It’s Pow Wow Time ! ! !

Check your emails & warriorssociety.org, they are full of the MOST UP TO
DATE information regarding the event.

Changes to event this year:

1. Finish line has moved back to end of Trabuco wash.
2. I.D. will be required upon check-in event morning.
3. Wristbands will be placed on participants at check in
4. Awards and pictures will be done at Finish line

O’Neill Park is NOT open at 5am so plan on leaving your car at Blackstar or having someone drop you off at the start. Carpooling is recommended.

Check in will start at 4:30 am. When you show your picture I.D. you will receive a wristband that you must wear during the event. Only registered riders with number plates will be allowed past the check-point to the start line area. This is a closed course event and only registered riders and support personnel will be allowed on course.

Event Starts promptly at 5:30 am with a mass start from the gate on Blackstar Canyon. SMALL COMMUTER LIGHT RECOMMENDED.

Blackstar Canyon Road has had extreme damage done from all the rains. Be extremely cautious riding up the road as there are wash outs that you will need to walk thru and narrow passage areas with deep ruts.

BE AWARE WHEN COMING DOWN THE DIRT FIRE ROAD FROM HOLY JIM TO THE END OF TRABUCO CREEK ROAD. THE ROAD IS OPEN TO TRAFFIC AND YOU WILL HAVE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. LOTS OF VEHICLES WILL BE COMING UP THE ROAD AT YOU SO STAY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD.

Stay on event course at all times, even as you approach the finishing area. Should you cut course or are found disobeying the trail markers you will be given a DNF for your time.

There are checkpoints along the course so you will be tracked as to your location on the course throughout the day.

Cut off Times:

Vision Quest

#1 – 9:30 am Aid Station#1 at the bottom of the Motorway
#2 – 11:30 am, Four Corners
#3 – 12:00 pm, Aid Station #2, Holy Jim parking lot
#4 – 12:45 pm, bottom of West horse Thief

Counting Coup

#1 – 9:30 am, Aid Station #1 at the bottom of the Motorway
#2 – 11:30 am, Four Corners

If you do not make the cut off time your number plate will be removed and you will not be allowed to continue. You will be directed back down Maple Springs or Trabuco Creek Road depending on which cut off you miss.

AID STATION 2 BAGS – If you want to bring your own supplies to Aid Station 2, we must be able to throw way any left over contents and the bag they are in. All bags will be thrown away after the event. No Aid Station bags, disposable or not, will be taken to Aid Station 1. Your Aid Station 2 bag must be dropped off at the check-in table at 5:00am.

Food and Water will ONLY BE PROVIDED AT Aid Station 1 & 2… that means you need to carry enough water and food to sustain you until you hit Aid Station 1 & 2. There will be water, bananas, oranges, and snacks.

You must cross the finish line with a number plate in order to have your time recorded.

Make sure you pick up your finishing feather before leaving the event. We will not be mailing feathers to finishers You must get it at the event.

El Pollo Loco will be supplying a full meal for you at the venue area in O’Neil Park beginning at 12:00pm. You must show your wristband to receive your meal. Food will be served throughout the day to all participants.

Shuttles will be provided starting at 1pm from the venue area back to Blackstar until we get everyone back to their vehicles.

Parking is limited with in O’Neil Park. Parking will be available in the day use area of the park for $5 per car. The day use parking is approximately 1/2 mile from the venue area. If you choose to have friends or family attending the event have them park legally if they park on Trabuco Creek Road, Trabuco Oaks Road or Rose Canyon. There is no parking allowed on Live Oak.

This is what you have trained for all year, your moment has arrived. Stay focused, stay hydrated, stay well fueled and we will see you at the finish line! At the end you will know why this event is considered one of the toughest mountain bike events in North America. You will never look at the Santa Ana Mountains the same again and you will cherish your finishing feather like no other award!

