FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. please find below a list of frequently asked questions. We ask all athletes to take the time to read through these, and check back frequently as we add and updated. we ask all athletes to familiarise themselves with theese FAQs, and only if you are unable to find an answer to a question, then please feel free to contact the race at info@southernlakesultra.com
WHEN AND WHERE IS SLU?
Our Race Village is based in Queenstown New Zealand, February 2025.
WHAT IS THE ENTRY FEE?
https://southernlakesultra.com/entry-fees
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE ENTRY FEE?
https://southernlakesultra.com/entryinclusions
WHAT IS THE RACE FORMAT?
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUPPORTED AND UNSUPPORTED?
ALL ATHLETES ARE SELF - SUPPORTED, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
https://southernlakesultra.com/eventoptions
All athletes, irrespective of which category they are entered into (Unsupported or Supported), are to note that Southern Lakes Ultra is a “Self-Supported” Event. This meaning, all athletes are to travel the course under their own foot power, all athletes are to provide their own food, mandatory equipment, additional equipment and, but not limited to, medical supplies, with knowledge of how to use, for the entire week. Whilst we have crew, including Medical Crew, it is each athletes individual responsibility, to have ultimate responsibility for their own safety and management through out the week. This includes, but not limited to, personal safety management, injury management, illness management and ultimately the ability to self manage and care for themselves through out the week.
DO I NEED TOBE ABLE TO USE A COMPASS AND READ A MAP?
Athletes are not required to have knowledge of how to use a compass. Basic Map reading is expected. SLU provide a course manual, which is sectioned into each Stage and each Stage further broken down Check Point to Check Point. Included in the Course Manual is an overview map of each stage, elevation profile and some key locations with further maps / directional descriptions.
HOW MUCH TRAINING DO I NEED TO DO?
You need to train! We believe this to be one of the toughest multi stage events in the world! How much training is dependant on a number of factors, including but not limited to: your starting point, previous experience, racing history, location of training terrain, timeframes, work committments, personal commitments, injuries etc. We recommend that every athlete can comfortably complete a 50km run and can complete back to back long days, with a loaded pack. We also highly recommend that you spend significant time in the Mountains and on Steep Terrain. We have over 10,000m elevation. Our mountains are long, meaning most of you will be climbing for 3+ hours, descending the same and repearting this. You will be in back remote country, although always on formed trails, some of our trails are single, narrow trails with uneven footing. Some of our trails are hard to see, due to overgrowth and in places, weather dependent, some parts of the trail may be washed out. You will also get week feet and cross multiple rivers.
DO I NEED PRIOR MULTI STAGE RACING EXPERIENCE TO ENTER?
You do not need to have completed a prior Multi Stage Event, however we strongly suggest that you can comfortably complete a 50km, are comfortable in Mountainous terrain and with wet feet. We also strongly recommend that you train for long back to back days, with a loaded run back, so you are best prepared for a Multi Stage Experience. There are significant training plans and you tube clips you can watch to best prepare yourself. It is your responsibility to ensure you are prepared and ready for the adventure ahead. If you would like to invest in a coach, then feel free to email the race for recommendations.
WHAT IS THE MANDATORY EQUIPMENT?
Please note, our mandatory equipment, is the “minimum” requirement. We strongly suggest you pack over and above, specific to your needs and experience. You should be familiar with all of your equipment and how to use. We recommend you try out all of your equipment multiple times to ensure you know how to use and that the gear is comfortable and suitable for your personal needs and the challenge that you are undertaking. Please, continue to check back on this website for mandatory gear updates. We reserve the right to update at any time and it is each individual athletes responsibility to ensure they have all the mandatory equipment as a minimum.
WHERE WILL I STORE ANY ADDITIONAL LUGGAGE WHILE I AM ON THE RACE COURSE?
For SLU2022/2023 and 2024, our host hotel provided free storage for 1 bag for each athlete for the week. We will endeavour to provide the same each year, and will communicate this through athlete emails.
WHAT MEALS ARE PROVIDED BY SLU?
Welcome Dinner - Saturday 22nd February 2025
Awards Dinner - Saturday 1st March 2025
WHAT FOODS SHOULD I CONSUME AND BRING WITH ME TO SLU?
Athletes will need to bring all food for the week of racing, this will include:
Saturday 22nd February 2025, either bring a packed lunch, or money to purchase when we stop.
