Race info

Compulsory equipment

Needs to be with the team throughout the race.

Team compulsory equipment

  • First aid kit (sport tape >2m, disinfection liquid, bandage)
  • Space blanket
  • Knife
  • 10 m rope min 6 mm
  • Mobile phone
  • Waterproof pen
  • Material given by the organization
  • 1 waterproof bag (for gear transportation)
  • GPS-transmitter given by organization 1 per team connected on back bag

Personal compulsory equipment

  • Windproof jacket
  • WhistleHeadlight
  • Drinking bottle

Compulsory equipment for different sections

Equipment the teams are required to have for individual sections in the race. This equipment list is updated as the race route is designed.

MTB

  • Bikes
  • Helmets
  • Backlight

Recommended:

  • Repair kit

Canoeing

  • Life vests and paddles (provided by organization)
  • Helmets (MTB helmet can be used)

Rollerblading

  • Rollerblades
  • Helmets

Recommended:

  • Poles

Trekking

No section-specific mandatory equipment

Swimming/Backraft

  • Floating device: life vest, back raft, or any floating device which can support a racer. (Not provided by organization)

Recommended:

  • A swim mattress
  • Swim fins, or similar

Climbing

  • Helmets (MTB helmet can be used)
  • Gloves

The organiser will provide other necessary gear, including climbing equipment and a canoe and paddles.

Registration

Registration opens on Friday at 5 pm in the lobby of Rokua Health & Spa. Take some time for the registration, because every team will be photographed for the race broadcast. For the photo, the team does not need to have race clothes on.

After you have done the registration, each team will complete a short climbing test and will get the maps of the competition area.

The registration will close on Friday at 10pm. If you already know that the team will not reach this time frame, please contact geoparkchallenge@ntrnz.com.

The race day

Teams must arrive on Saturday 14.8. at 6 am Rokua Health & Spa main door. There will be a joint transportation to the start and final briefing and the remaining maps will be distributed.

The race will start at 9 am.

Route

  • Competition time 24h (time estimated for top teams)
  • Length of the race 250 km (estimate of the planned route)
  • MTB 165 km
  • Running 40 km
  • Inline skating 30 km
  • Canoeing 13,5 km
  • Swimming 1,5 km
  • Rope task: landing with rope brake “8” and additional Prusik securing

MTB

Mountain bike sections will take place on varying terrains. Most of the route runs along stunning “single-track” trails, in beautiful and undulating terrain formed by ridges and swamps. Part of the route runs along gravel and forest roads.

The route offers a soft and moist surface as well as opportunities to correct off-road terrain. Some of the control points are challenging and require good map reading skills so that the track can be run without errors.

Competitors must prepare for the MTB sections with a sufficiently large backpack. Teams will be required to carry swimming equipment (see equipment list) on some part of the biking sections.

It can be useful if you can cross the water with a bike on the MBT sections.

Trekking

The running sections are orienteering in approachable and diverse boreal forest, trekking on a soft and moist surface, and in the surroundings of a marshy and bushy riverbed. On the trekking section, some of the control points are very demanding.

Competitors must prepare with a large backpack for the trekking section as well. The backpack should accommodate roller skates in addition to other equipment, unless the team comes up with a way to transport them in some other way.

Roller skating

Roller skating takes place on flat ground. Poles are not necessarily needed due to the shapes of the terrain. The route runs partly along a gravel road, in which case the poles can be useful if you are able to advance with double-poling.

Teams don’t have to carry swimming gear and roller skaters at the same time, it’s always either-or.

Paddling

Paddling takes place in canoes. The organizer offers the whole equipment: life jackets, paddles and canoe. You can use your own paddles, but you must carry the paddles with you throughout the whole section.

Canoeing takes place mainly along a small river, which can have very shallow streams and rapids depending on the water situation of the season.

Swimming

Swimming sections are mainly in the midst of other sections. In this case, be prepared to carry the swimming equipment with you.

Teams must have their own “floating device” that is able to support a competitor in the water. It can be: a life jacket, back raft, or some other floating device. Some crosses may benefit from fins or similar equipment that speeds the swimming.

Teams don’t have to carry swimming gear and roller skaters at the same time, it’s always either-or.

Rapelling

In the rope task, the competitor must be able to land correctly. The competitor must control the technology using rope brake “8” and prusik-loop as additional backup.

