Raid Caneo Nature Newsletter

April 08
Hello everyone;
A large number of you have now signed up for the Raid Canéo Nature. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your enthusiasm and your sense of adventure!

As you can see, this is a new concept as it involves a long trek interspersed with brief pauses and gatherings to avoid it becoming an excessively exhausting race. This is in keeping with our wish to put the focus firmly on "sport for health" and "sustainable sport" through competitions combining sport and nature.

That said, the Raid Canéo Nature is very much in line with the tradition and the ideal that we have always promoted, of total immersion in a natural environment while practising an endurance sport over a lengthy period.

Despite this, we do not wish to see this become a competition reserved only for highly trained athletes. Although they will naturally be racing for victory in the "Extreme" category, the Raid Canéo Nature also enables less able competitors to enjoy their hobby too. For this reason, we have carefully adjusted the route for the three categories: Extreme, Raider and Adventure. The accuracy of the 1/25000th IGN maps employed has certainly facilitated this task for us. And now, here are the details you've all been waiting for: practical information to help you prepare for your participation in the first Raid Canéo Nature.

We should begin by stating that we never cease to find the sheer wealth of resources offered by France for sporting and nature events both rewarding and astonishing. Where sports activities are concerned, as everyone knows, the richness and diversity of our natural environment is renowned the world over. However, we should also add that we are constantly surprised and delighted by the attractive natural or historical sites we come across during our reconnaissance, including villages, canyons, trails, caves and other sites that can only be discovered through nature sports. The event will provide an excellent opportunity for French viewers to discover these sites as they follow your adventures this summer on their television screens and on the Web.

A fabulous route awaits both the teams and the support crews, who will have a chance to discover France as they could never have imagined it. This is an experience they will certainly never forget.
We were amazed by the beauty of these marvellous sites at a time of year when nature was not at its best, during the winter. The cold and the rain followed us right throughout our reconnaissance period. I'll leave you to imagine just how these locations will look during your competition in the middle of the summer.

The race route
The starting point for the competition will be announced officially in mid-April. Be prepared for a (pleasant) surprise. The start will be magnificent, spectacular, prestigious and interesting. The various checks concerning the equipment and techniques required will be carried out on July 26 and 27. The first Raid Canéo Nature will begin on July 28, with the prize-giving on August 9.
The list of départements (regions) through which the route will pass will be given to you on July 26 and 27.

A non-detailed route will be supplied to you in May in order that you or your partners and those of the race organisers can prepare trips and meetings along the route, particularly at the gathering points. We will also be inviting the public to come along and cheer you on at certain points along the route where this is technically possible.

Also in May, we will be supplying you with the list of IGN maps that you will need.
Full details of the route will be supplied to you one week before the event to enable you to prepare your maps
.
We can already tell you that the distances are as follows:
Ride and Run: 80 km in 2 stages.
Mountain bike: 520 km in 12 stages.
A bike and run route will probably be included.
Walking - Orienteering, including an orienteering race: 90 km in 5 stages.
Caving:12 km in 3 stages.
Canyoning: 12 km.
Kayak: 320 km in 8 stages.
Roller: 30 km in 2 stages.

We have decided not to include the sailing option this year as it is not particularly suited to the route and to the winds forecast by the "pilot charts". On the other hand, it is possible that a new discipline may be announced in the next 30 days. This will not require prior training, although simple technical training is highly recommended. No additional equipment will be needed.

The Extreme route will cover some 1100 km.
The Raider route will be approximately 900 km.
The Adventure route will be 800 km.

The "missing kilometres" for the Raiders and Adventurers will be taken from areas with positive differences in height and will enable struggling teams to keep going until the end. Based on the feedback we have from the teams concerning their experience, this route should enable all of them to reach Marseille during the competition.

The route will include five pauses for gatherings, i.e. six stages. The first competitors should reach Marseille on August 7 or even on August 6 late in the day. The last should arrive on August 8 and at the latest August 9 (the prize-giving date).

Naturally, minor modifications may occur with regard to this description to take account of administrative or other obligations.

Please see attached the documents concerning the various levels required for various disciplines, and the compulsory equipment requirements. Here is some additional information to help you select your equipment.