In this issue:

1. 2012 Pow Wow Update – Vision Quest and Counting Coup

2. The Enduro Stuff Mountain Challenge has been postponed to March 31st, 2012.

3. Old Goats 50 Mile Trail Running Race on Saturday, March 24th.

4. The 2012 Rwanda Ride Update

5. Enduro Stuff Cup – OC Parks Tour 2012

6. Equestrian Event in the Santa Ana’s on May 4th and 11th

1. 2012 POW WOW UPDATE – VISION QUEST AND COUNTING COUP

As a reminder, we’ve had several participants contact us about selling their/transferring their spot. As a reminder and per the agreement when your entry was made all entry fees are non-refundable, non-transferable and non-deferrable. We have to plan well in advance and therefore cannot offer refunds. You may not give or sell your number to another individual. The entry fee for a 2012 event WILL NOT transfer to the 2013 event, no exceptions. This policy stays in effect whether you are injured, have unexpected business, a family emergency, etc. Sorry, there are NO exceptions.

We’ve had too many issues allowing transfers with individuals buying spots without really committing to riding the event or individuals buying multiple spots and selling them for more than they bought them for.

Since we do not plan on having a fundraiser this year for the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund we plan on donating funds left over from our trail work activity to the fund. The Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to the children of our servicemen killed in action:

http://www.fascholarship.com/

You will be required to show legitimate identification when checking in on the morning of the event. If you do not provide identification a picture will be taken of you and you must provide identification at the finish or a DNF will be posted as your result.

We are sorry to have to take this action but we’ve had issues with people taking others places despite our rules.

We will soon be sending out updates for the event related to packet pickup and important issues you need to know about conditions of the course, things you need to prepare for the event, including the cut-off times.

2. THE ENDURO STUFF MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO MARCH 31ST. 2012

Due to the predicted storm last Saturday, including moderate rain and a drop in temperatures, it was decided to postpone the race for the safety of the participants.

This is good news for those of you who could not make the original date and more time to train if you already signed up, plus a great way to be really ready for the VQ if you are doing it!

Here are the details:One 25 mile loop & over 5000 feet of climbing in the Cleveland National Forest.

Based at the Blue Jay Campground off Ortega Hwy in the mountains above Lake Elsinore, CA.

This race will go out of BlueJay up the Main Divide (“The Wall”) down Trabuco Trail then up Holy Jim & back around the Main Divide to Blue Jay.

Racers must reach the top of Holy Jim in 3 hours, if a racers does not reach the top with in the cut off time they will be driven out with the support team.

Awards:

*Age Group: Custom medals (gold, silver & bronze)

Top 3 in all categories (minimum 3 racers per category).

*Pro Male & Expert / Pro Female Awards: Special custom awards:

1st $75.00 The Path Bike Shop gift card & $50.00 Infinit nutrition certificate & super special award!
2nd $75.00 The Path Bike Shop gift card & $50.00 Infinit nutrition certificate
3rd $75.00 The Path Bike Shop gift card & $50.00 Infinit nutrition certificate

Lunch for all racers included

Early Bird discount ($50.00) if you register before February 19th. Price goes to $60.00 after.
Race Shirts available for $10.00 for racers who register before March 11th.
Camping spots are available but it is first come first served.

A portion of the proceeds & a raffle to benefit the Warriors Society for maintaining the trails in the National Forest.

Raffle items so far, more coming:

29” wheelset – DT Swiss 350 hubs on Mavic 719 rims (Courtesy of The Bike Company)
Kind Shock Supernatural adjustable seatpost (Courtesy of The Bike Company)
3 SpokeGrenade lighting systems with helmet mounts

Registration will be open until Thursday the 29th.
There will be one more packet pick up day at the Path Bike shop on Thurs. the 29th and also on race day.
Info, Registration and the new race schedule is at:

http://endurostuff.com/Endurostuff/Mountain_Challenge.html

Please help us spread the word, lets get more racers to join us for this great race!

www.endurostuff.com
Ron Sawicki
520-668-6072
ron@okolestuff.com

3. OLD GOATS 50 MILE TRAIL RUNNING RACE ON SATURDAY, MARCH 24TH

Heads up that the Old Goats 50 Mile Trail Running Race is taking place in the Santa Ana Mountains on Saturday, March 24th.

There will be 150 runners on the trails between 5:00am and 9:00pm.

The race starts and ends in Blue Jay. The course follows the Chiquito Trail to the Candy Store via the Viejo Tie Trail and the New San Juan Trail. The runners will be on that section between 5:00am and noon.

The race then follows the Main Divide to Trabuco Trail, Down Trabuco, and Up Holy Jim. Runners will be on these trails between 9:30am and 5:00pm. The race then follows the Main Divide from Santiago Peak to Blue jay.

