Winter Challenge Off-Road Triathlon

Date: Saturday, February 2, 2008

Race Site:
Dome Farms
Hwy 39 and New Forest Road
Between Springfield & Williston, SC

This year the trails will be faster, cleaner, and meaner than ever as we showcase our race’s 5 year anniversary. The Course is a beautiful & rugged wilderness setting including two hundred year trails, a 70 acre pond, Blackwater Swamp, and at its heart, the South Edisto River. The transition area is perfect for spectators and crowd support. It is set up so that participants pass through “race headquarters” four times before reaching the finish line. Almost half of the kayak segment of the race is visible from where the transition area is set up off the banks of the lake, where there are two cabins set up to accommodate spectators and athletes. There will be new and improved additions to the mountain bike trail.

2008 Winter Challange Schedule:

Friday, February 1

Saturday, February 2

Event I: Trail Run
The Race begins with the 7 mile run course. It takes place on six to ten foot wide hard-packed farm roads and single track woodland trails that will keep participants surrounded by woods and lake view. The course is mostly level terrain with a few rolling hills.

Event II: Paddle
The 6 mile paddle course takes place on a 70 acre still water lake. The lake is approximately half open water and half flooded cypress. The course will require circling the perimeter of the lake in a series of three laps. The path requires no portage but paddlers may encounter the possibility of minor obstacles through portions of the course. This is a beautiful “ Edisto” setting, haven to a wide variety of waterfowl including duck, heron, geese and osprey.

1. Kayaks of all types will be permitted. Canoes will also be allowed. Fixed rudder boats are not recommended.
2. If you do not have a kayak with which to race, rentals will be available through Blackwater Adventures and Epic Kayaks. Reservations MUST be made in advance. See Kayak Rentals for more info.
3. It is required that all paddlers carry with them an approved PFD.

Event III: Bike Course
Participants finish the race on a challenging 10 mile mountain bike course. The trail varies in width from 3 to 8 feet wide featuring both double and single track. The trail is built to accommodate riders of all levels, but offers technical challenges for those with advanced skills. There are, for instance several natural obstacles which may be either ridden or bypassed at the cost of a few second’s time. The finish of the bike course will feature three fences of hay bales which riders may attempt to jump, climb, or carry their bike over. Last year, this cyclo-cross style element offered exciting and colorful finishes for the participants and spectators.

Relay Teams:
Build a relay team! This is an excellent way to enter this unique sport and all in the spirit of teamwork. Relay teams will be allowed to enter the double as well as the Winter Challenge Classic! See The Double for more details.

Relay teams may be comprised of teams of 2 to 3 persons.  Relay teams will not run the entire course together. One person from each team will be responsible for each individual "discipline" or course.

• one participant runs
• another paddles
• a third bikes

Teams will have their own category and compete against other teams.

Categories & awards:
Participants will be distinguished in the following race categories:

Individual participants: Male and Female
Relay Teams: Single Gender, and Co-ed
Masters: Male and Female (45+ on race day)

Unique and interesting awards & prizes, featuring quality outdoor gear will be provided by our sponsors! Prizes will be awarded as follows. Categories do not repeat.

Individual participants:

• Overall winner
• Top male or female ie, if the individual participant with the best time overall is female, the second prize would go to the top male finisher.
• 2nd place overall

Relay teams:

• First place team overall
• First place coed team, or all-female team
• 2nd place overall

Masters:

• First place Masters overall
• First place Masters, male or female, respectively
• 2nd place overall

Further categories and awards to be determined by race mgt. based on the field of participants.

Our awards ceremony is always one of the highlights of the race.  The prizes are interesting and in many cases, quite valuable.  In years past we have allowed participants to choose prizes from the prize table.  This year, however, due to the premiere of the Five-Year-Double, predetermined prizes will go to the top finishers.  Expect to see some serious swag and outrageous awards this year.  We are also counting on some celebrity presentations as we ring in the 5 year anniversary.

In the traditional 23 mile Winter Challenge prizes will be awarded in the following categories:

In our 5 Year Double, top prizes will go to the top two finishers in male, female and relay categories.  To all finishers of the Double, “Swag” will be awarded.

Victories in both the traditional Winter Challenge, and the Winter Challenge Double will be recorded on our Magnificent Trophy Cup!

Registration:
Help us prepare for the best race possible by pre-registering. "Zorrel" performance t-shirts are guaranteed only to all preregistered participants.

You can register online at Set Up Events.

Preregistration:

• Opens October 1, 2007
• Ends January 19th, 2008

Late registration:

• Begins January 20th, 2008
• Ends January 30, 2008

Race day registration:

• Available on site from 7:30 am - 9:30 am, space  permitting.

Race will be held under inclement conditions, including rain, sleet, or shine. Refunds will not be available unless arrangements are made prior to the race with the race director.

However, under severe weather conditions, the race may be postponed, at the discretion of the race management in which case, persons unable to participate would be entitled to a refund.

Fees

Preregistration:
A performance T-Shirt is guaranteed to all participants that preregister!

Late Registration:

Race day Registration: (if available)**

** Check web site first to see if there are any race day registrations available. Race will be capped at 200 participants.

*** Director's note regarding increase in fees: The increase in the base fee should result in a slightly lower cost overall to most participants as the $10 USAT one day fee, is no longer applicable.

Ready to register? Great! Register at Set Up Events.

Food & Lodging:
Food:

• A delicious, hot and healthy meal will be provided by Lone Star BBQ at the finish line, free of charge to all attendees.
• Meal will include grilled chicken, baked beans, steamed greens, and homemade brownies.
• There will also be a warm cabin and hot beverages, available to spectators and participants alike, throughout the day at no charge!
• Concessions will be available at the race site.

Lodging:

• Primitive Lodging/Camping available at race site.
  Call for info. 803.823.2044.
• The Villa Motor Inn is located in nearby Williston, approximately ten minutes from the race site. Ph# 803.266.7001.

Kayak Rentals:
Both Epic Kayaks and Blackwater Adventures will be providing kayaks on site for this race. Both outfitters will need your reservation in advance of race day.  Don’t wait until the last minute!  Also, a reminder that an approved personal flotation device will be required of all participants.  Be certain that you have one for the race.

We recommend Epic Kayaks for the more competitive paddlers.

Epic Kayaks Brian Houston (843)-884-4601

Coastal Expeditions
Brian Wilson
(843)-884-7684

We recommend Blackwater Adventures for a variety of kayaks to suit paddlers of different skill levels, beginner to intermediate.

Blackwater Adventures Louis Nexsen (843)-761-1850 toll free at (800)-761-1850 ** For Blackwater Adventures, make reservations by January 15, 2007.

Contact info:
For more info on the Winter Challenge Off-Road Triathlon, contact Chris Williams:

chris@winterchallenge.com
803-823-2044