MAFF 2009 - Info

THANK YOU  Jim Berbee and Karen Walsh  for your very generous contribution!!
Your kindness will go a long way in helping us accomplish our goals for this event and beyond!

Racers, for another great opportunity to have fun and help the community, please consider the Berbee Derby !

10/21/09  11:15p    UPDATES IN PLACE!    Please review Info and Gear pages carefully!
Stay tuned over the next two weeks as additional minor updates are always possible.  

Updates:  10/28/2009  8:30a
Updates:  11/03/2009  11:50p

• WHAT:
  Mule Adventures Fall Frenzy (MAFF) adventure race!   We decided to give "Adventure Day" a new name, but you can expect the same level of adventure, challenge, and fun!   If you didn't get a chance to race Adventure Day in the past, you can check out what happened in the 2007 race, and the 2008 race.  
• WHEN:
  Saturday November 7th, 2009
  6:30am: Park gate scheduled to open  (ranger arriving around 7:00am but might not be at ranger station.  See note below under The Rest - Cost"!)
  7:00am - 7:50am: Check-in   (Evergreen Shelter)
  7:15am - 7:35am: Orienteering Clinic (optional)    Please see Note under Orienteering.
  8:00am: Pre-event meeting (mandatory)
  9:00am: Race begins
  5:00pm: Race ends
• WHERE:
  Lapham Peak State Park (Evergreen shelter)  -  Delafield,WI
• WHY:
  Because we can, and so can you!   Adventure racers always seem to need one more race before hibernating each season.   Here's your chance!   Also, and more importantly, we've targeted three charitable organizations we'd like to try to help with proceeds from this race.   The more racers we get, the better the chance we can make a difference.   The three are:
     Rogers Memorial Hospital,   American Cancer Society,  and  Friends of Wisconsin State Parks  
  If you'd like to know why we chose these organizations this year, we'd be happy to share.
• WHO:
  Anyone in decent physical condition who is looking to challenge themselves while teaming up with others looking to do the same!   This race has historically been designed to encourage beginners to try the sport, but experienced teams will confirm that we provide enough flexibility and challenge on the course that no one ever leaves saying the race was too easy.  
The ideal scenario is veteran racers bringing new people to the sport.
• HOW:
  Register here  (Deadline:  Postmarked Friday Oct. 30, 2009)  
  
    
  We will provide this waiver to sign at the race, but please read ahead of time to speed-up check-in.
  (If racer under 18 years of age, must have parental/guardian approval signature prior to event.)
  An additional waiver pertaining to one segment of the race will also need to be signed by all racers at check-in.   The pre-race meeting will explain the need for this additional waiver.
  
  Please email Mike with any questions/concerns.
  

• Standard rules of adventure racing will apply.   These will be reviewed at the pre-race meeting.

• GENERAL INFO:
  We plan to achieve course flexibility by implementing a Score-O type strategy for each discipline.   That essentially means teams can go for as many Control Points (CPs) as they want, but must acquire at least 2 CPs at each discipline to remain ranked.   However, if your team goal is to win, you will likely need to acquire all CPs on the course.   To help teams strategize and stay on course, we will establish cut-off times for most disciplines.   If you do not leave a discipline by the cut-off time, your team will likely have a difficult time remaining ranked.   This will all be explained in detail in your race packet.
  Maps and aerial photos needed for navigating the coures will be provided.   No other maps/photos allowed.
• BIKE:
  25-30 miles total (not all at once) using maps that will be provided.   Mountain bikes encouraged since that is the norm for adventure racing.   Road and cyclocross bikes will be allowed; HOWEVER, to even the playing field, time assessments will be added.   Details on MAFF Gear page.
• MYSTERY CHALLENGES:
  .5-1 hour.   If we told you anything about these, they wouldn't be mysteries anymore!
• ORIENTEERING:
  1-3 hours.   Trails can be used for a large part of this discipline, but some bushwhacking will be needed if your team's goal is to acquire all check points.   Points will be pre-plotted on maps of various scales that we'll provide for you.   Note:  We plan to hold a brief orienteering clinic just before the event (7:15am).   This will be a short overview of the discipline designed to enable a novice team to find at least a few markers.   For much more complete instruction/practice/fun using standard orienteering maps and aerial photos, we recommend a very good event scheduled for Sunday Nov 1st (info)   Please do not let a "fear" of orienteering prevent you from trying MAFF.   Some markers will be easier to find than others. :)
• PADDLE:
  1-2 hours.
  
• TREK:
  .5-1 hour.

• COST:
  Event fee
  $60 per participant.   This fee should cover our expenses for this event (insurance, shelter/facilities, maps, clue sheets, food, etc.) and will hopefully leave some extra for prizes (more teams = more prizes!).  
  Other fees (for items participants must acquire before/on event day)
  Each vehicle driven to the event requires a state park pass (either annual or one day).  
  Single day pass purchased upon park entry is $7.
  NOTE:  If you need a vehicle pass for the day and the ranger is not at the station to assist you, be sure to self register.   Ranger has assured us vehicles will be checked at various times throughout the day.
• TEAM CONFIGURATIONS:
  4 person coed is preferred for this race.   However, we don't want anyone to miss out just because they couldn't find the right mix.   Therefore, 3 person, 2 person, and teams comprised of all males or all females, will be allowed.  
  
• DIVISIONS / PRIZES:
  There will be 2 divisions for this race.
  4 Person Coed - Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place with top prize being free entry for one 2010 Mule Adventure race of your choice.
  Open (any team that's not 4P Coed) - Prize for 1st place only.
  All racers will be eligible for raffle prizes during the pre-race meeting.
• SUPPORT:
  This is an unsupported event.   Teams will be responsible for transporting their own gear as needed throughout the event.   Note: The exception to this will be paddle gear which we will transport to/from paddle location (see additional info on Gear page).
• FOOD/WATER:
  Food during the event is whatever you bring along.   Water is available at the park and at various locations along the course.   Food is planned for after the event.   Pizza Hut will be delivering a variety of warm pizzas at 5:00p and 6:00p.   We'll wrap them up to keep them warm.   Soda, water, and more will also be available.
• LODGING:
  La Quinta Inn.   2801 Hillside Dr.   Delafield, WI 53018   (262) 646-8500
  If you plan to stay here, let us know and we can probably get a 10% discount (subject to availability).
  

Top