Please refer to the Compulsory Equipment List which itemises the compulsory and recommended equipment. Make sure that you bring all the items to the event.Note that this list was compiled after wide consultation and serious, and often heated consideration of many factors including:
- the essence of the sport of trail running itself
- the profiles of the least experienced participants
- the standards and norms set by internationally renowned events
- due diligence
- the specific risk profile of the OTTER Trail itself
Each trail run’s risk profile is unique and influenced by:
- the length of the trail
- technical difficulty
- exposure to the elements such as rivers, tides and high seas,
- altitude
- prevalent weather
- emergency access to the trail
- and particularly closest access to the trail by vehicles.
As such, the compulsory equipment list for any particular Trail Run may not be comparable with, or even appropriate for, another event. There are iconic ultra-distance events that traverse easy open trails and are accessible to vehicles at multiple points on the route. the safety management plan of such an event has little bearing on that of the OTTER.
HOW DO WE CHECK?
We use a Template Equipment Check system (a Magnetic South innovation) and the onus is on the participant to present the compulsory items correctly as per the outline of the template for inspection and documentation by photographic record.
You will be familarised with the system at the pre-event equipment check at registration. We may apply the Equipment Check at a check Point on the course or at the finish line, or both.This system has the advantage that the responsibility for displaying the items, and time taken therein, lays firmly with the participant and not with the officials.
