Motion Spotted Kiwis KoliFit Recalculating Adventure South Racing Zona 3 Untamed New England Around the Bend Rennegades Journey Racing Alpha Dental Natrokopaniet Pioneers Flying Grizzlies

LOGE lodging REMINDER

Remember to book your lodging with LOGE soon to ensure availability.  You can email them via the website, or just call them.  They will get you set up!

SCHEDULE

April 21-22 (or earlier) Teams arrive at the host hotel, the LOGE at Entrada.

April 23 Tentative schedule, subject to change.

9AM - 3 PM Racer check-in, skills checks, mandatory gear checks, waivers, gear pick up, team pictures, etc.

3PM Racer meeting, course description, and maps handout

8PM Gear Drop-of

April 24

5AM Board the bus for transport to race start

8AM Race start

April 27 First teams expected at finish line.

April 28

3PM Course closes (tentative)

6PM Awards and food

SKILLS CHECKS

Teams may be required to complete ropes, boating skills checks, and snow travel safety as these sections of the course will require real outdoor skills to navigate safely. Be prepared to demonstrate/show:

Packrafting wet exits and entries, river reading, river signals (ie; eddy out, swimmer in the water, i’m ok, etc)

Packraft repair kit

Throw bag use

Rappelling, lead climbing, lead belaying, multi-pitch logistics

Use of bothy bag, and knowledge of hypothermia indications

Navigation skills

LOGISTICAL NOTES

Gear Each 4-person team must have (2) bins, (4) paddle bags, and (4) bike boxes as described below:

(2) Bins no bigger than 100 liters/27 US Gallons. These must be stackable. We suggest this bin or something like it. We can source these for you and have them waiting at check-in for $40 (for two bins). See “order gear” section below. You will see these bins at every transition area (TA).

(4) Paddle bags. These will be provided for you.  You will see these paddle bags at the start of every paddle stage and then carry them with you to the end of that stage.

(4) Bike boxes to ARWS standard size or smaller.  You will see the bike boxes at every bike TA.

Water This course is designed as an old-school expedition route and finding water will be part of the challenge. In that vein, we will NOT BE SUPPLYING water at the TAs for racers.   We will however be parntering with Hydrapak to help you carry it!

There is a lot of water on this course, and the strategy of when to fill and how much to carry will become relevant. Most TA’s are very near to a clean water source, but we suggest that teams have a good way to purify water that is fast and efficient. The “Be Free” filter has become one of our team staples. We can order these for you ($25 filter only, $50 filter with bottle)

Hydrapak will also be providing teams with a few “be free” compatible bottles free of charge, as well as some speed cups for use in the higher alpine areas where the water is safe to drink without filtering.  Smart use of these can help a team move light and fast and minimize water weight.  

Two Words - Manzanita and Lava  Shin protection is STRONGLY recommended. We will be selling compression calf sleeves with built-in honeycombed shin protection for $20. We have been using these since the zippers on our nicer Moxie Gaiters broke and have no complaints. They even have the “Bend Racing” logo on them.    Our supply is limited, as our re-order will likely not be recieved in time for the race, so we have only 30 or so pair left. These will be held according to first email orders in.  Sizes M,L,XL (eastern sizing, so go up one or two sizes). 

POLES:  We have partnered with Leki to bring racers some great pole deals Team Bend Racing has been using Leki micro folding poles for nearly 10 years at races across the world, and we love them.  So now is your chance.  We’ve convinced them to offer three different tried and true AR pole styles at special EO prices.  These will be ordered and picked up pre race, so you are sure to have what you need.  See below for the poles:

Trail RCM.  Retail $219, EO Racer $160.  A fixed length foldable carbon pole that is our favorite. At under 175 grams, you hardly notice it in the pack, and it deploys in seconds when needed.  Comes in fixed lengths from 110, 115, 120, 125,130, and 135 cm). Specify length when ordering.

Micro Vario Carbon.  Retail $199, EO racer $150.  Variable length carbon folding pole from 110-130cm. Great for use by various team member sizes.  We always carry at least one set of these to that even if someone loses there poles we have an extra to fit them. 240 grams.

Micro Vario Cor-tec TA.  Retail $140, EO racer $99.  Budget, bombproof, versatile race pole.  Variable length from 110-130cm, folds up to fit in a pack, and under 300 grams.  

