CAARA Potluck AR 2-Day - Campout & Training Event - July 19-20, 2008

POTLUCK 2008 WAS A BLAST!

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Potluck Location

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The Potluck takes place in a small city park (KirbyPark) in Spring Valley IL (about 10 minutes west ofthe intersection of I80 and I39)...about 2 hours from downtown Chicago. The entire event takes place OUTSIDE under park shelters. (last years pictures)

The participants bring thier own tents to spend the night in. Although last year some slept in the back of SUV's and some slept under the stars in the shelter. Some slept where they fell...LOL.

The clinics take place mostly at the shelters (bike clinic, gear clinic, racing green, etc.) although the paddling clinic takes place about a quarter mile away on the Illinois river and the nav clinic will take place 'around'.

The group paddle tales place on the Vermillion river putting-in in Lowell IL (20 minutes from the park), and taking-out at Oglesby IL. Although last year one team chose to do a more serene paddle on nearby calm Lake Depue (4 miles away).

The group ride starts at the shelters and heads towards Starved Rock State Park using roads and a bike path along the I&M canal. The ride is about 28 miles(14 each way). The riders will probably stop at Starved Rock for a hike too...they did last year.

There is a shorter ride available too. Basically you'll drive to a point where you can meet up with the longer ride, cutting off half the distance so the rideis 14. Last year a couple teams decided to head in completely different directions on thier own and search out somegravel roads and dirt paths. The race will take place around Spring Valley, and this year will head in an entirely different direction then last year.

FOOOOOOOOOD!!!!

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Thanks to the efforts of April Hernann and Cortny Hannon (my wife), food will be available at the Potluck.

For a fee ($10 each), you'll be able to Opt-in for food for the weekend.

The plan is to have grill-your-own burgers and hotdogs, make-your-own sandwiches, chips, fruit, water, etc etc. for dinner the night of the 19th.

Then easy breakfast items...bagels, donuts, fruit, etc...for breakfast the next morning.

Last year it was kind of a rush to get to food and get back without missing something fun. So, this year, for $10 each, you can fix your own and never leave.

Of course, you can still Opt-out as well, and get your own food if that's what you prefer.

Please tell us your preference when you send your registration email.

If you've already registered, I will be sending you a separate email sometime in the near future.

Latest Schedule!

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As of right now, the weekend schedule is looking like this...

Day 1:

9-10am Check-in

10-11am Orientation/Set-up/Get your own Lunch

11am-4pm Bike Rides (Rod McLennan) and Whitewater trip (Neil Johnson)
(Reserve a Kayak or Raft now at Vermillion River Rafting. NOTE: we are not afilliated with this company and none of the fee they charge you will go to us.)

4-5pm Paddling Clinic (at River with Milan Kratka)
brought to you by Seattle Sport Co.

5-6pm Bike Gear/Maintenance Clinic (at shelter with John Morris)
brought to you by Planet Bike

6-7pm Navigation Clinic (around park with Jeremy Van Ek)
brought to you by Suunto

7-8pm Dinner (get your own)

8-9pm "AR Gear Talk" (around fire with Gerry Voelliger)
brought to you by Salomon

9-10pm "Racing Green" (around fire with Team ARFE)
www.arfe.org

10-11pm Photos and Stories of Primal Quest and Eco-Challenge from Matt and Dawn Moore, and then Matt Fox!

11pm-? Social time

MIDNIGHT - Race maps made available!
Map "Thank you's" to mytopo.com and mapcard.com!

AFTER MIDNIGHT! - Night Orienteering (around park with Jermey Van Ek)

Day 2:

9-10am - Race Orientation

10am- RACE!

This schedule is subject to change at any time.

Fun on the River!

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REGISTRATION IS OPEN!!

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If you'd like to attend this years event, all you need to do is email Chad at dawgchad@yahoo.com and tell him you're coming.

You'll be added to the email list and receive regular updates.

Please be sure to include the full name of each person coming, and thier emails.

ESSENTIAL GEAR lighting it up!

2008-04-23T16:50:00.000-07:00

Essential Gear has sent us some headlamps, lazersticks, and guardian lights to help us stay safe and light our way!

GERRY VOELLIGER'S COMING!

2008-04-23T16:34:00.000-07:00

Gerry Voelliger of the Team High Profile (a Primal Quest 2006 team) will host our "AR GEAR TALK" section of the weekend. He is the race director of the Thunder Rolls Adventure Race and the Camp director of High Profile Adventure Camp. I suspect, as do you, that we'll have some entries to those events up for prizes...maybe even discounts for all!

Team Fat Otter!

2008-04-23T16:25:00.001-07:00

Rod McLennan of Team Fat Otter and the race director of both the Frozen Otter Ultratrek and the Sweaty Otter 24 hour Adventure Race will be with for the weekend. Expect race entires to be won and discounts for us potluckers! PLUS, you can try and pick his mind when he leads the bike on Saturday!

Berryman Adventure!

2008-04-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

Jason from Bonk Hard Racing has offered us race entries into the Berryman Adventure as incentive to get you to the Potluck this year. Wait till you see how you win them!

SUUNTO ON SITE IN 2008!

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Yep, they are gonna be there!

Yep, Suunto makes some great compasses and watches.

You might win some too.

SALOMON ON SITE THIS YEAR!

2008-04-23T15:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, Salomon will be on site for the weekend. I can't wait.

Yes, of course we have some cool giveaways from them.

HAMMER NUTRITION GENEROUS!

2008-04-23T15:36:00.000-07:00

Hammer has always been super generous to CAARA and all our events. Expect samples in your goodie bags and prizes to be won in 2008!

