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LaPine Loop 2020 Course overview and race day details
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Captains - Make sure to share this with your team, and note that unless specifically mentioned, all previous racer communications are still valid
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On Oct 25, BendRacing’s biggest field ever will toe the line at Lapine State Park. Some of you will have hopes of becoming the new Lapine Loop champions and snagging the prize money, and others will be pushing just to survive their first adventure race. Either way, we commend you, and welcome all the new racers into this amazing adventure race culture.📷
Please avoid exploring the park on Saturday the 25th. It just makes it so much easier for us to set course if we are not worried about hiding from racers snooping around. Thanks!!!
The PASOKIN Prologue
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Teams will start on foot with a short mandatory “exercise”. Once completed, teams have the option to get any or all of the 6 prologue points (A-F). For every 2 of these, you will get credit for 1 PRO point. So it is a good idea to get an even #. Newer/slower teams are encouraged to only get a few of these or to skip them altogether and start on Stage 1 right away. Estimated time for full Prologue: 25-45 minutes.
Stage 1: The Discover Chiropractic Trek
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Right off the bat, teams will face a navigation choice as they head to the first trekking checkpoints. Some will choose to stay dry while a bold few will take the shortest path available regardless of the obstacles in their way. The trek will soon become trail-less and the navigation challenging for those teams that decide to go for any or all of the 3 PRO points enroute to the Paddling transition area. Estimate times for Trek (including PRO points): 1-1.5 hours
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Stage 2: The HydroFlask Deschutes River Paddle and Rise Brewing Co. Bridge Rappel
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Time for some boating! Teams will inflate their boats and descend into the river for a bit of time off their feet. During this stage, teams must remain within the river corridor (with the exception of the ropes section) and do their best to stay in the current as they meander down the windy river.
At a designated checkpoint on the river, teams will be faced with splitting up and sending the brave half of the team up to rappel off the bridge. Hopefully the boats will be waiting underneath to give them a dry place to land. Soloists will be able to paddle all the way to the bridge and then carry their paddle gear up to the bridge to rappel with it.
Portaging overland is not allowed during this leg until reaching the takeout. Strong paddling teams may continue past the takeout in the river to snag one more PRO point. Regardless of where they choose to end their paddle, teams will be faced with a daunting 2 mile trek (carrying their boats and paddle gear). Intrepid teams will find ways to shorten this distance by nearly half a mile if they are willing to leave the safety of the trails and roads and head into the forest with the help of a skilled navigator. Estimated time (including PRO point): 1.25-2 hours
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Stage 3: The Bend Sauce Bike Leg and the AOS O-course
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Teams will be happy to drop their boats in exchange for mountain bikes and the fast and flowy singletrack that awaits them. But teams that go too fast might find themselves blowing right by a checkpoint as they will be mostly hidden just off the trail and require attentive navigation. The entire bike route is fairly straightforward for teams that choose to skip the PRO points. Halfway through, teams will reach an optional Bike-Orienteering course.
The Bike-O will be scored the same way as the prologue, with 2 O-points counting as 1 PRO point. This section will be less flowy, with several short bike-whacking or trekking sections required to reach the points. The O-course is 100% optional and teams that are time crunched can skip the entire section. Teams must check in and out with staff during this section. The minimum estimated time to get from the O-course to finish is estimated at 30 minutes (if you skip all the remaining PRO points). After the Bike-O teams have only one more significant challenge. The dreaded “waterfall of ice and fire” (see below). Once surviving the frigid temperatures, it is a fast and furious ride to the finish line, with a few more tricky PRO points along the way to push our champions to the limit. Estimated time for Bike leg + Bike-O (and all PRO points): 2-3 hours
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The Waterfall
Veteran Lapine racers will recognize this feature (with maybe an involuntary shiver) as it has been the centerpiece of the “Legend of Pirate Pierre Lapine” and his curse that has plagued the race in past editions. But due to the amazing efforts of past competitors, the curse was lifted and the pirate’s three treasure chests recovered. This year any team could claim part of the riches. Instead of a traditional orienteering punch at this checkpoint, teams must swim the frigid waters and climb the waterfall to obtain a skeleton key. The key must be kept safe until the finish line where teams will have the chance to open one of the locks and claim riches. (teams that lose their key will be unranked!)
