Rules and Regulations

4th Al Andalus Ultimate Trail – RULES AND REGULATIONS

Download the Rules and Regulations as .pdf.

ART. 1: ORGANIZATION
The 4th AL ANDALUS ULTIMATE TRAIL is organized by TEAM AXARSPORT s.l. and will take place from 09 to 13, July 2012 in Andalucía, Spain.

ART. 2 : DEFINITION OF THE COMPETITION
The 4th AL ANDALUS ULTIMATE TRAIL is a 235 km race over five days in very hot climate, with temperatures reaching 35-45 degrees Celsius. The race takes place in the fantastically beautiful surroundings of Andalucía where the terrain consists of mountain paths, desert, 4x4 tracks and tarmac roads.

The race is semi-supported and competitors carry obligatory items ( see complete Equipment List, ART. 19 ). This includes food/energy bars / gels and a minimum of 1.5 litres of water excluding any pre-mixed electrolyte drinks. 1.5 litres of water will be available at every checkpoint and also at the start and finish of each stage. In addition, drinkable mountain springs will be marked on the route map. Tap water is safe to drink except where you see an “Aqua Non Potable” sign.

ART. 3 : GENERAL CONDITIONS & PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
The 4th AL ANDALUS ULTIMATE TRAIL will be administered according to the general race regulations and their amendments, to which all participants agree when they register.
The organization is not responsible for any damage caused by the participant or caused to themselves by their imprudence or negligence. Similarly the participants declare they are in perfect physical condition to perform this race, exempting the organizers of the race from said responsibility. Enrollment in the race assumes the acceptance of these rules and regulations.

ART. 4 : CONDITIONS OF ADMISSION FOR PARTICIPANTS
Anyone meeting the following conditions will be accepted: over 18, any citizenship, good health, and complete payment of fees. Competitors must hold a medical certificate issued by the organization stating their ability to participate. The medical certificate must be dated no more than 30 days before the start of the race and signed by a Doctor. In the event a participant cannot produce a medical certificate by the day of check-in, they may have it completed by the race doctor on site for a fee of € 60 payable at that time.

ART. 5 : CATEGORIES OF PARTICIPANTS
Category A : INDIVIDUAL
Category B : TEAM
Category A : Every entrant will be ranked. In addition to the general ranking, there will be placing for first, second and third female and male.
Category B : A team is made up of a maximum of three runners. To qualify for ranking, all three members of the team must complete the race. However, each member is recorded as an individual in the general ranking.

ART. 6 : PROGRAM OF THE RACE
07/08 July : Participant arrivals in Loja
08 July : Administrative formalities, orientation
09 to 13 July : The race
13 July : Gala Dinner/Award Ceremony
14 July : Participant departures

TEAM AXARSPORT s.l. reserves the right to modify:
- the regulations of the 4th AL ANDALUS ULTIMATE TRAIL
- the aspect of the course in case of forces beyond our control: weather, etc.

ART. 7 : TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE VERIFICATIONS
These will take place on 07 – 08, July 2012. Participants must present themselves to the race administrators during registration. Participants must meet the administrative and technical requirements including medical form and complete payment of registration fees. Each competitor is responsible for his/her own equipment, and each element referring to the participant equipment list is strictly personal.

ART. 8 : IDENTIFICATION MARKS/RACE NUMBERS
During the administrative registration, the organization will provide each participant with two dorsals bearing a number corresponding with the SPORTident system, one for tthe chest or thigh and one for the back ( to be attached to the backpack ). Each participant must ensure his / her ID marking is clear, entirely visible, in good condition and in the proper place throughout the race. The organization will make spare ID markings available in the event of loss or damage.

ART. 9 : SPACE RESERVED FOR INDIVIDUAL SPONSORS
In addition to official ID markings, participants may use other available clothing space for individual sponsors ( apart from areas exclusively reserved for race number ) e.g. T-shirts, shorts, socks, caps, backpacks, etc. However, the organization reserves the right to prohibit sponsorship considered to be oversized or in direct competition with the organization’s partners or for any other reasons and which the organization does not have to justify.

ART. 10 : CHECKPOINTS & RANKING
Every checkpoint is compulsory. Checkpoints are located throughout the course of each stage of the race. There are three to six checkpoints depending on the length of the stage and each competitor must pass through them. This allows the race officials to record times and distribute water. Medical assistance will be made available at each checkpoint.
SPORTident equipment is used to identify, time and rank each competitor. Each competitor’s time is indicated in hours, minutes and seconds. The competitor carries a small electronic SI-Card that is dipped into electronic stations located at each checkpoint. They must wear the card throughout the competition and give back at the race finish. The cost of replacement for loss or damage of this device is the competitor’s responsibility.

