Kaikoura Six Day Trial

Section setting for the upcoming six day is now well under way with around fifty of the eighty five sections to be put in for the first three days having been cleared and arrowed, and with any sort of luck the remaining thirty five will be completed this weekend. The three days are going to consist of three different loops, a different loop for each day, and at this stage the plan is to run the first day over a loop of 18 kms with 24 sections to be ridden twice, the second day will be a 21km loop with 30 sections to be ridden twice, and the third day is to be an 18km loop with 30 sections to be ridden twice. Thats right 114kms and 168 sections in three days, this of course will be weather dependent and the loops may be shortened if the weather becomes a little inclement which isn't going to be the case. The loops are going to be run so that a refueling stop has been incorporated, this will require a second fuel can which will be transported to the designated point on the trail. The loops have all been ridden on one tank of gas but I have run out and believe me it is a long walk out, especially if you don't know where you are. The ride between sections consists of four wheel drive track, sheep track, open paddock, and river bed and will be rideable for all abilities. Sections have been set to allow non stop rules to be used, most sections have been pegged with natural boundaries therefore negating the need to perfect the Kaikoura turn. Expert grade will follow the red arrow, intermediate the yellow, presidents the green of which there is one in every section and follows an intermediate line, and the clubmen will ride between the red and white markers. The clubmen sections will vary in severity with one or two on each day that may require the lower end riders to take a five, this has come about due to some terrain being too good to leave out for the other grades therefore creating a tough obstacle within the section. We have had some clubmen riders helping in section clearing and they have been consulted about difficulty as it can be difficult remembering back to being a clubman rider and things we didn't like. The idea of this trial is to get everyone who enters to the finish line on Monday afternoon and feeling the great sense of achievement that will come with it. There will be cut off times put in place to start your second lap due to the length of days and the thinking at the moment is that if you don't make the cut off then you will be given fives for the rest of the days sections therefore giving a result instead of a DNF but we will keep you posted on this. Entries are now open and can be found on the website and remember that there is a close off date for six days riders so enter now as this is going to be a one off event, don't hang off to see how it goes this year and enter next year as I can say with reasonable confidence that with all the work involved there won't be a next year six day. The three day trial will be run on the same format as usual with four laps of ten sections per day. I don't know about you but the thought of riding 288 sections in six days with a maximum loss of 1440 points sounds entertaining. There will be some photos of sections and terrain to follow next week. If you would like to know anything or just want a natter give me a call at home 03 313 4009, or 0274325738. See you soon. Paul J