We'd like to welcome all the new teams who are taking part for the first time
in our Eco X-Series. There are quite a lot of you, which is absolutely great
as it really shows that adventure racing is growing in leaps and bounds.
This newsletter is only going out to registered teams and should answer
a lot of the questions that the new teams have been asking.
It may be a little repetitive for teams who have done our races before,
but please bear with us. Also please don't hesitate to contact us if
you have any further questions.
Entry Fees Clarification
We'd like to clarify that the entry fees are as below:
Eco X-Capade Entry Fee:
RM 300.00 per team + RM45 for insurance = RM345.00, (or SD $170.00)
Eco X-Sprint Entry Fee:
RM 85.00 +RM15 for insurance= RM100, (or SD $50.00)
There was a little confusion earlier as we were unsure whether
the insurance would be available for non-Malaysian residents.
If any Singaporean teams paid only SD$150, they can pay the difference
of RM45 for the insurance on race testing day, Sat 3rd May.
This insurance is compulsory for all competitors.
We apologize for any confusion and mistake on our part.
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Race Course Updates
Eco X-Capade
This will be a challenging and beautiful race course for teams in the Eco X-Capade.
Now that you folks have committed yourself to the race, I'll let you into a secret!
You can expect the mountain biking section to take one hour for fast teams.
The whole race will take about 4 hours for the fast teams and 7 hours
for the slowest teams.
Eco X-Sprint
I am repeating most of the info from
Newsletter 1...
Basically, you will do the trekking, river running and abseiling & fixed ropes section
of the same race course as the Eco X-Capade teams. This means you will do
everything EXCEPT the mountain biking, navigation and mystery test sections
of the course. In addition, you will also have the option to cut short
some of the sections if you get sick of trudging along. We will leave lots
of choices open to you. There will even be two starting points:
one longer route and one shorter route. You can expect the route to be about
2 ½ hours for the faster participants and 4 hours for the slower ones.
On the technical rope sections, the marshals will keep a closer eye on you
and assist you a whole lot more than the Eco X-Capade teams.
A limited number of harnesses will be provided, but if you have your own,
do bring it as you may have to queue for a harness.
On the pre-race briefing day, we will spend some time teaching you
some basic rope skills. But you are expected to still be responsible
for yourself on the race course. This is NOT a guided tour where
someone is watching over you all the time. It's a non competitive event
where you can take your time or challenge yourself as you please.
Bring a picnic and watch your friends in the Eco X-Capade run out of breath.
What's the down side? You will always have to give way to the Eco X-Capade teams,
especially on the technical rope sections as they have priority.
You will miss some really cool sections of the race course.
You won't get the full challenge of an adventure race.
If you have ever done a Eco X-Capade, you will find the X-Sprint
not quite challenging enough. There won't be any prizes.
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Solo Eco X-Capade category!
It has come to our evil attention that there are some very OVER QUALIFIED
participants for the Eco X-Sprint!
Aiyah! How can we stop these folks from wimping out from doing the Eco X-Capade?
So if you are a keen mountain biker and if you are wondering if the
Eco X-Sprint will be challenging enough for you, we are now offering
a chance at enjoying the full torture of the race course! We are opening
a category in the Eco X-Capade for solo competitors. This means
they get to do the full race course, but they will be UNRANKED in the race.
NO PRIZES will be given. You must also have special permission
to be put into this category. Basically Yuen-Li or Dee Lu needs to interview
you to assess your skill level and sanity! There is a bit more risk
as you will not have the benefit of having teammates around to rescue you,
so we must ascertain that you have the skills to compete solo.
The fee for this category is RM130 per person. So call us or drop us an e-mail
if you want to upgrade yourself from the Eco X-Sprint. Or you can sign up
by using the Eco X-Capade entry form and writing "SOLO" on the top of it.
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Equipment, food, water advisory
There are no changes to the compulsory gear list for Eco X-Capade and X-Sprint
from Newsletter 1.
Eco X-Sprint participants who have their own climbing harness, carabiners,
slings and belay devices are highly advised to bring them along.
There will be a limited number of harnesses at the race site,
but you may have to wait for them. Having your own gear may mean that
you won't have to queue. Anyway, surely you will be more comfortable
using your own stuff, no?
There will be ONE water station on the Eco X-Capade course where
Gatorade and mineral water will be available. At all other times,
competitors will have to be self-sufficient. No water will be available
at the start line of the race, so all participants should come
with full Camelbaks.
We will be providing lunch for all participants at our race base camp.
After the race you will have the opportunity to clean up, eat and watch
the other teams stagger in! If you have friends and supporters who want
to have lunch, please indicate on your entry forms under "extra meals"
at RM15 per person.
For the folks who are either (a) camping at the race base camp, Pondok Permai,
or (b) staying at the dormitories at NLP (Nur Lembah Pangsun),
please be advised that no arrangements for food have been made for you
at either of these places. However there are plenty of food stalls in the area.
We will inform some of the more conveniently located ones to expect
early morning breakfast patrons. More information will be available on
Saturday at the registration desk.
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Travel and Transport Advisory
For instructions on how to get to the race base camp Pondok Permai,
Batu 20, Pangsun, Hulu Langat, please see
Newsletter 2.
There is no mobile phone reception there, so please try not to get lost.
