Required and Recommended Gear

BEAST #3 (June 5, 2007)

Racers are required to have certain gear to participate. The required items may change a little from race to race.

Each participant, required:

• Needed during canoeing part of course only:
  • personal floatation device (must be worn while in the boats; provided with canoe rental, but you can bring your own)
  • paddle (canoe paddle provided with rental, but you can bring your own canoe or kayak paddle)
• Needed during biking part of course only: a bike (road or mountain), helmet, and a bike lighting system, including a blinking red rear light and a white front light
• trekking shoes suitable for multiple surfaces: pavement, trail, and off-trail.
• light for use on foot. (This is not required for the canoeing and can be the same as your bike light (provided it can be detached from your bike); the important thing is that you have a light with you for travel after dark.)
• capacity to carry at least 16 oz of water or sports drink at all times (bottles, bladders)
• personal identification (driver's license or Road ID, for example)
• emergency contact person (ideally reachable during race) and phone number for race staff

Each participant, recommended:

• a little energy food, such as Clif Bars, gels, drinks, trail mix, etc.
• reflective or light colored clothing
• extra clothing appropriate to the weather: for example, a waterproof jacket or shell if there's a chance of rain; hat and warm layers if it's cold
• plastic bag or map case to protect course map (each participant who wants a map will receive one)
• emergency and medical information (to be carried on emergency reference card in case of injury on course):
  • emergency contact person (ideally reachable during race) and phone number
  • any allergies (for example, peanuts or bee stings)
  • any drug allergies
  • important medical conditions that could affect emergency treatment
  • HMO information

Each team, required:

• one canoe for every two or three people; must be rented on-site from the Waterfront Activities Center (in other words, you may not use your own boat, unless it happens to be identical to the WAC boats--aluminum, etc.). ID required as deposit for rental. Rental price is at most $7.50 per hour per boat--less for students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Solo racers are encouraged to pair up for the canoeing stage, then you can separate for the remainder of the race.
• one emergency (mylar) blanket for every one or two people (one blanket for solos and teams of two; two blankets for teams of three or four)
• one folding blade knife or scissors
• tire pump, tire levers, and an extra tube or patch kit (biking part only)
• time piece
• writing implement (pencil or waterproof pen)

Each team, recommended:

• plastic bag or map case to protect passport
• compass
• map holder for bike handlebars
• cell phone for emergencies