Preparation
Preperation is the key to success when it ocmes to support crews!
before the event weekend, you should know the in's and out's of how your support crew checkpoint will run.
Please familiarise yourself with the following points for guidance:
• Be sure you have met with your team and created a support crew plan PRIOR to the event weekend!
• Only competitors in the 48 & 96km Kokoda Challenge require a support crew
• Use the meeting agenda on the next page to ensure you’ve covered all topics to ensure you know where to meet, approximately what time to meet, what food to bring and more
• Look into apps such as Find My Friends or Live360 to track your team as they are walking, being mindful that they will be in and out of reception. We will also provide you with a link where you can track when they check into checkpoints
• You will need to get each competitors belongings before event day or at the start line if you’re droping them off. We recommend having a tub for each team member.
• Please note there is no limit to how many people are in your support crew but you are only allowed one car per support crew at the checkpoints. You must register your vehicle here as well as all members of your support crew for COVID tracing purposes.
• When your team pick up their event pack at pre-registration on the 15th & 16th of July (details here) there will be a support crew car parking pass in this pack which will give you access into the support crew checkpoints.
• Please attempt to have all support crew members watch the support crew breifing video prior to the event.
• Our event must respect the day users visiting these beautiful locations
WHAT IS A SUPPORT CREW?
A support crew is the saving grace for teams throughout the 96km and 48km challenge. They provide teams with support at designated support crew checkpoints along the track and are the key to finishing the challenge. Behind every great team is a phenomenal support crew!
WHEN DO I GET MY SUPPORT CREW CAR PASS AND WHAT IS A SUPPORT CREW CAR PASS?
Each support crew will be provided with a support crew car pass to put on their car dashboard. This will allow your car access into support crew checkpoints. On this pass, you will write your cars registration number. Each support crew is allowed ONE pass. Support crews found copying or sharing passes to have more than one car in the support crew checkpoint at one time will have their teams immediately eliminated. If you are using different cars in different checkpoints, simply cross out the registration number once you are done with vehicle A and then write the registration number of vehicle B.
Passes are received during kit collection and are packaged with the participants race bibs.
WHAT DOES A SUPPORT CREW DO?
Everyone’s support crew is different, but most provide the following at major checkpoints: a hot meal if you have a portable gas stove (warm soup or curry is very popular) or sandwiches, strapping and medical attention, refill water packs and re-pack backpack with essentials, provide a change in equipment (fresh socks, different clothes, walking poles etc) and most importantly they encourage you to keep going!
WHAT CHECKPOINTS DO WE ACCESS OUR TEAMS?
For 96km participants, support crews can only be accessed at our major checkpoints, checkpoints 4, 6, 8 and 11. Location and address as per below:
- CHECKPOINT 4, Pollys Kitchen: 1024 Gold Coast Springbrook Rd
- CHECKPOINT 6, Raw Challenge:Neranwood 2201 Nerang Murwillumbah Rd
- CHECKPOINT 8, Army Land: Numinbah Valley 1263 Beechmont Rd,
- CHECKPOINT 11, Little Calagriba Reserve: Beechmont 201 Clagiraba Road, Clagiraba
For 48km SCHOOL teams, support crews can be accessed at 2 checkpoints, checkpoint 8 and 11:
- CHECKPOINT 8, Army Land: Numinbah Valley 1263 Beechmont Rd,
- CHECKPOINT 11, Little Calagriba Reserve: Beechmont 201 Clagiraba Road, Clagiraba
For 48km OPEN teams, support crews can be accessed at 1 checkpoint, checkpoint 11:
- CHECKPOINT 11, Little Calagriba Reserve: Beechmont 201 Clagiraba Road, Clagiraba
DO ALL 48KM AND 96KM TEAMS HAVE TO HAVE A SUPPORT CREW?
YES. All 96km and 48km teams must have a support crew.
HOW BIG OR SMALL CAN A SUPPORT CREW BE?
A support crew can be as big or small as you like! However please note that at each support crew checkpoint, only ONE car will be allowed into the designated support crew area as we have limited space available. We suggest a support crew of 4 or 5 people!
WHEN IS THE SUPPORT CREW BRIEFING VIDEO RELEASED?
The support crew briefing will be available online. This will be released with the event briefing video 1-2 weeks out from the event. It is compulsory for all support crews to watch this video. Support crews will also have the ability to ask questions to our event staff at the start line of each event if needed.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- If you meet your support crew outside of the designated support crew checkpoints, your team will be disqualified unless permission is granted by event organisers.
- Support Crews are discouraged to arrive at checkpoints more than 20 minutes before their team is due to arrive. Work out a plan with your team to communicate their ETA.
- Support Crews must bring their own toilet paper at checkpoints as none will be provided.
- The Kokoda Challenge is an environmentally friendly event. Support Crews MUST remove and dispose of all rubbish. There will be no rubbish bins provided.
- Strap your team’s feet and sensitive areas BEFORE blisters and chaffing occur.
- Only one Support Crew Vehicle of standard size is permitted per team (NO Trailers or campervans allowed). Vehicles are to park in the designated parking area. Please keep your driving speed down to 5km/h.
- A $5 cash donation will be required at all the support crew checkpoints. All donations are provided to the volunteering local organisation or community group, not the Kokoda Youth Foundation.
- Support Crews are encouraged to visit local attractions and cafes in between meeting their teams to support the local communities.
