The Southern Storm presented by HI-TEC
Southern Storm: 26 September – 1 October 2010 – DUATHLON
Southern Storm – More info and entries on – www.southernstorm.co.za
The Southern Storm 2010
The Impossible Race
What is the Southern Storm?
The Southern Storm presented by Hi-Tec has been dubbed “The Race of the Gods.” It is a 6 day, staged, full service, offroad duathlon featuring Mountain biking and Trail Running that traverse some of the most spectacular natural and wilderness regions in Africa. The Storm follows a new path every year. Participants are accommodated in tented race camps which are moved daily.
What is the History of The Southern Storm?
The inaugural Southern Storm was staged in September 2009 and ushered in a new era of staged Storm Racing (Sport Traversing Oceans Rivers & Mountains). The first Storm, which attracted some of the best endurance athletes in Africa, was described by hardened multisport competitors as the most physically challenging event ever. The combination of two of the fastest growing trail sports into one staged event of an individual format provided a race of strategic intrigue for followers and proved exceptionally popular with competitors.
The 2009 Storm started in the Tsitsikamma section of the Garden Route National Park and, over six days, completed a full traverse East to West of the park finishing in Ebb and Flow at Wilderness.
What is the format of the Southern Storm?
The Southern Storm is divided into 6 daily stages. Each stage comprises of one or a number of Legs. Each Leg is completed either by Mountain Biking or Trail Running. Distances of the Legs vary from 4km to 42km for the trail running Legs and 10km to 100km for the mountain bike Legs.
Leg, Stage and Overall Times are recorded and presented on a Race Leader-Board each day. Leg winners, Stage winners and overall Race Leaders are acknowledged in a daily ceremony held in the evenings in the Race camp. Competitors are ranked on the leader board according to their overall times and the leader at the end of every stage is presented with a yellow jersey. The number one ranked competitor at the end of the final stage is declared the winner of the event.
Races can be run in a “time trial, “chasing” or “straight race” format. Transition times will be included in overall race or stage time however some transitions many have a set minimum time allocation or be neutralised. Bonus times may be awarded for race wins and or hotspots. More information on the race format will be provided in the Race Rules and Competitor News Letters.
Timing is done electronically with a bi-directional chip-based system.
Race rules will be strictly implemented in 2010. A copy of the rules will be made available to all competitors.
What is the Path of the 2010 Southern Storm?
Because “The Impossible Race” follows a new path every year and traverses many sections and areas not normally open to public access, the exact route of the Southern Storm is kept secret until the final race briefing. Access to many of the sections of the route is exclusively negotiated for the duration of the event and to honour agreements reached with land owners, these routes are kept secret. Certain sections however are open for public access and may be made revealed closer to the event in a series of competitor news letters.
Distances, elevation gains, route profiles and technical grading will be sent out in the competitor newsletters in the build up to the event. Total distances will be between 100-120km of trail running balanced by 250-300km of mountain biking.
The 2010 edition will traverse semi desert landscapes on the fringes of the South Africa great interior deserts, before winding its way through gorges and lost trails in the remote mountain ranges adjacent and down to the lush coastal landscapes of the Southern Cape.
In 2010 Southern Storm participants can be expected to be challenged by additional “exploration traverses”; sections of ultra intense adventure interwoven into the trail running and mountain biking routes. This might include short rope traverses, swims, boat ferries and possibly kloofing or caving. No previous experience in any of these activities is required.
What is the entry fee for the Southern Storm 2010?
The basic package for the Southern Storm is R 7350.00 per athlete
Athletes Entry includes the following services:
- Otter Trail Fees (R 510.00 per person included)
- 6 days of technical Running and MTBing
- Shared tented accommodation during the race (6 nights).
Spacious tents & matrasses provided.
If you have someone you can share with, you may indicate this on the on the entry form. Alternatively the organizers will pair athletes appropriately.
Hot Showers & ablution Facilities
- Breakfast, Lunch and dinner will be provided on each Race day, starting with dinner on registration day (sunday 26 September 2010) and finishing with prize giving dinner on last race day (Friday 1 of October).
- Award Functions every night
- Tables of Munchies along the route.
- Transport of your Race bag from start to the finish each day.
- Transport of your Bike Box on those days you will have remote starts or finishes.
- all permits and access to Nature reserves and Wilderness areas to betraversed during the Race (SAN Park, Cape Nature, MTO, Private Landowners).
- Participant’s Technical Shirt
- Professional Time Keeping
- Otter & Southern Storm Finisher’s Medal
- Medical Support:
together with Mountain Rescue and Firstcare Paramedics we guarantee maximum safety.