Sea kayaking
The 320 km of sea kayaking routes will include: - Class 2 streams with a number of class 3 sections- Calm but powerful rivers- Canals, carrying the kayaks through the locks - The sea - Lakes
Both we and our kayaking specialists recommend that you use sea kayaks of the sturdy, lightweight, hiking variety. The DAG brand’s "Biwok" is the best option. Our specialists advise you to avoid using sprint Kayaks, which they consider to be too fragile.

If you wish to obtain these kayaks, there is not a moment to lose. Please refer to our special kayak circular or contact GFC.

Mountain biking
All mountain biking disciplines are welcome. The route will sometimes be backbreaking and at other times perfect for freewheeling. There will be extremely steep slopes to climb and high-speed downhill sprints. There will be very little carrying involved, but lightweight bicycles are nevertheless recommended. Above all, though, the priorities are robustness and an excellent braking system.

Support crews
The support crews will intervene at each change of activity, and always in areas suitable for motor vehicles.The ideal vehicle is a van equipped with roof racks to carry two double kayaks and a mountain bike transportation system. This vehicle should be able to carry the 6 team members in full observance of the highway code (i.e., with 6 seats).During May, the organisers will supply the support crews with information enabling them to prepare their bivouacs and those of the teams at the gathering points. There will be no enclosed secure area.

To be confirmed: a GPS provided free by the IGN and including the road and mapping systems for France at a scale of 100,000. This is the ultimate tool to ensure that you don't miss any of the equipment changeover sessions.

Equipment supplied by the organisers
A GEOPOINTER tracker will be supplied by the organisers. This will show your position at any time with absolute precision, and will prove that you have kept to the specified route.

Insurance and certificates
GFC will shortly be offering you individual accident insurance. You are free to take up this offer or otherwise as you choose, but in both cases you must send us your signed decision.
You must imperatively supply the organisers with a medical certificate dating from during the last three months prior to the start date of the Raid Canéo Nature, demonstrating that you are fit to practise a long-haul multi-sport competition including horse riding, mountain biking, kayaking and rollerblading, etc.

Certificates
It is vital that you supply us with certificates signed by the state certification/qualification bodies or by professionals for the following disciplines: horse riding, rope techniques, kayaking and topography skills when caving. You should send copies of your certificates to GFC and present the originals during the verifications.

Good luck with your preparations!
Best regards from the GFC team
Gérard FUSIL







TECHNIQUES THE COMPETITORS HAVE TO MASTER

ORIENTEERING
- Orienteering using a compass- Use of orienteering maps
CANYONING
- Correct use of personal equipment: harness, helmet, etc.- Installation of a figure of eight descender and safe descent techniques using it- Progressing on hand line - Progressing in autonomy - teams will be autonomous on vertical sections pre-equipped with fixed lines
SINGLE ROPE TECHNIQUES (DESCENT)
- Progressing on hand lines- Abseiling on a fixed rope with an autostop caving descender- Crossing a rebelay on the way down- Using handle ascender as “self belay” on short slope or ladder
CAVING
- Progression in through trip cave with vertical sections already equipped in single rope technique (the descent techniques described above will be used)- Orienteering using a cave survey
SEA KAYAKING
- Leaving a stationary position to go back into the current- Paddling across a river- Positioning in an eddy- Negotiating a bend in the river- Mastery of the use of a throw line
HORSE RIDING (RIDE AND RUN) for a minimum of two team members
- Saddling and bridling the horse- Finding the gentlest route and avoid stones- Never trotting or galloping on stones, concrete or tarmac- On uneven ground, knowing when to let the horse stop to regain its breath- Avoiding helping the horse over difficult sections - Crossing rivers - Judging the physical condition of your horse.- Evaluating the importance of an injury- Raising the foot, checking the shoe, using a foot pick- Attaching a horse to a tree with 10 m of rope (or lead)- Repositioning the saddle and blanket- Feeding the horse- Watering the horse

COMPETITOR EQUIPMENT – 2008 CANEO NATURE RACE
Safety equipment compulsory throughout the competition unless otherwise indicated in the Raid book
Per competitor
• A survival blanket• A storm lighter• A compass• A knife (flick knife or with a safety ring), minimum length of blade: 7 cm• A whistle• A survival mirror• A head lamp• A fleece jacket• A sleeping bag• A waterproof jacket
Per team
• 1 “team” first aid kit compliant with the organisation’s requirements (first aid contents to be indicated by email later)• 1 waterproof flashing stroboscopic lamp• 1 mobile phone with its waterproof bag• A GEOPOINTER beacon supplied by the organisation
Recommended equipment:
• 1 GPS and its waterproof bag
WALKING-ORIENTEERING
Compulsory equipment:
Per team
• 15 m of dynamic (climbing) rope, minimum diameter 8.5 mm• Two 15 to 25 mm wide tape slings of about 2 m in circumference• Two locking type karabiners • An altimeter