ART. 11 : RACE VILLAGE/CAMPSITES
The race villages will be set up each day on previously chosen sites transformed into camping grounds for the competitors. Non-race gear will be transferred to each site in numbered official Race Kit Bags ( RKB’s ). Single, 2-person, and 3-person tents allocated based on hotel room assignments and teams. There will be no gender separation and a fee of €20 for single tents.
The race villages are equipped with a first aid station, information board, and massage treatment stations ( prepaid card available at registration ). Basic facilities include shower and toilet. Field kitchen will supply boiling water. Drinks and special “race recovery” food station open for a limited time at the end of each stage. In some occasions, there will be time to enter nearby villages and purchase meals, and/or local artisanal purveyors will visit the campsite.

ART. 12 : MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
A medical team specializing in sports medicine will be present throughout the race with the use of assistance vehicles and will ensure that any participant suffering from physical or mental exhaustion are brought back to the base camp, taken to hospital, or removed from the race at the discretion of the Race Doctor. The medical team is allowed to remove ID plates and to eliminate any participant they feel physically unfit to continue the race and/or having received vital medical care. They are also responsible for allowing a participant to continue in the race as a non-competitor if they dropped out at any point due to physical or mental exhaustion or complications. Competitors are required to carry their own personal remedy materials including blister kits, Paracetamol, and anti-diarrhea medication, personal hygiene, allergy medication etc.

ART. 13 : DROPPING OUT / ELIMINATION
In no circumstance ( and at the risk of having to pay the search costs involved ) may any competitor leave the race without informing the organization and signing an official discharge provided by TEAM AXARSPORT s.l. If a competitor abandons the race, he / she must notify the organization as soon as possible and give his / her identification marks and SI-card to one of the course commissaries and must be escorted to the stage finish by vehicle of qualified Race Staff or Race Director. If a member of a team drops out, the remaining team members will run as individuals.
Minimum authorized time: Competitors who fail to average a minimum of 6km/hour and meet Checkpoints before posted cut-off times may be asked to drop out in consideration of the safety and resources of the Race Support Team. This decision is made by the Race Director and/or Race Doctor and is final.

ART. 14 : GROUND ASSISTANCE
The organization reminds all participants that the 4th AL ANDALUS ULTIMATE TRAIL is a race where climatic and ground conditions can be extreme. Any outside assistance is strictly prohibited. If a competitor goes far off the race route, necessitating a lengthy search, he/she will be responsible for the cost.

ART. 15 : INSURANCE
An insurance policy covering accident medical coverage is arranged by the organization for all entrants during the days of the race. All competitors take part in the full knowledge of the risks that may be incurred in this kind of competition. Since competitors participate of their own free will, the organization is not responsible for any collapse or accident. In accordance with the 1984 law on sport, the organizer is obliged to advise participants to take out their own accident, travel and death insurance.

ART. 16 : WEATHER AND TERRAIN CONDITIONS
Average temperatures in July :
- daytime 30°- 45° C,
- nighttime 20°- 30° C.
The route ( approx. 235 kms ) covers a wide variety of terrain. The organizers reserve the right to modify the route and the length of the various stages as a result of unfavorable weather conditions or unforeseen natural changes in certain areas and will post the most up to date map and route information before the stage.

ART. 17 : MARKINGS
The participants in the 4th AL ANDALUS ULTIMATE TRAIL must follow the route as marked by the organizers. The course will be marked approximately every 200 - 500 meters. Official 2012 race markings will be demonstrated at orientation. Race administration strongly advises participants to study the route maps and download the Garmin routes from the website prior to 09 July, 2012. The organization takes care to use marking materials that are not harmful to the environment and that are removed after the race.

ART. 18 : ROAD BOOK
A road book will be issued that includes maps and various items of interest for each stage. You are required to have your road book during the race and to attend the evening briefings by the Race Director relating to the next day’s stage. Whenever possible, the race will have a translator for French, German, and Spanish on hand.

ART. 19 : OBLIGATORY EQUIPMENT FOR PARTICIPANTS
The obligatory equipment and the personal belongings of each participant ( food, survival equipment and kit, waist pouch, etc.) should weigh between 4kg and 10kg. This minimum / maximum weight does not include your daily water supply.

Food :
Each entrant must provide his/her own dehydrated food for the race stages. He/she must select the type of food best suited to his/her personal needs ( recommendations and food supplies can be obtained by the Race organizers in advance ). Boiling water will be provided at the Race Village at the end of each stage and in the morning before the start.
Race Kit :
- Backpack or equivalent ( best suited to each participant )
- Compass
- Whistle
- Signaling mirror ( suggested )
- Road book or section relevant to stage
- Electrolyte drink, ready-mixed, minimum 500ml
- Food / snacks for stage
- Head Cover with neck protection ( cap, buff )
- First Aid Kit ( blister kit, Paracetamol, anti-diarrhea, personal hygiene, etc. )
- SPORTident card
Non-Race Gear / Overnight Kit / Race Kit Bag ( RKB ) :
- Sleeping bag & ground mat
- Torch with spare batteries
- 10 safety pins
- Extra socks, changes of clothes
- Race food
- Wash kit
- Towel
Advised Equipment :
Walking poles, sun cream, lip balm, spare long sleeved shirt or mangas, mobile phone, and money.
Mobile Phones :
Not compulsory as coverage isn’t reliable in the mountains. The motorbike marshals have radios in case of an emergency. There is electricity at campsites for charging phones.