Quests

Quests require athleticism, speed, strength, and the use of reason and wit.

Other

  • For swimming sections, a “floating device” is mandatory.
  • Swimming sections can be found in the route book, for example: MTB + swimming. In other places, short water crossings, such as crossing large ditches, streams, narrow ponds or soft and watery land, are permitted with section-specific equipment.
  • The longest sections are 6-7 h for the leading teams. Reserve a backpack which is large enough for the equipment and enough drink and energy considering the lengths of the section.
  • The only venomous animal in the area is a viper. A bite of a viper is not normally life threatening but we recommend teams carrying an antidote if there is any possibility of allergic reaction.
  • The organizer transports 1 bag/team (the teams must provide their own bag). Your own transportation or maintenance is not allowed.
  • In addition to the bag, the organizer will transport the roller skates to and from the roller skate transition area and the bikes to the start line.

Getting to Rokua

Rokua is situated between Oulu and Kajaani, roughly a seven-hour drive from Helsinki, Finland’s capital. In addition to driving, you can take the train to Kajaani or Oulu and drive the rest of the journey to Rokua. The nearest airport is in Oulu.

We recommend that you look for accommodation in Rokua, where the competition office will be located. The exact address for the competition office will be informed at a later date.

Rokua has a wide variety of suitable accommodation options to choose from. Explore them and book here.

FAQ

Welcome to our frequently asked questions. Below, you’ll find answers to key questions about the race. We’ll update the list as more information becomes available. You can also reach us on social media and at geoparkchallenge@ntrnz.com. Please let us know if you have any questions about the race.

Who is the race designer?

The race track designer is Seppo Mäkinen, an award-winning athlete in adventure sports, rogaining and orientation. He is the 2010 world champion of rogaining and a two-time runner up in adventure sports world championships.

Placements:

Adventure sports:
2nd place RAID World Championships, Argentina 2004
2nd place Adventure Races World Championships, Sweden 2006

Rogaining:
1st place World Championships, New Zealand 2010
1st place European Championships, Ukraine 2010

Orientation:
4 Nordic Championships and World Cup medals
Over 100 Finnish championship medals in various orientation sports and speed skating

What are the dates for the Rokua Geopark Challenge?
The race is on August 14th 2021.

What is the race distance?
The course is expected to be approximately 250 kilometres.

How much time does my team have to complete the course?
Winners are estimated to complete the race in 24 hours. The finish line will be closed approximately 10 hours after the first team crosses the finish line.

What is the Rokua race route?
The race centre will be at Rokua. The course will not be disclosed at this point. We will update the information about the course in the future.

What disciplines are currently expected to be included in the race?
The race is expected to include at least trekking, canoeing, MTB, roller blading (with poles), swimming and rappelling.

Am I allowed to have assistance in the race?
Assistance is provided by the organisers only.

What technology am I allowed to use during the race?
Allowed technologies will be announced at a later date.

What is the prize for the winner of the Rokua Geopark Challenge?
The best three teams in the race are invited to take part in the Euro 2022 league. Other awards will be announced at a later date.

What are the team requirements?
Each team member is required to be 18 years old or older at the time of the race. The race requires two-person teams that can be all-female or mixed-gender teams.

How many teams will compete in the race?
There are limited places in the race. Exact numbers will be disclosed at a later date.

What certifications do the team members need in order to take part?
No official certifications are needed to take part in the race. Each team member is obligated to have an active insurance plan.

What will be provided by the organiser, Rokua Geopark Challenge?
The organiser will arrange the needed transportation of the team´s gear during the race. Teams will also receive food and refreshments at a service point during the race.

What is not covered by the organiser, Rokua Geopark Challenge?
The teams are responsible for organising everything else, including accommodation, getting around the area, team uniforms etc.

Will teams be offered a stipend to help cover some of the costs that may incur?
Currently, there are no stipends offered.

How much is the registration fee?
Early bird tickets are 375 € and are available until January 31st 2021.
Registration fee is 450 € between 1.2.–30.6.2021.

When does the registration close?
The registration closes at midnight on June 30th 2021

What is the registration process?
Each one of the team members can sign up the team for the race. After submitting the registration, the team member will be directed to payment.

Follow us on social media for updates about the race!