A team of paramedics and medical personnel on constant standby.Quick access to air evacuation.
- Transfer back to race village from the race route should you withdraw due to injury or equipment default.
Optional Services:
- Luxury Package (details to follow)
- Massages
Professional team of masseurs accompany the race. (Pre booking and payment essential)
- Bike Wash, Service and Lube
Service available at every race village.
Not included in the Race Package:
- Transport to and from the starting venue of the Southern Storm.
- Accommodation before the start of the race. We can provide you with a detailed list of hotels, lodges and B&B’s close to the start and finish venues.
- Personal nutrition and supplements during the Race.
- Drinks each evening at the Race Villages.
- Room tabs at any and all of the luxury accommodation venues.
- Camping facility for supporter teams
- Meals for supporter teams
- Ablution facilities for supporters
Entry Procedure and Online Entry Schedule
A total of 150 entries are presented for the Southern Storm 2010. Of these, 130 are obtainable online and opened for entry according to the schedule given below:
Please note that 20 entries are reserved for overseas participants, invited and sponsored athletes.
- PHASE 1: 2009 participants Entries
- On Monday 22 February 2010, at midday (12.00 hours) online entries will open to 2009 Southern Storm participants who will have received their personal password to access the entry form.
- PHASE 2: Priority List Entries
- On Thursday 25 February 2010, at midday (12.00 hours) online entries will be opened to athletes who registerted on the “priority list” on a first come first serve basis.
- A minimum number of 30 places will be made available, however the maximum number of entries available = 130 minus the total number of entries from PHASE 1
- Note that athletes registered on the “priority list” that are unsuccessful in entering during PHASE 2 & 3 will automatically be placed on the “waiting list”.
- Athletes listed on the waiting list will be contacted and given the opportunity to enter should a place become available in order of their original listing.
- PHASE 3: Public Entries (if available)
- On Sunday 28 February from midnight (24.00 hours) online entries will be opened to public on a first come first serve basis.
- Maximum Entries = 130 minus the total number of entries from PHASES 1&2
- Persons not successful in entering during PHASE 3 should register on the “Waiting List” for PHASE 4
- PHASE 4: Waiting List Entries
- From 1st of April 2010, at midday (12.00 hours) until the date of the event as and if places become available through cancelation or other, these will be offered to persons on the waiting list in order of their listing.
Priority List
The priority list for the Southern Storm is a list for persons wishing to increase their chances of obtaining an entry for this event. By registering on this list they will be afforded the opportunity to enter 3 days before online entries open to the public. Registration on the Priority List costs R 50 which will be donated to a charity (charity to be confirmed). Priority List entries are done online and are treated on a first come basis. Registration on the priority list only affords persons registered on the list the opportunity to access the entry form before online entries are opened to the public but is no guarantee of obtaining an entry. Persons registered on the priority list that are not successful in obtaining an online entry will automatically be transferred onto the Waiting List and listed according to order (date & time) of registration.
Waiting List
Persons unsuccessful in obtaining an entry online may register on the waiting list. Registration on the Waiting List costs R 50 which will be donated to the Nature’s Valley Trust (www.naturesvalleytrust.co.za). Persons will be listed on the waiting list according to order (date & time) of registration. Persons registered on the waiting list will be contacted in the order of registration as places become available and be given 48 hours to enter. Failure to enter within 48 hours will lead to removal from the list.
Payment Options, Cancellation Policy, Refunds and Substitutions
The entry fee for the Southern Storm basic package is R 7350.00 (VAT included) and can be paid as follows:
Straight: Pay full amount as you enter R 7350.00
Budget: Pay in 3 instalments:
- 1st instalment (non refundable) R 2450.00 + additional Admin Fee of R 400.00 to confirm your entry
- 2nd instalment R 2450.00 by the end of April 2010
- 3rd instalment R 2450.00 by the end of June 2010
- If an entry is cancelled in writing on or before the 1 May 2010, 15% cancellation fee (of the total entry fee) applies.
- If an entry is cancelled in writing between the 1st of May and the 1st of July 2010, a 25% cancellation fee (of the total entry fee) applies.
- If an entry is cancelled after the 1st of July, a 35% cancellation fee is applicable, but 65% of the entry fees are only refunded if we can replace this entry by someone on our waiting list.
- Substitutions can be done before the 1st of August 2010 at a cost of R 400.00
- No carry over to 2011 is permitted
- The Organisers word is final here.
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