Sunday 22nd February 2025 – Saturday 1st March 2025 ALL food. This will most likely be dehydrated meals and run food. SLU provide hot and cold water in camp, cold water at check points. We suggest you spend significant time, working out what foods to take, looking at high calorie, low weight foods, seeing what foods your stomach can tolerate, testing foods during training, packing variety of flavour and texture.
On our private athlete facebook page, we have provided some examples of food which athletes take for the week. We also have numerous posts on our facebook page discussing food. You can use the magnifying glass, when in the private athlete facebook page and search for topics you wish to find out more information about – searching via this means, will bring up relevant posts.
ARE FRIENDS AND FAMILY ALLOWED ALONG THE COURSE?
Friends and Family are welcome to cheer you along the course, however not all of our course is assessable. No outside assistance is allowed.
ARE FRIENDS AND FAMILY ALLOWED INTO CAMP LOCATIONS?
No. Camp is for athletes and crew only.
ARE FRIENDS AND FAMILY ALLOWED AT THE FINISH LINE?
Yes, friends and family are welcomed and encouraged. SLU will provide further details of our finish line once our 2025 course is finalized.
DO I NEED TO DO ALL THE STAGES?
Each stage must be started for a competitor to be awarded an Event Medal.
A Multi Stage race is an event of multi stages – not optional which stages you do or do not complete. In saying that, we at SLU do have an “unranked category”. This is, should you start a stage and be unable to complete due to injury or illness, SLU, were possible, transport you to the end of that stage. You can then rest and recover and continue the following days stage. Note, to remain in the event, you must start the next stage, which will be at the discretion of our Medical Doctor. Please also note that you may only not complete one stage and be transported to the end of that stage, should you be unable to complete a second stage then you will be withdrawn from the event. SLU at times, does traverse remote country, where we do not have the ability to transport athletes to the end of the stage, in this instance, there is no unranked option.
WHAT IS THE START TIME OF EACH STAGE?
Each stage is one mass start, starting at 8am daily, with the exception of the “Long Stage”, where the fastest athletes will start 1 hour behind the main pack.
There may be slight changes to start times, depending on, but not limited to: athlete ability, weather, course conditions, external factors.
HOW TECHNICAL IS THE COURSE?
Parts of SLU will be deemed technical. Bear in mind, that individuals will have different levels of experience and therefore each athlete will have a different tollerence for what they personally deem as Technical. SLU involves steep ascents and descents over a long period, some parts of narrow trail, drop offs, holes or slips in trails, dense bush to navigate through, uneven footing to name some of the more technical parts of the course. We suggest you all take the time to look at the photos and videos on both our website and facebook pages. We have numerous clips to show you parts of the course. You will need to familiarize yourself, with the type of terrain you can expect, noting that some of this terrain will be traversed at night. The weather will also impact the course, and could be impacted by rain, snow, sleet, wind and river flows.
HOW DANGEROUS IS THE COURSE?
SLU is on formed trails and public trails. These trails range from hard pack, gravel 4wd roads, tussock fields to single mountainous Department of Conservation trails. In any multistage event, there is risk. SLU follows the similar schedule to most Multi stage events around the world. Stages range from 6km, to 70km, with the long stage taking place over 2 days. Check Points are positioned approx. 10 – 15km apart. Welfare checks are provided by crew both out on the course and in camp. We have an Event Doctor and many crew who have first aid qualifications. SLU course at times is remote, we traverse remote mountains, and spend long periods of time ascending and descending. Athletes are living on Dehydrated food, water, electrolytes, sleeping in communal tents, on air matresses (self provided). Athletes will fatigue more daily. Due to the very nature of these events, there are risks. SLU, do all we can to provide a safe event, this includes, but is not limited to, full details on the Website and Facebook page, including elevation profiles, water locations, interactive maps, course maps, course manuals, GPX files, notes on areas to pay more attention to. We have webinairs to inform all athletes. We have multiple race briefings and safety briefings. It is each athletes individual responsibility, to understand fully the event they have signed up to and the associated risks. It is also each athletes individual responsibility, to train and prepare in full for the SLU event that they have entered. SLU welcomes questions athletes have and will always do our best to answer in full.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE IN MY TENT?
We have 10 person tents and sleep a maximum of 6 per tent. Couples will share the one tent. Our aim is to have single sex tents, however, if you would like to be part of a mixed tent, then please email info@southernlakesultra.com
DO I GET TO CHOOSE MY TENT MATES?
No. SLU will allocated your tent which you must remain in for the week. If you are travelling with a spouse/partner (not friend), then you will be allocated the same tent. Please do not request to be in a tent with your “friend / travel buddy”. Mixing the tents up, encourages you to mix and mingle and form new friendships.