Recommended equipment:
Per competitor
• A hat• Sun block• A pair of gloves• Sunglasses
ROLLER
Compulsory equipment:
Per competitor
• 1 pair of roller (in line) or quad skates• A helmet conforming to EC standards• Protection for knees, elbows and wrists
Recommended equipment:
• Trousers or long shorts in canvas or denim • Gloves
MOUNTAIN BIKING
Compulsory equipment:
Per competitor
• 1 mountain bike equipped with functioning lights conforming to normal standards• A helmet conforming to EC standards
Recommended equipment:
Per competitor
• A bike with front suspension fork• V or disk brakes• A pair of gloves• Glasses
Per team
• 1 chain tool• 1 multitool• 2 tyre levers• Inner tubes and puncture patches• Bike rack to carry the bikes on the support team’s cars• 1 pump





CAVING AND SINGLE ROPE TECHNIQUES (caving techniques)
Compulsory equipment:
Per competitor
• A helmet (caving or mountaineering) in conformity with EC standards equipped with an electric LED light• A caving seat harness in conformity with recognised standards (professionally made only). The seat harness can be a canyoning type harness.• A 10 mm diameter half-round or Petzl omni lock (or Petzl omni triact) to hold the seat harness front buckles if no system is already in place (tape loops)• An automatic locking descender with fixed pulley for abseiling on single rope (bobbin type : example : Petzl stop type)• A screw-type karabiner to connect the descender to the harness (on the maillon or the front loop)• A braking karabiner; a FREINO karabiner to link the descender to the harness, or mastery of the VERTACO technique, in which case the braking karabiner is not obligatory• A double cowstail of dynamic rope, minimum diameter 8.5 mm. The length of the two ends of the cowstail will be set according to their use in crossing a rebelay during the descent on single rope technique• 2 auto-locking karabiners, to fix at the two ends of the cowstail• A handle ascender
Recommended equipment:
Per competitor
• A pair of gloves
CANYONING
Compulsory equipment:
Per competitor
• 1 helmet conforming to EC standards• 1 seat harness conforming to EC standards (professionally made only)• A figure of eight descender• A locking type karabiner to connect the descender to the harness• A double cowstail of dynamic rope, minimum diameter 8.5 mm• 2 auto-locking karabiners, to put at the ends of the double cowstail• A minimum 5 mm-thick one piece wetsuit or two part wetsuit
Recommended equipment:
Per competitor
• A pair of neoprene socks• Waterproof bags or plastic waterproof drums to protect the various pieces of equipment
SEA KAYAK
Compulsory equipment:
Per competitor
• 1 life vest for sea kayaking conforming to EC standards, with buoyancy corresponding to the person’s weight. Persons weighing between 40 to 60 kg: 55 Newtons; persons weighing over 60 kg: 70 Newtons • 1 PVC or neoprene apron to fit over the weatherboards, for pointed kayaks• 1 pair of closed shoes• 1 stroboscopic waterproof lamp to fix on the life vest (to be lit in the event of capsizing at night) • 1 kayaking helmet conforming to EC standards
Per team
• 2 two-seat sea kayaks (one seat kayak or 4 seat kayak is permitted)
Per kayak
• 4 lightsticks• A 15 m long safety rope • A bailer or hold pump• 1 spare paddle that can be dismantled
Recommended equipment:
Per competitor
• A pair of gloves (mountain bike or cross-country skiing)• Sunglasses• A large-brimmed hat• Neoprene socks
Per team
• Sun block• Map protection (plastic covering or waterproof pocket)• Waterproof bags or drums• Water bottles
HORSE RIDING (RIDE AND RUN)
Compulsory equipment:
Per competitor• 1 riding hat conforming to EC standardsPer team
• Two 10 m long ropes (500 daN resistance)• A hard brush (wisp), a currycomb, a picker

Recommended equipment:
Per competitor• Mini chaps• Jodhpurs• Gloves