I have it on absolutely no authority that there is soon to be a Polaris Challenge re-launch.
Who is this masked hero who makes the sign
Never had any real complaints with previous events except that the last summer event was rather a roadie afair. Keep the events on the dirty hills and all will be well. Have enjoyed all of the events that I have done wich is most over the last 5 or so years.
I wouldn't go giving out tips. There is a rumour that Trailbreak are moving further in on Polaris with Wales as a possible location.
The only comment that i have about the organisation (apart from the event being great fun!) is that i helped as a marshall last summer and was very disappointed that i wasnt used fully and wasted lots of time. We ended up standing around for hours while people milled about and discussed what to do with us and then it was desided that we werent needed!, By this point it was too late to go for a ride or do something. So all in all, i felt that i had waasted my time trying to help out!!
Been there. Done them all from competing to helping - including IOM. The good bits out weigh the bad bits and tbat's why I keep going back. It's a self-sufficant endurance event and some are better than others. There are always going to be things that can and will go wrong for competitors and organisers but in either case you make do with what you've got and try to get it better the next time.
No I'm out of it.
All of the people who have whinged and complained through the years about the organisation of the event have been listened to. Further more they have taken it upon themselves to do all of the hardwork (and take the huge profits that go with them) and have formed a new organisational team.
There will be 4 events per year:-
2 fully blown Polaris Classics with 2 days, 2 person teams, waterproof trousers and fantastic wilderness locations.
There will be a Summer event giving those who hate to carry their kit a chance to sample the atmosphere. During the evening in between there will be comedy, music, beer and food.
Finally there will be a mystery event with different stages on either a 24 hour or mixed discipline format incorporating the best of the associated worlds of Adventure racing and Enduro.
Best of all, a US bike firm will be providing sponsorship, with a top prize of beer from the Moab Brewery, a special top dollar bike awarded for hitting the mystery checkpoint closest to the mystery time, and car stickers for all the competitiors to display their prowess.
The Website will be a very plain affair giving details of events, online bookings including payment and basic forums.
The Polaris team will write short weekly news in the run up to important dates, to keep the punters informed.
Wilfs will continue to do the food. The Polaris Apparell clothes staff will be open before and after the event with clearance bargains and brand new kit. Major UK component manufacturers and distributers will also have a presence.
Everyone is looking forward to the re-launch. Now if we all concentrate really hard...
What else would you LIKE to see?
By Jon B ( - 62.64.237.69) on Friday, April 11, 2003 - 06:05 pm:
of the K?
V V good analysis (particularly like the mystery
checkpoint prize idea)
So long as its not relaunched with a Kielder
event it should all go very well.
All I want is for this level of thought and
common sense to be applied consistently in
the future.
By Stu ( - 62.60.8.92) on Friday, April 11, 2003 - 06:50 pm:
By jerry ( - 195.92.194.12) on Friday, April 11, 2003 - 11:30 pm:
Mind you I don't know who they'll get to set it up.... .
By 1of the 12 little helpers! ( - 81.100.213.50) on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 09:27 am:
Winge over!
By Geoff ( - 217.154.254.78) on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 04:59 pm:
Whinging should just be part of it and not what it has become for some of you . . . and that is the whole thing.
(I did not want to write this but they made me. The other five in the IOM Polaris minibus claimed that I could moan for Britain!!! Okay I can live with that but not if Jeremy is going to be team captain.)
There, now I've made your day and you can throw something back at me as well.
By jerry ( - 195.92.194.12) on Monday, April 21, 2003 - 10:22 pm:
The last 3 events I've competed in have left me unable to walk for quite a while.
The legs are willing but the back is weak
That's the only reason I didn't do IoM