ART. 20 : REGISTRATION, ENTRY FEES AND ADMINISTRATIVE OBLIGATIONS
The total cost of entry is variable, depending on whether you enroll as an individual or as a team.
INDIVIDUAL ENTRANT : € 850
Deposit of € 350 Due Upon Registration
Balance of € 500 Due 60 days after Registration
Any entry after May 7, 2012 (60 days prior to event), Registration Fee is due in full.
TEAMS ( 3 person max. ) : € 800 / person ( when entering at the same time )
Deposit of € 900 Due Upon Registration
Balance of €1500 Due 60 days after Registration
Any entry after May 7, 2012 (60 days prior to event), Registration Fee is due in full.

Cancellation Policy :
Deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. In the event of a competitor canceling due to medically supported injury / illness, he / she can pass the remaining balance of entry fee (less the deposit) to another person or be reimbursed a % of the amount paid, eg :
Before 31st December 2011 75%
January 1st to May 7th 2012 50%
May 8th to June 15th 2012 25%
After June 16th no refund can be made.

Registration fee includes :
• Bus transfers on arrival and departure from Malaga airport within specified times. (Team Axarsport s.l. is not responsible for any participant missing the bus when the times are posted and if every effort is made to gather the participant. Alternate modes of transportation are available for a fee – local bus, taxi, carpool.)
• Hotel accommodation ( shared ) in Loja for 2 nights before and 1 night after the race, including breakfast and dinner ( additional € 15.00 /night for single)
• Race Gift Bag
• Semi-supported race with post-stage refreshment service and boiling water for meals. ( Essential that you carry adequate dehydrated food for your meals, pre-order recommended brands from Race Shop )
• Non-race gear carried forward from stage to stage to campsites with services, showers, and electricity for charging devices
• Shared tent ( additional € 25.00 for a single )
• Water over the course of the race
• Medical staff, Red Cross, and basic medical assistance
• Accident insurance for 5 days of race
• Race T-shirt, finisher medal plus additional stage prizes
• Gala Awards Dinner/Closing Party

The following information is necessary for complete registration :
• Complete registration form
• Hotel reservation form
• Proof of payment for the race
• Original medical certificate stamped and dated by your doctor submitted at registration. A copy must be faxed or scanned/emailed to Race Admin by July 1, 2012.

ART. 21 : RACE BEHAVIOR & THE ENVIRONMENT
Smoking of any kind and the throwing away of any food/water packaging or other items on the race route is strictly forbidden. Interaction between the village inhabitants and competitors is important for the race and a good example of how sports tourism can benefit a region. We rely heavily on the support of the towns, villages, various tourist information departments and Regional Government and ask that all competitors treat the local people and the environment with respect.

ART. 22 : COMPLAINTS
All complaints from competitors must be addressed with discretion to the Race Director in writing, and after the race to the Race Organizers at admin@alandalus-ut.com. Replies issued within 24 hours.

ART. 23 : PHOTO COVERAGE
TEAM AXARSPORT s.l. reserves all exclusive rights for photo coverage of the 4th AL ANDALUS ULTIMATE TRAIL. Participants must agree that TEAM AXARSPORT s.l. may have exclusive use of their identity and individual or collective pictures for anything related directly or indirectly to their participation in the 4th AL ANDALUS ULTIMATE TRAIL. Any still camera, video or movie coverage done during the 4th AL ANDALUS ULTIMATE TRAIL cannot be used by participants, their entourage or trainers for any use other than personal, unless by prior authorization or accreditation from TEAM AXARSPORT s.l. As a result, any book or film (short, feature) project must obtain TEAM AXARSPORT s.l.’s prior authorization.

ART. 24 : LIST OF PRIZES (Specific prizes/gifts to be determined):
GENERAL RANKING:
Men’s ranking
1st prize : Trophy / gift
2nd prize : Trophy / gift
3rd prize : Trophy / gift

Women’s ranking
1st prize : Trophy / gift
2nd prize : Trophy / gift
3rd prize : Trophy / gift

SPECIAL CATEGORIES
First Place Team
1st prize : Trophy / gift

First Spanish
1st prize : Trophy / gift

Surprise Category
TBD : Trophy / gift



Download the Rules and Regulations as a pdf >>