Each team may only get 1 key, and a minimum of 2 racers per team must swim (except soloists). Any Lapine loop veteran racer that makes the swim may pick up an additional key. (more chances to get lucky!)
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Note on Time Estimates: These are not hard and fast, and are based upon our numerous experiences vetting the course with a few different athletes and navigators. All vetting was done during decent weather conditions (low 60s) and at similar river flows. But there is no guarantee that your team will fall within this range. And they are based on decent navigational skills with most test navigators making some small mistakes, but teams that are routinely getting lost will fall far outside of our times. So it should be obvious, that adding together the “slower” side of the estimate results in a time that is longer than 6 hours - meaning that many/most teams will need to skip some of the O-points and/or PRO points in order to finish before the cutoff. Teams are allowed a 5 min grace period (till 4:05PM) after which they will lose 1 point per 5 minutes they are late. Any team arriving after 4:30 will be unranked.
Final Gear/Race notes/rules overview (in no particular order)
Teams WILL NOT NEED a headlamp/flashlight as they will not be required to get a submerged checkpoint.
Teams should have a sharpie and some duct tape to label their paddle bags. We will have some (not enough for everyone) basic mesh paddle bags available a check in if teams need an extra bag to help contain. Remember, you can leave nothing behind when you start the boat section. We’d love the bags back post race.
Teams will not need to provide their own ropes, but will need the previously mentioned gear from the earlier newsletters, and remember that INCLUDES harnesses for the ropes teammates.
Racers will start with only the map for the Prologue and the first Trekking stage. Additional maps will be provided at each TA.
Teams must follow staff/volunteer instructions.
Teams must wear provided race jerseys at all times on the outside of their other clothing. We know it sucks. But it makes the media so much better, and therefore helps legitimize the sport in the eyes of our sponsors and your family and friends. So suck it up for 6 hours and wear your jersey. Thanks!!!!
Ropes Staff is not there to INSTRUCT you on how to rappel. You should know this already. Staff have the discretion to ask a team to skip this section if they do not feel that the team has the skill to proceed safely. Teams should don all ropes gear prior to approaching the ropes, and proceed as directed by the staff to their designated rope. The team members waiting in the boat will be required to perform a fireman’s belay for the descending athletes.
Standard AR rules (paraphrased): Teams must stay together at all times (entire team within 100m). No GPS use allowed for positioning, altitude or speed/distance traveled. Carry mandatory gear at all times (can share the load amongst team members). Yield to other park users. Help another team if they are injured or in danger of becoming so. Phone use is allowed unless you are texting or calling for assistance (and this will make you unranked). Be nice and play fair. It is your responsibility to keep your passports and maps nice for the duration. Masks are required in transition areas and if you cannot maintain 6’ distance with other teams. Teams breaking a rule or traveling out of bounds will either be issued a warning, time penalty or disqualification depending on the severity of the infraction. It is allowed to choose a route that travels outside of the state park.
STUFF TO ORDER
Team Bend Racing approved shin protection: $20/pair
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We have made a special order of our teams favorite lightweight shin protectors. We use them nearly every race and off trail training. We can honestly say (after pre-running the course several times) that we love them for this race. Catch is we only have 40 pairs. 20 orange small/med (for up to about 5’8”) and 20 blue large. (5’8” and up, or shorter with big big calves)
If you want a pair you must venmo $20 per pair to: chelsey-magness and include a note on what sizes you want and what your team name is. We’ll add them to your swag bag.
