Event
EVENT FORMAT
WELCOME TO THE POLARIS CHALLENGE
The Polaris Challenge is two days of self-supported mountain bike orienteering in wild country. Checkpoint locations are planned and mapped by experienced mountain bikers. Participants ride to visit as many of these checkpoints over the two day* period. The three events always take place in late March, late June (or early July) and early October. There are three distinct formats as follows;
- Spring 'Classic' Polaris Challenge. 2 Day event. Remote overnight campsite. Participants ride with equipment for 7 and 5 hours, including overnight camping kit.
- Summer Polaris Challenge. 2 Day event from Basecamp. Participants ride with equipment for 7 and 5 hours.
- Autumn 'Light & Night' Polaris Challenge. 2 or 1 Day event choices from Basecamp. Participants ride with equipment for 6, 2 and 4 hours. 2 hour night stage.
PRE-EVENT
After completing your online entry you may not receive any further details until approx 1 month before the event when the final details are emailed to all participants. Final details and any news will also be posted on the website at this time. When entering, be sure to consider whether you need to order an encapsulated (laminated) map. Orders close for these approx two weeks before the event date. There will be confirmation of entry sent to you via email once you enter the event. During the months running up to the event you can check the website for the entry list updates (see side menu bar). There is no closing date for entries, but we will have to close when the event is full.
The final details reveals the exact location of the event centre and the extent of event area to be used. The event centre, registration, car parking and camping will generally be open from 1800 Friday (car parking and camping for the weekend is included in the entry fee). Then from 0700 until 0900 on the Saturday.
AT THE EVENT
All participants must register before 0900 Saturday but we recommend early registration to prevent late queuing - i.e. Friday evening. When you register, both team members must sign a disclaimer and we will require your car registration number. It is possible for one team member to take the pre-ordered map at registration*, but both team members must sign prior to starting. Each person is given an SI card (see SPORTident notes below) and each teams is given a map (or maps if you ordered more than one), and any last-minute details. The map will have many details over-printed, including; checkpoints, out-of-bounds areas and tracks, permissive (in-bound) tracks, start and 'give-out'. (For the spring event the Saturday finish campsite is NOT marked). Kit is not checked at registration. At the event centre there will be food, drink and trade stands selling kit you may want or have forgotten.
Participants may start each day anytime between 08:00 - 10:00 and solos between 08:00 - 09:00. The SPORTident equipment will record your exact start time. Please note that solos are required to start earlier so that there is a greater chance of you being found in the event of an incident.
From the start, a described route will lead to a 'give-out'* area where competitors are handed a list of checkpoints that are open for that day, each with a description and value (the same happens on the Sunday). This list also gives the overnight campsite location at the spring event. Participants then plan a route (planning is in competition time) according to their ability and ride to as many of the checkpoints as possible in the time limit, finishing the day at the overnight campsite (spring event only) or back at the basecamp/event centre (summer and autumn event). Participants then repeat the process on Sunday but for less hours riding. Participants should plan within their capabilities and the prevailing weather conditions. For late arrivals at the finishes, penalty points are applied, on an increasing scale - see Rules.
Maps are not available to you until registration*. You can order an encapsulated (laminated) fully waterproof map (see online entry form) but this order must be completed one month before the event.
*occasionally an event and planning requires maps that are pre-marked with both control sites and values, and in these rare instances, the map is actually given out at the start line and a 'give-out' for values is not required. In this instance reference maps are provided for perusal at the event centre.
Included in the entry fee is a hot meal after the finish on Sunday at the Spring event only.
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TIMETABLE (Spring)
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Friday
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18:00 - 00:00
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Registration
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18:00 - 00:00
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Food Stall Open
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Saturday
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07:00 - 09:00
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Registration
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07:00 - 10:00
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Food Stall Open
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08:00 - 10:00
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Challenge Starts
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10:15
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Start closes
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15:00 - Onwards
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Arrival at overnight camp
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Sunday
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08:00 - 10:00
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Challenge Starts
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10:15
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Start closes
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13:00 - Onwards
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Arrival at Finish & Free meal provided.
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16:00
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Prize giving at the Event centre
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TIMETABLE (Summer)
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Friday
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18:00 - 00:00
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Registration
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18:00 - 00:00
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Food Stalls & Bar Open
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Saturday
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07:00 - 09:00
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Registration
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07:00 - 10:00 and evening
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Food Stalls Open
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08:00 - 10:00
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Challenge Starts
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10:15
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Start closes
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15:00 - 00:00
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Bar Open
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15:00 - Onwards
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Finish at the Event centre
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20:00 - 22:00
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Music plus other entertainment
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00:00 (Midnight)
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Bar & Event centre closes!
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Sunday
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07:00 - 10:00 and afternoon
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Food Stalls Open
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08:00 - 10:00
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Challenge Starts
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10:15
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Start closes
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13:00 - Onwards
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Finish at the Event centre
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16:00
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Prize giving at the Event centre
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TIMETABLE (Autumn)
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Friday
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18:00 - 00:00
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Registration
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18:00 - 00:00
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Food Stall Open
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Saturday
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07:00 - 09:00
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Registration
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07:00 - 10:00
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Food Stall Open
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08:00 - 10:00
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Challenge Starts
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10:15
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Start closes
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14:00 - Onwards
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Finish at the Event centre
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Sunday
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19:30 - 20:30
21:30 - 22:30
08:00 - 10:00
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Night Stage Starts
Night Stage Finishes
Challenge Starts
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10:15
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Start closes
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12:00 - Onwards
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Arrival at Finish & Free meal provided....remove words in red
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16:00
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Prize giving at the Event centre
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SPORTident
SI-Cards are an electronic tag used to record the controls you visited and the time they were visited. You can hire one each from us for the weekend of the event for £3.50 each (each person needs one) or if you are going to do many events it may be worth buying one from SPORTident UK (www.sportident.co.uk ). If you do buy your own or already own one you must let us know the number of your SI-Card on the entry form or we will be allocating you a hire card for the event (this is done automatically if you do not enter an SI-Card number on the web entry form). We cannot take your SI-Card number on the day as the database will already have been created so unfortunately we will have to allocate you a hire card and charge you at registration. You can notify us of any changes by contacting us here.
MOUNTAIN SAFETY
All competitors are presumed to be fully conversant with the condition known as exposure or hypothermia, and its treatment. If you do not have this knowledge, you should consider very seriously whether you are competent to start the event. In the event of an accident or injury, the normal code of safety on mountains applies. Pitch any tent, place the injured party inside both sleeping bags or survival bag or blanket with dry clothes, ensure he or she is warm, use all available first aid kit and knowledge. Note the exact location of the shelter and get help (there may be others around that can help with this process).
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