Mont 24 Hour Race - Update
Hi all.
This is a brief update for rotorburners ahead of an official update (which we will make this Wednesday)
We are out of the forest (as of about 3pm today) and have just now had a meeting to discuss where to from here. Like you, we are gutted that the rain ruined the Mont right on the cusp of the event. We were completely setup and everything was ready for the riders. So close...
We know many would like to ride the Mont on a new date and despite our having announced the event as 'cancelled', we are actively exploring whether it would actually be possible to reschedule. In saying this, I must stress that the Mont is a complex event to run and requires clearance from numerous stakeholders and suppliers to even be realised. Rescheduling the event is by no means a certainty, but will be thoroughly examined.
Rescheduling the Mont for a date in the near future depends on;
1. Whether we can find an available date to make a booking of the forest (i.e. a weekend the forest not booked for another user)
2. Whether planned logging operations can be halted to run the race (thinning of East Kowen is slated to start this Thursday)
3. Availability of essential infrastructure namely; generators, light towers, marquees, toilets etc (i.e. large toilet and shower blocks are items we typically book 12 months in advance to ensure supply)
4. The availability of critical services and personnel (timing company, first aid, ambulance, race director, course director, volunteers etc)
5. On-course structures (i.e. re-build of a large temporary structure required for the event)
6. Availability for hire of 24hr specific items such as charge boards etc.
7. Availability of quality food service providers/coffee providers
8. weather forecasts and our knowledge that temperatures are trending much cooler through April/May, and
9. giving riders sufficient notice of a new date so they can make plans to attend
(note: this is by no means an exhaustive list...)
We are already in touch with the relevant government bodies and other critical suppliers on this front, and will work through this tomorrow. We will be able to establish whether the Mont can proceed on a new date (or not) by early Wednesday morning. Once known, I will then send out an email newsletter to all participants. Watch your inbox by all means, but expect it later in the day as I am pretty slow on technology.
Whichever way we have to go, please know we are working toward having you smiling hard on the trails we build real soon.
Regards
Alan Vogt
(aka Des Kowalski)