Squiggly Lines: Navigation for Adventure Racing Book. $30
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This is a great book written by one of Team BendRacing/YogaSlackers’ former teammates. It has a wealth of information and exercises for the beginner and veteran navigator alike, and is really the only nav book written with adventure racing in mind. They sold out most places (only 2 left on Amazon), but we ordered 20 copies. Max 1 per team till they are gone. Same as above, venmo $30 to: chelsey-magness with your team name….it will be waiting in your bag.
Packraft Rentals: Teams that rented packrafts from Backcountry rafts can pick them up at 61445 Barleycorn Ln, Bend OR 97702 on Friday or Saturday. You will be responsible for return shipping them. If we receive them earlier, I will post on the Bend Racing facebook page and you can come earlier.
PRE and POST RACE Schedule:
8:00AM - bike drop opens (not at start)
8:10 AM - start line and check in opens
8:30-9:30 - Boat drop off open (at trailer)
9:15 AM - Captain’s meeting and maps
9:50 AM - Prologue set up
9:55 AM - Prologue start
3:00 PM - food available
4:05 PM - Grace period ends (teams lose points now)
4:30 PM - hard cutoff, teams are unranked after this.
When you arrive at the start (house icon) we’d like you to drop your bikes and bike equipment FIRST before coming to the race start to check in. See Map below:
To reach the bike drop once you enter the park, continue past the Day Use area (flags) and over the bridge. 📷
After the bridge take the second right (first one is dirt right after the bridge, second one is paved soon thereafter).
Continue on this road a short while until you reach the bike drop. (bike icon) Drop bikes (and relevant bike equipment etc) as instructed and the return to the start area to check in. Bike drop will open at 8AM.
Teams will only be allowed to park one vehicle at the start/finish (and there may not be room for everyone). If your team has more cars, you need to park them either of the dirt lots just over the bridge. You can walk a trail on the east side of the river to get back to the start.
When you arrive at the start to check in, please park as requested by our staff, and proceed to the check in area.
Teams must drop their boats (in the designated trailer) by 9:30AM at the latest. Boats must be rolled up and all paddle gear (boats, pumps, paddles, PFD, optional paddle clothing , etc) must be contained in bags or all strapped together and labeled with team #.
There will be a captain’s meeting (captain’s ONLY) at 9:15 sharp where maps and passports will be distributed, and any questions answered. At this point teams must stay in the start area until the prologue begins.
At the end of the race, we will have hot food from Adventure Eats waiting, as well as homemade cookies. We ask that you please maintain your social distancing while eating and mask wearing while socializing with other racers during this time. The race awards will begin at 4:15 (fingers crossed). Bring LOTS of warm dry clothes so that you can enjoy waiting for your swag...but we also understand if you head home, just at least say goodbye!
We will have spot prizes, staff awarded prizes, and the prize purse to give away! As well as some special awards for the youth racers and the top 20 women in the field. Tons of great stuff! (all prize money will be paid digitally to the captain of the winning teams).
Due to Covid precautions ask that you limit your interactions pre and post race. We are super excited to be hosting a live event, and want to guarantee our chance to have another event by having no Covid transmission!!!
Note from the Media Crew
We will be out in the field with you, but please do not look at the camera or wave at us or smile or jump up and click your heels. Just keep racing. If you really are just smiling all the time we suggest you go a little faster so that you look a little more gritty.
Note from the Medics
We are most concerned about about hypothermia, so make sure your team has a good plan for how to warm back up after immersion if necessary. We will be there in an emergency, but remember that the you and your team are primarily responsible for your own safety. If the medical staff assists too much you will be pulled from the race. Take care of each other!!!!
Signs of hypothermia:
Shivering.
Exhaustion or feeling very tired.
Confusion.
Fumbling hands.
Memory loss.
Slurred speech.
Drowsiness.
Good luck with final preparations. See you in a week.
If you have any BURNING QUESTIONS, please first read back through the previous racer communications. Then read this one again. Then if you still have questions -
Email: Bendracingor@gmail.com
Subject: Lapine Loop 2020 burning question
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Bend Racing
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