Raid Caneo Nature Adventure Race -Equipment

The provisional Equipment list providesfor the Raid Caneo Nature adventure race a little in sight into the disciplines competitors will face It seems that Canyoning will be full on requiring wetsuit. the Rollerblading does allow the use of rollerskates. Most other items are pretty standard.

Care should be taken on the type of helmet that you use, whilst you can use a combination helmet certified for horseriding, mountaineering biking, rollerblading, and canyoning. If you helmet is damaged as a result of a fall you might not be able to continue, So I would suggest taking a mountain bike helmet for biking and rollerblading and a combination helmet for canyoning and horseriding.



Preliminary Equipment list
IV.1 . Compulsory Security Equipment

All Competitors must have the following equipment with them at all times during the race as laid out below.

Each Competior

· Survival Blanket
· Lighter
· Compass
· Locking knife with a minimum 7cm long blade.
· Whistle
· Survival Mirror
· Headlamp
· Polar Fleece
· Windbreaker water proof and breathable

Per Team

· Team first Aid Kit conforme as specified by organisation.
· Waterproof Strobe light
· Mobile phone able to work in waterproof cover

IV.2. Race Equipment

This equipment varies according to the disciplines. The competitors must have the beginning of each stage, the equipment conforming with the specifications defined on the Raid - Book and to the rules in force in France.

ORIENTEERING IN MONTAIN SECTIONS

Per team

15 m dynamic rope @ 8,5 mm diameter minimum
2 Slings of 15 @ 25 mm wide and about 2 m in circumference
2 Screwgate Karabiners
Altimeter

ROLLERBLADING

Per competitor

1 pair of Roller Blades (single) or Roller Skates (four)
1 Helmet CE-UIAA Certified
Protection : Knees, Elbows and Wrists

MOUNTAIN BIKE (VTT)

Per competitor

1 Mountain Bike
Helmet CE-UIAA Certified

CANYONING

Per competitor

1 Helmet CE-UIAA Certified
1 harness-waterleg standard CE-UIAA (fabrication artisanale forbidden)
1 Figure 8 Decender
A Screwgate Karibiner to attache deender to harness.
A Long double Cowstail in dynamic rope 8,5 mm diameter minimum with two Safety Karibiers, or 2 autolock Karibier,at the ends.
A one piece combination wetsuit 3mm thickness minimum

SEA KAYAK

Per competitor

1 Helmet CE-UIAA Certified
1 Lifejacket CE-UIAA

HORSE RIDING

Per competitor

1 Riding hat or Helmet CE-UIAA approved.


My next post about the Raid Cane Nature Adventure Race will be about race rules.

David Ogden

International Adventurers

Raid Caneo Nature Disciplines

Once a team has entered a race such as the Raid Caneo Nature, you need to study all available information you can find out about the race, the disciplines are of course very important and you need to ensure you have the right skill levels.

The Disciplines for the Raid Caneo Nature are Walking / running and orientation, sailing (dinghies), horse riding (ride and run), mountain biking, rollerblading, rope techniques (abseiling), canyoning, sea kayaking, canoeing. Sometimes these will vary between the launch of the race and the actual start, but registred teams will be kept informed. sharp eyed people may have notices that the January Raid Caneo Newsletter talked about having at least one member of your team who knows how to read a potholing map, so there is some caving involved in the
race

The Skill levels and certification for the Raid Caneo Nature will be advised in April. Some certificates will be required issued by national sporting bodies.

You can get a good idea of the standards required from past races organised by Gerard Fusil, such as The Elf Authentique Adventure, The Reunion D'Adventure and to a lesser extent the Oman Adventure.

Below are my thoughts for the Raid Caneo Nature

Sailing was included in two of Gerard Fusil's races and took place in local boats. The Raid Caneo Nature talks about dinghies so perhaps it will be something the size of a 420 or a Vaurien or a little bigger. At least you will steer with a tiller and rudder rather than a oar. One member of the
team must be able to know how to rig a boat, tack and gybe, reef, recover from a capsize and know the rules of the road. It is helpful if the whole team can understand the basics.

Horse Riding two members of the team need to be able to ride and control a horse, walking, trotting and cantering. You may also be required to know how to saddle and bridal the horse, but I imagine this will be done by the stables. Tactically your slowest runners should be riders, so this could vary depending on which stage(s) of the race ride and run takes place , as the rider might be able to get some rest.

Rollerblading, French roads are certainly better than those in the Philippines where the stage was over 100K and I would not expect anything near this length but be prepared for uphill and downhill gradients. I know in Reunion some teams used skates rather than blades but you will need to check the rules.

