As any experienced racer would tell you, or those that know and are too shy to admit, part of the fun of preparing for any race is accumulating the gear to do it. It gives you an excuse to go shopping so that come race time you not only have what you need to have a fun and safe race, but you look cool as well (we all know that’s part of it right?)

Ecotrek is going that one step further beyond most adventure races and we will provide you with many of the larger pieces of gear you will need to do this race. This leaves you, the racer, in charge of only minimal safety and mandatory gear (see mandatory gear section below), race clothing (yes you have to come dressed), and any food and beverages you will need to get you through your day of racing (Saturday night dinner and Sunday morning breakfast will be provided).

• Raft (included in race fees)
• Paddles (included in race fees)
• Life Jackets (included in race fees)
• Rescue Throw-bags (included in race fees)
• Maps (included in race fees)

Ecotrek will manage the transportation of canoes, rafts and life jackets to and from transition points. This cuts down on the environmental impact of support vehicles and support crew that typical adventure races demand.

*Each racer must provide and have on them at all times during the race. There will be times that all teams will be checked for these items and those teams failing to produce one or all of these items will either have a time penalty added or may be disqualified.

For all stages of race:
• Compass ­ 1 per racer
• First Aid kit ­ 1 per team (includes bandages, alcohol swabs or iodine, needle and thread, moleskin bandages, athletic or duct tape, and large gauze pads)
• Wind-proof jacket ­ 1 per racer
• Minimum 2L of water or equivalent ­ 1 per racer
• Warm hat (toque or equivalent) ­ 1 per racer
• Pen or pencil ­ 1 per team
• Racing Number ­ 1 per racer provided by Ecotrek



For Bike Stages of Race
• Safety Checked Mountain Bike - 1 per racer
• Helmet ­ 1 per racer
• Tire tube ­ 1 per racer
• Bike pump ­ 1 per team
• Chain breaker ­ 1 per team
• Bike multi-tool ­ 1 per team

Adventure racing is a relatively new sport and for those who haven’t done one before, here are a few suggestions for things you might like to bring along to the race to make the experience more comfortable for you:

• A lightweight windproof-waterproof jacket. This race will go rain or shine and it’s nice to have something light that won’t be a burden to carry if you don’t need it and good for all conditions if you do need it.

• Lightweight trail runner or approach shoes. Unless you have ankle problems, full support hiking boots will not be needed for this race and keeping things light is always the best way to go.

• Clipless pedals / Shoes. These can make a difference to your climbimg power on your chosen bike for the race.

• Bring any food that will keep you full of energy throughout the day, but won’t bog you down from racing. Any experienced racer will tell you it’s a matter of personal preference anywhere from energy bars and gels to gummy bears and cookies. Try different combinations during training to figure out what works best for your body. You may have to go up to 6 hours without a chance to grab more food, so plan accordingly.

• Backpack hydration pack. Hydration bags mounted in your backpack are the key to keeping you well hydrated during the race. They save the time that would otherwise be needed to stop and pull out a water bottle.

• Collapsible hiking poles that can be stored in or on your pack when out of use help make hiking sections more comfortable for the racer.

• Race T-Shirt from other races. Experienced racers love to wear race t-shirts from other races they’ve completed to show that they are legitimate. Borrow one from a friend if this is your first race to scare the competition.