WHAT DANGEROUSANIMALS WILL I ENCOUNTER?
We are lucky in NZ to have no dangerous animals such as snakes, scorpians, bears, leaches etc. We do have sandflies, which although not dangerous, do leave an itchy bite. We do have some poisonous spiders, although very uncommon. Wasps, bees are around in certain areas. You will likely come across, sheep, cattle, possums through out the course, although these should be respected but very unlikely to be deemed dangerous.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM TOO ILL OR INJURED TO CONTINUE?
This is ultimately your responsibility to know your own limitations. We do have medical support that may also deem you unable to continue due to injury or illness. Any medical decision is final. If any medical treatment, outside of basic care from our race doctor needs to be undertaken, then the athlete will be removed from the event.
Where an athlete is removed from the event, we will always try to transport the athlete back to our base hotel in Queenstown at the next suitable time – noting this might not be for a day or 2, depending on our location. If you require urgent removal from the course, where it is not suitable or possible for event crew to transport you, we will assist with arrange emergency transport, such as, but not limited to, heli evac or ambulance. Any associated costs are an athletes responsibility and insurance is highly recommended.
WHAT ARE THE CUT OFF TIMES FOR EACH STAGE?
Once our SLU2025 course is finalized, we will communicate directly with athletes on cut of times. There will also be cut off times at set locations along each stage, and athletes must progress through these cut off points within the designated cut off time to be allowed to continue. If you work on a minimum of 5km per hour (3km per hour over Mountains), then you would be able to make cut off times. It is to be noted that cut off times are there for the safety of both athletes and crew.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AT EACH CHECK POINT?
Our checkpoints are approx. 10 – 15km apart and are ultimately an opportunity for our crew to monitor your progress. Crew will provide cold water, electrolyte tablets (limited) and sunblock. Crew will mark each athlete off and the time in which the athlete leaves that check point. Athletes are allowed to stop at check points to refill water bottles, re arrange run pack, attend to any blisters or other medical concerns.
WILL THERE BE OFFICIAL RACE PHOTOGRAPHS?
We will have crew taking photos and vidoes through-out the week and will post a link to all media for athletes to access.
CAN I BRING MY OWN CAMERA?
Yes
WILL FOOD PREFERENCES BE CATERED FOR AT ANY MEAL PROVIDED BY SLU?
SLU will cater to any food allergies / intollerances.
WHAT IS THE NEAREST AIRPORT TO FLY INTO?
Queenstown, NZ.
WHAT WEATHER CAN I EXPECT DURING RACE WEEK?
https://southernlakesultra.com/queenstown
Queenstown in February is the height of NZ Summer and you should expect typical conditions to be long daylight hours, warmth, extreme sun with a burn factor of 30mins exposure and temperatures over 30 deg Celsius. That said, Queenstown is a Mountain Resort and SLU does traverse through remote back country mountains. Snow, can fall during February, bringing cold, wind chill, sleet, ice and snow – which means freezing temperatures – both up high on the mountains but also down to the town level. It is expected that all athletes are aware they are entering an event in the mountains and the conditions which they could be exposed to. There is a link to the Mountain Safety Council of New Zealand and we highly recommend all athletes spend time going through this website, to familiarize themselves with potential weather conditions and how to safely negotiate these conditions. There are a number of videos on this site to also watch. https://www.mountainsafety.org.nz/
DO I NEED INSURANCE?
https://southernlakesultra.com/entry-information
Yes, all athletes must have appropriate insurance.
HOW CAN I CONNECT WITH OTHER ATHLETES DOING SLU?
SLU have a private Athletes and Crew Page. This is an opportunity to connect as a community with other athletes and athletes from previous years of SLU. This page is monitored by Admins and only those athletes who have paid the entry fee have access to this private page.
SLU do not give out athletes names, numbers or email addresses, unless written permission is obtained by all concerned.
WHAT IS THE REFUND POLICY, IF I CHANGE MY MIND, OR ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO COMPETE IN SLU?
https://southernlakesultra.com/termsandconditions
DO I NEED TO DOWNLOAD THE CAPRA APP.
Yes. SLU 2025 will use the CAPRA App - this will be your man navigation tool. All athletes must download the Capra App onto a moible device and save each stage in an “offline” version - this enables you to access without internet connection. The Capra App will be emailed to athletes 1 week prior to the event.
IS THE COURSE MARKED?