Abseiling- Canyoning. Abseiling is a usual skill and Gerard Fusil used to prefer the Petz Stop so you will need to check the gear list. Canyoning levels could be anything from small jumps swims and bouldering to perhaps abseiling down a waterfall(s) have to wait until April to find out.

Sea Kayaking/Canoeing The Talk of turbulent waterways in the January Newsletters make me believe that the start in Paris will be in Sea Kayaks and perhaps the finish of the Raid Caneo Nature into Marseilles will be via the water, however both are quite busy with commercial traffic so we will have to wait a see. Normal Kayak skills including capsize and recovery and rules of the
road.

David Ogden
International Adventurers

Raid Caneo Nature Logistics Tips

Preparing for an expedition adventure race such as the Raid Caneo Nature, needs careful planning, when you first register you may only have some outline details such as in the case of Raid Caneo Nature

Event Information

Dates 27th July - 9th August 2008

Course Paris - Marseille

Teams Four competitors with a minimum of one woman

Support teams Two people per team

Disciplines Walking / running and orientation, sailing (dinghies), horse riding (ride and run), mountain biking, rollerblading, rope techniques (abseiling), canyoning, sea kayaking,
canoeing.

Registration fee €900 per team

Closing date for registration 31st March 2008 (or before if the limit has been reached)

Maximum number of teams Fifty

Stages Six reassembly points

Bivouacs Located on secure sites

Event activities Event villages for the general public throughout the course.

Press Continuous multimedia coverage aimed at the general public. Image production by GFC. Television broadcasting agreements with a major terrestrial channel.

Organisation GFC (Gérard Fusil Consultants)

ADAPNA (Association pour le Développement durable des Activités de Pleine Nature)

Contacts E-mail : gfusilcy@aol.com and raidcaneo@aol.com

Gérard Fusil Consultants :
Botergollec, 56400, Brec’h, France. Tel. : +33 (0) 2 97 57 53 57. Fax : +33 (0) 2 97 57 50 35 http://authentiqueaventure.com/

You need to consider the logistics, in this case the Caneo Raid Nature which starts in Paris and finishes 700K away in the South of France, how are you going to get to start and return home.

Much depends on where you live and remember you have a lot of equipment to move include two sea kayaks.

For example if you are flying in you can get an open Jaw ticket into Paris and outwards from Marseille, however you will need to hire a support vehicle plus sea kayaks, which will need to be returned to Paris unless other drop off arrangements can be made. An alternative is a round trip air fare to Paris and then at the end of the race the team drive back in the support
vehicle.

This raises the 2nd question what kind of vehicle is best for support. I would recommend a panel van or even a minbus, fitted with a roof rack, the larger the better according to your budget. If you are using a van be aware that passengers are probably not allowed to travel in the back unless in a seat, you can get away with it for short distances but not recommended on Autoroutes.

If you are going to need to hire sea kayaks you may need to search on Google, however be aware that its hard to find a sea kayak in Paris, you may need to contact the organisers of the Raid Caneo Nature for assistance.

David Ogden

International Adventurers

Raid Caneo Nature

Raid Caneo Nature takes place in France from 27th July - 9th of August and is the biggest adventure race of its type to be held in France. The start is on the beach in Paris, yes Paris does have a beach with sand that is built annually along the river Seine for tourist and locals alike to save the travel to the coast. The finish is in the Port of Marseilles in the South of France some 660 Kilometres away as the crow flies.

The Race is the brainchild of Gerard Fusil, the father of adventure racing, with a pedigree stretching from the Raid Gaulloses, Elf Authentique Adventure, Reunion d' Aventure, and the worlds longest annual bike and run race, Oman Adventure. It is fitting that therefore that the competitors in the Raid Caneo Nature, will discover some hidden parts of his home country.

Gerard Fusil's passion is to keep the sport of adventure racing within the reach of ordinary people, competitors who will race to pit themselves against nature and the courses that he sets outs, rather than semi professionals who chase pots of gold.

50 teams of four persons, one of whome must be female will be supported by one of preferably two support persons, who will transport teams equipment between transition points and provide ongoing maintenance, repairs,first aid and encouragement to their team mates.

The route for the raid Caneo Nature between the two cities is being kept secret, but teams will cover around 900 Kilometes during the race. by means of mountain bikes, kayaks, sailing dinghies, horse riding, ropework and of course on foot. There will be dark zones at night so teams will need to be prepared for lightweight camping. Major transition areas will be set up as park fermes, in or around town or villages along the route, and this will give the chance of locals to learn a little about the sport.

If you are intereted in taking part or want more details

Contact David Ogden International Adventurers

http://davidogden@internationaladventurers.com
+6088258702
201 793 8702 After 6PM EST USA