If you are in dire straits, call our office at the Summit Climbing Gym
(03 - 8024 5152) and some poor soul will try to help you as best as they can.
For folks who are coming from out of Kuala Lumpur, we highly advise you
to hire a car or van to get yourselves around. Apart from getting to Hulu Langat,
it will make your life a lot easier to get from your dormitories to the race
base camp and start line. You will also be able to drive out to sample
the great seafood restaurants and durian stalls in the area.
(It's the start of durian season now!). There are quite a few waterfalls
in the area and a hot springs to visit. Nice!
If you are coming to Kuala Lumpur by bus or train, you can take a taxi
to Hulu Langat from Pudu for approximately RM 20. To get to your dormitories
(which are about 2km from the base camp) and to food stalls,
you can always ride your bike. Otherwise there will be some participants
you can hitch a lift with. It's all pretty informal, but don't worry,
we won't leave you starving in your dormitories by your lonely selves!
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Pre-Race Skills Testing - what to expect
All competitors who are taking part in the Eco X-Capade or Eco X-Sprint
will have to undergo a skills testing, equipment check and race briefing
at the race base camp on Saturday May 3rd. Attendance is compulsory
for all team members. Teams who do not pass the skills testing or equipment
check will not be allowed onto the race course. We are serious about safety
and on race testing day, we are super serious!
When you arrive, your first stop should be Race Registration.
There we will sort out all your paperwork and outstanding payments
and you will get your race testing sheets. From there you will go to
all the stations listed below. You can go in any order.
When you get all your race testing sheets signed off,
return to race registration and you will get your goodie bag.
Testing stations:
- Mandatory and First aid equipment (X-Capade and X-Sprint)
- Health questionnaire (X-Capade and X-Sprint)
- Mountain bike check (X-Capade only)
- Navigation check (X-Capade only)
- Abseil station (X-Capade and X-Sprint)
- Fixed ropes station (X-Capade and X-Sprint)
If you do not pass any of the stations, the marshal will not sign you off
and you will not be allowed to take part in the race. For the abseil
and fixed ropes, there will be a separate set of ropes for
Eco X-Sprint participants.
By the way, there will be someone selling a few items
at the race base camp: Powergels, Powerbars, locking carabiners, slings,
prussick cord, bike helmets. So if you don't have the correct stuff,
you can buy it on site!
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Time Table of Events
Race Testing Day, Saturday, 3rd May
12:30 pm: RACE REGISTRATION opens, Skills testing and equipment check begins.
Goes on until 4pm.
1:15 pm: Briefing for Eco X Sprint participants on how to abseil
and to use fixed ropes.
4:00 pm: Distribution of race maps and course information.
Compulsory briefing. Eco X-Sprint and X-Capade together.
5:00 pm: Finish.
Race Day, Sunday, 4th May
6:30 am to 7am: Race Registration
7:30 am: Race Start : Eco X-Capade and Eco X-Sprint
10:00 am: Estimated arrival time for front teams Eco X-Sprint teams
11:30 am: Estimated arrival time for front teams Eco X-Capade teams
12:30 pm: Lunch served
2:30 pm: Estimated time for last teams
4:00 pm: Prize giving ceremony
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Suggestions and Recommendations
Here are some sound suggestions and recommendations that we encourage you
to consider when joining adventure races:
1. FOOD!!! It is highly important, the race is not a half hour jaunt,
you will get hungry and you will want to eat, we will not be providing
snacks mid way, we suggest some Powerbars, or Powergels, trail mix,
bananas or whatever quick energy boosting type of foods that strikes your fancy...
2. Water!! It is crucial! Your body will naturally loose
large quantities of water through perspiration during an adventure race
or any race for that matter. Hydration is paramount to staying ahead,
upright and comfortable during the race. Don't wait for thirst and headaches
to set in, coz you could be setting yourself up for dehydration or
even a heatstroke. We recommend that you carry a hydration system
of some sort - like a camelbak or a 'bladder' that can hold up
to 3 litres of water.
3. Spares and other equipment required are minimum amounts,
we do strongly suggest that you are conservative, the last thing you want
to have happen is that you are out and away and you have another
dreaded tyre puncture and you have used up your only spare tube, get the idea?
4. That you do practise your climbing, rope skills and also
putting on your harness or tie-ing your alternative swami belt
as you do not want to lose time fumbling about unnecessarily or
getting the heebeegeeebees ascending up on the rock site or
questioning your partners' abseiling abilities.
5. First Aid knowledge, it is important that you know
the barest minimum, which is to wrap an ankle, clean a wound
and be able to dress it, also to identify that when your team mates
on the race course has a headache it is invariably due to dehydration
and not a fever coming on, something an ORS will be able to sort out
soon enough.
6. We strongly suggest you have at least a few training sessions
with your team mates - after all you will be spending quite a fair
bit of time with them and will need to know their strengths and weaknesses.
Working together is one thing, playing together is a completely
different ball game!
We suggest that you do a long 5 to 7 hour hike together.
It is important that you all do some off-road running or hiking.
7. We are still looking for race marshals,
so if you know anyone who might be interested to help out,
ask them to get in touch.
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Cheers from the Nomad team,
Dee Lu,
Shameela,
Competitor Relations
and
Yuen-Li,
Race Director
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