Mytopo.com and Mapcard.com

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Your race and activity maps will be produced thanks to the folks at mytopo.com and mapcard.com.

RoadID!

2008-04-23T15:24:00.000-07:00

RoadID jumped in to help us this year not only with some cool prizes, but with all your bib numbers for the race on Day 2!

NUUN OFFERS DISCOUNT!

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the team at nuun wanted to congratulate you on your decision to participate in a Chicago Area Adventure Racing Association training event. It takes a lot of will to commit to racing and the necessary training to get you there. We salute your effort and want to support you with a special offer to keep you hydrated while doing what you love. the tubes you see being used by an increasing number of adventure racers in 08 is nuun (pronounced noon). and, nuun is active hydration.

originally created because we just couldn’t find a product that wasn’t sugary, sweet, sticky or all the above, nuun started a few years ago to give athletes a simple, portable way to stay hydrated while out and about doing what they love to do. each waterproof tube contains 12 sugar-free, effervescent tabs which enables you to turn any water stop, bottle or hydration pack into a source of optimal hydration. just drop a tab into 16 oz of water and you’re set to embark on your daring adventures. it’s also energy free, so you can eat what you like – bananas, bars, gels, brownies or whatever else you fancy – energy is up to you. nuun is hydration.

we want you to stay hydrated so much that you can get 40% off your first order of nuun. just go online to www.nuun.com and use the code caaracamp08

PLANET BIKE ON BOARD THIS YEAR!

2008-04-23T15:07:00.000-07:00

Planet Bike sent us some lights, pumps, seatbags, and more to give away to you. They are the official sponsor of this years bike maintenance/tips clinic at the Potluck!

Seattle Sport Co. - OUR FIRST PADDLING SPONSOR!

2008-04-23T15:01:00.000-07:00

Seattle Sport Company has generously donated some very sweet drybags for prizes this year...including totally waterproof backpacks designed for watersports. Wait till you see them!...and hope you win them!

Nothings Kicks Poison Ivy Like Zanfel!

2008-04-23T14:55:00.000-07:00

Zanfel is sponsoring all CAARA events this year. Every potluck participant will receive usefull information on poison ivy. PLUS SOME LUCKY POTLUCKERS WILL WIN TUBES OF ZANFEL!

CYTOMAX with us in 2008!

2008-04-23T14:50:00.000-07:00

Cytomax has volunteered to provide samples to everyone at this years Potluck!

The Latest! (April 21st)

2008-04-21T15:41:00.000-07:00

As you all know, work has been going on for the CAARA
Potluck 2-day pretty much since the end of the event
last year.

The latest news...

PLANET BIKE TO SPONSOR BIKE CLINIC!
Planet Bike has signed on to sponsor the Bike Clinic
this year and have given use some very cool prizes.

THUNDER ROLLS/HIGH PROFILE GERRY VOELLIGER TO GIVE
TALK ON "AR GEAR"!
Gerry is about the nicest guy in AR and he's
volunteered his time to pass on his experience with AR
and the gear he uses...and that you should use.

SHORTER COURSE WITH PRIZES!
Work has been going on perfecting the course. This
year we'll be focusing on a very beginner friendly
course. PLUS Faster and more advanced/competitiv e
teams will have a chance to get BONUS CP's for prizes.
The course should be a blast for anyone.

SALOMON/SUUNTO WILL BE ON SITE FOR THE WEEKEND!
Brian and his crew will be there all weekend, and even
plan to bike and race with you!

JULY 19-20th

It's FREE!...even the camping is free!

Pictures From Last Year! 2007

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2008 ANNOUNCED!

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Hi All,

I wanted to make sure everyone has July 19-20 thisyear marked as the weekend for the CAARA POTLUCK2-day. Last year was our first year for this event, we had a blast , and I am already receiving emails asking me about this year.

This year, we will once again feature a first day fullof clinics and activities. CAARA President Jeremy VanEk (who runs the CAARA AlL-nighter) has volunteered to run the navigation clinic this year. CAARA boardmember Neil Johnson has volunteered to lead the paddle trip down the Vermillion. Rod McLennan of team Fat Otter, and the course director of the Sweaty Otter 24hour AR, will be leading the bike. I'm almost certain Milan Kratka be returning to recreate his insightful paddling clinic. Of corse, John Morris of Team POLeR will also be giving his clinic on bikes and maintenence.

Plus, I promise to badger ARFE till they have nochoice but to send someone to help us make this a fullfledged green event.

The second day will feature an AR course, and Ipromise this year it will be dramatically scaled down.Last year only 3 racers did more then the beginner section, so this year there will only be a beginner section....although quite a challenging one.I am hopefull that the course will also be completely new and share nothing with last year's. The course is obviously still being developed though (it's onlyMarch).

We have some new sponsors this year. Salomon and Suunto are expected to be ON SITE for the weekend, and we'll have some shoes, packs, and compasses as part of our giveaways.

Of course the list of sponsors is already verylarge...Hammer Nutrition, Zanfel, Nuun, Biofreeze,Cytomax, MyTopo, RoadID, Thunder Rolls and Team High Profile, Team Fat Otter and Sweaty Otter 24 AR, andthe list is growing.

For those that don't already know, this is a FREE 2day AR event. Even the camping is free (although you need to bring your own tent and sleeping bag).

The purpose of the event is simple. Bring AR enthusiasts together to share knowledge, experience, and stories.

This is targeted to brand new racers...but is super fun for anyone.

Mark the dates now! JULY 19-20, 2008!

More coming in the months ahead,
Chad