COURSE SUMMARY

  • We review our course after each event, and may make any necessary changes. Below is an accurate description of the course, as of February 2024. You can expect to cover around 260 and 6,000m elevation through out the week. The stage distances will vary from 20km to 50km, with one long 70km stage (each stage has an unranked option. See below).

WHAT TO EXPECT

  • A mix of single DOC trails, hard pack trails, mountain bike trails, 4WD roads, long steep inclines and descents, mountain views, remote back country mountains, multiple river crossings, ski fields, gold mining towns, history, lakes…. a little of everything.

  • Please, do not take lightly the terrain you will be in. Some of our stages are remote. You will be climbing and descending for hours, potentially some in the dark. You must be confident in the back country, remote mountains, on trails, in the elements and weather conditions nature provides.

UNRANKED COMPETITOR

  • We appreciate the time, effort, cost and sacrifice you all make to participate in Southern Lakes Ultra and are aware that sometimes, things just don’t go to plan! If you start a stage, and are unable to complete due to injury or illness, we will, were possible and safe, transport you to the end of that stage. You can then rest, recover, recuperate and continue on with the following days stage. You will still be awarded a Medal, and distance and time completed noted).

  • Unranked Competitors, will still receive an Event medal if each stage has been started.

CUT OFF TIMES

  • We will have cut off times for each stage and at key check points through out the course. These cut off times will be based approx. off a moving speed, over mountains of 3km per hour and 5km per hour on the flatter stages. If you are a fast walker our cut off times should be easily achieved.

CONTINGENCY PLAN

  • Please note: Queenstown is in an Alpine Environment, surrounded by some spectacular scenery and crossing a number of remote locations with exposure to the elements. We will bring you an epic event, but at all times, we reserve the right to change the course, or cancel the event part way through if we deem this to be the safest option for all. Whilst we will endeavor to bring you our full event, safety will always be considered first. No refunds will be offered if the course is altered or shortened in any way.