SLU at all times, follows trails an at no point do athletes need to way find via navigation. The course will be marked at key locations, athletes will be provided with mandatory Capra App which has stage specific maps, including, but not limited to, Check Point Locations, Toilets, Hazards, Detailed Directions.
WHAT SORT OF FOOTWEAR DO YOU RECOMMEND?
Trail shoes with good grip. Road shoes will not be permitted.
SHOULD I BRING RUNNING / WALKING POLES?
Poles are not mandatory, but highly recommended, esp for the Mountain Stages.
ARE THERE ANY SHOWERS DURING THE EVENT?
No. Although Rivers, Lakes and Streams are along a large portion of the course. Some of our camp locations are beside lakes and rivers.
WILL I BE ABLE TO CHARGE MY DEVICES DURING THE EVENT?
SLU provides no charging facilities. Athletes are encouraged to bring there own fully charged battery pack to charge any personal devices.
AM I ALLOWED OUTSIDE SUPPORT?
No outside support is allowed, except in emergency situations.
IS THE WATER PROVIDED FRESH TO DRINK?
Cold and Hot water is provided at each camp location and cold water at Check Points. Water is either from a local tap, lake or river. We do not treat any water, however athletes are allowed to bring sterilization tablets should they wish.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I NEED TO RETIRE FROM THE RACE?
SLU Crew will endeavour to get retired athletes back to Queenstown as soon as possible, noting that this may not be the same day, depending on our location. Until such time as we can return the retired athlete back to Queenstown, the athlete will be transported between Camp locations with crew and remain sleeping in their athlete tent. Retired athletes will not become part of the crew, eat with the crew etc – retired athletes will remain as a “non” running athlete.
HOW CAN FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOLLOW THE RACE?
Further information will be provided closer to the race start, advising athletes how family and friends can follow along. The public Southern Lakes Ultra Facebook and Instagram pages will be actively used and updated during the event.
IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY, HOW CAN FAMILY CONTACT ME?
Closer to the start SLU will provide 2 emergency contact numbers for family to use in an Emergency only.
IF I AM ILL OR INJURED, HOW WILL I CONTACT MY FAMILY?
SLU will only make contact with your emergency contact in the event you are ill or injured and removed from the event, either for further medical treatment or retiring from the event. There will be no other circumstance which SLU will make contact with your emergency contact.
HOW STEEP ARE YOUR MOUNTAINS?
The Mountains that SLU traverse, Mountains. SLU traverses over 6,000m elevation during the week. We have 2 stages which are in the more remote backcountry locations. These mountains are steep and long, both ascending and descending. You are in remote back country terrain, but at all times in the Mountains on formed trails which are marked by the Department of Conservation. There are both videos and photos on our Website and the SLU Facebook pages, there is a helicopter fly over of previous Mountain Stages. Elevation profiles will also be provided.
HOW DEEP AND FAST FLOWING ARE YOUR RIVERS?
The rivers we crossed in previous years, are typically under knee height and slow flowing. There were multiple river crossings, over a period of 15km. We monitor these rivers closely and have alternative options in the event the river depth rises. However, it is to be expected that athletes will have wet feet for a significant period of time through out this section.
WILL I BE RUNNING IN THE DARK?
It is expected on the Long Stage, that most runners will be out in the dark, with out back 1/3rd of athletes out for the full night. Athletes are encouraged to practice being out in the dark, and alone. Practice following a trail, course markers, practice with your head light, to ensure you have one sufficient for your comfort levels and moving in the dark.
WILL I BE RUNNING ALONE?
Potentially. We do encourage athletes to move together in pairs or groups, during dark stages or at any time an athlete feels uncomfortable and would like additional support. However, as this is an individual event, we encourage all athletes to practice and get comfortable being alone – both in day and night times.
HOW REMOTE IS THE COURSE?
You will be in remote back country mountains on 2 stages. Whilst as the crow flies in a straight line, you are close to civilization, on foot, you are not close and could be, at certain locations on the course, very remote. It is expected that all athletes that sign up for SLU, are aware of the conditions in which they will find themselves and have the required training and experience to be comfortable with this terrain and potential conditions.
CAN I GET A COPY OF THE SLU LOGO SO I CAN SCREEN PRINT ONTO MY RUN TOP?
We have 3 different formats of our SLU logo, these are saved on the SLU Athlete facebook page under files. You may also email, info@southernlakesultra.com and we can email through to you.
AM I ALLOWED TO HAVE OTHER RACE OR EVENT LOGOS ON MY CLOTHING WORN AT SLU?
No. Whilst you are an athlete at SLU, you must only have the SLU logo or branding on any clothing worn.