All poles will come with add on big powder snow baskets (you’ll probably need them on stage 1) at no additional cost to the racers.  Just an awesome $10 gift from Leki!

Extra maps Each team will be provided with one set of waterproof maps. You can pre-order through us an additional set for $50 for waterproof or $25 for normal paper. 

How to order gear?   If you want bins, filter water bottle, shin guards, or extra maps, simply email Bendracingor@gmail.com with “Pre-race gear order for Team XXX” as the subject line. Let us know what you want. Make sure you include sizes for the shin guards (M,L or XL) and paper quality for the maps, size and type of poles, and filter or filter/bottle. Orders will be ready at check-in. You will pay then, too.

MANDATORY GEAR

Snowshoes may now be required on additional stages, depending on snowpack in April.  

Helmets must be multi-sport rated (Kong Scarab, Petzl Meteor or Meteor III) if you are going to use them for both the climbing section, the bike, and the paddle. Otherwise, you must bring a climbing helmet, whitewater helmet, and a bike helmet.  A bike helmet will be allowed for the WW section, but it NOT recommended.  Cmon - you race AR, get a multisport helmet already.  The Petzl Meteor is identical to the old triple rated Meteor III+, except that they are no longer going through the triple certification process.

Tent/bothy bag will be required gear on stages that go over 5000ft in elevation.

Sleeping bags are required per ARWS rules -  Or a more durable survival bivy from Adventure Medical Kits.  A mylar Space blanket “bag” does not meet the minimum requirement.

Each team needs only 2 throw bags, not one per boat.

If you have any gear questions, do not hesitate to ask. 

Exciting race jersey news

As racers, the standard race bibs that we are required to wear on the outside of our race kit annoy the heck out of us.  And sometimes they make things downright dangerous.  No mountaineer would ever put a wet, frozen polyester net ON TOP of thermal clothing when they are cold in the mountains at night....

But as race directors, we know the importance of image, marketing, and having our sport taken seriously...

So we are attempting something new this year.  All racers will be issued a custom printed full zip, lightweight vest.  Ideally, these are actually pieces that you might choose to wear, so we'll feel a little less bad making you wear them.  And hopefully, they'll be work again and again when you are adventuring in the future. We can dream right?!?

Odds, Ends, and Payments

Please fill out the following form for you team so that we can confirm everyone's information pre-race.

The mandatory race jersey's will be a bit different this year, so it is best if we know your sizes.  

We also would love to know your itinerary, especially if you'd like transport from the airport on the 21st or 22nd.  

If you have not sent us your arrival and departure itinerary and you need us to transport you to and from the airport, you must do this by the end of March or you will not have a ride!

If you still owe us entry fee, please pay up! We do not want to collect large sums of money at check-in. If you do not know your final balance, please ask and we'll give it to you.  Otherwise, pay via one of the following:

Paypal (easiest) to email: bendracingor@gmail.com.   Add 3% to your final balance to cover paypal fees.

Check:  Send/make out to: Jason Magness.  Address 61445 Barleycorn Ln, Bend OR 97702

Bank Transfer Domestic and international (no SWIFT code)  

Recipient bank information:

Transit Routing Number: 314074269USAA Federal Savings Bank10750 McDermott FreewaySan Antonio, TX 78288International (with swift code):

Wire to receiving bank:SWIFT code: IRVTUS3NXXXThe Bank of New York Mellon225 Liberty StNew York, NY 10286 Credit to beneficiary bank:Account number: 8900624744USAA Federal Savings Bank10750 McDermott FreewaySan Antonio, TX 78288 For all the above methods, you will need the actual account #, name and address of the receiving account.  Please email us and we will send that information to you privately.Thank you to all of our amazing partners: Alpacka Raft, Caboost Kombucha, Deschutes Brewery, Edelrid, Ellsworth Bikes ,  Entrada Lodge, Gear Junkie, Leki, Lone Pine Coffee, Mountain Khakis,  Nite Ize, Organic Valley, Paleo Eats, Pine Mountain Sports, prAna,  Rebound Physical Therapy, Recharge Sport, Red Tank Cider, REI Bend,  Travel Oregon, United States Forest Service, and Visit Bend This email and more information about the race will also live in our Expedition Oregon Forum and can be accessed at any time. Expedition Oregon Forum

GET EXCITED! OREGON IS WAITING FOR YOU.