Please be courteous and perhaps ride and alternative area during the event.

www.oldgoatrunners.com

4. THE 2012 RWANDA RIDE UPDATE:

THREE TIMES THE FUN:

Riders have been asking about our routes for this year’s event. We’ve got three choices for you this year: the full 50 Mile Route, the 25 Mile Route, and a new 10 Mile Route. Whether you’re a Weekend Warrior, a Spandex Speedster, a Baggie Bomber, or a Comfortable-Seat Casual-Rider – we have a route that’s just right for you! Check out the description for each route below.

(Thank you to John Andrews, who rode and posted each route to Geoladders.)

Hey, have you started training yet? We’ve got some fun group training rides coming up soon, including one on Saturday March 17 sponsored by Rock n Road Cyclery in Mission Viejo.

Follow us on FACEBOOK to stay tuned in with training ride details and other fun stuff:

http://www.facebook.com/FiftyMileRide

50 Mile Route

(Typical 5-7 hrs ride time, 5500 ft climbing – you need to be fit and train for this one.)

You spoke, we listened! This year we’re returning to the route used in 2010. Starting at Cook’s Corner, the 50 mile route will climb up and into the back side of O’Neill. We then proceed through and out of O’Neill near the RSM lake, and make our way to the Dove Canyon waterfall and our first major aid station. Then we’ll ride the ridge trails all the way to Caspers Wilderness Park, dropping down Star Rise and heading right on Bell Canyon to the Old Corral parking area and our aid station. From there we proceed up East Ridge all the way to Cougar, then Oso, then back on Bell Canyon and up Star Rise, tracing our route all the way back to the Dove Canyon waterfall and aid station. After refueling, we follow the Tijeras Creek Trail past SMCHS, across Coto de Caza, down and alongside Antonio Pkwy, then drop into the fun Arroyo Trabuco Trail. Take Arroyo Trabuco back into O’Neill, tackle a couple more climbs, and head back to Cooks Corner for some well-earned rest and recreation.

REGISTER TODAY FOR THE 50 MILE ROUTE:

https://50mileride.webconnex.com/registration2012

25 MILE ROUTE:

(Typical 3-4 hrs ride time, 2700 ft climbing – suitable for strong intermediate to advanced riders.)

This route shares the same beginning and ending as the 50 miler – but it skips the entire Caspers Park section. Starting at Cook’s Corner, the 25 mile route will climb up and into the back side of O’Neill. We then proceed through and out of O’Neill near the RSM lake, and make our way to the Dove Canyon waterfall and major aid station. After refueling, we follow the Tijeras Creek Trail past SMCHS, across Coto de Caza, down and alongside Antonio Pkwy, then drop into the fun Arroyo Trabuco Trail. Take Arroyo Trabuco back into O’Neill, tackle a couple more climbs, and head back to Cooks Corner for the post-ride party.

REGISTER TODAY FOR THE 25 MILE ROUTE:

https://50mileride.webconnex.com/registration2012

10 MILE ROUTE:

(Typical 2 hrs ride time, 500 ft climbing – suitable for novice to intermediate riders.)

NEW THIS YEAR! Our new 10 mile route option is a great way for new or novice riders to join the fun. We’ll start and finish inside O’Neill Park at the trailhead to the Arroyo Trabuco Trail. Riders will head southbound on the Arroyo Trabuco Trail, enjoy the slight downhill all the way to Oso – then turn around and head directly back the way we came. Yes, it’s still mountain biking so you need to practice and be comfortable riding on dirt, sand, rocks and a few water crossings thrown in for extra credit. We’re planning to add some silly games at the start and at the halfway point just for fun. NOTE: 10 mile route riders will need to park inside O’Neill ($5 parking fee), and there is plenty of parking available near the ride start location. When you finish your fun ride, we hope you drive over to Cooks to join the rest of our riders for the post-ride party and huge prize raffle.

REGISTER TODAY FOR THE 10 MILE ROUTE:

https://50mileride.webconnex.com/registration2012

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED – WILL WORK FOR FUN, FOOD AND WARM FUZZIES:

Riders know that we have the best volunteers in the whole wide world of cycling! Every year we hear rave reviews about our friendly, helpful, encouraging and FUN volunteers. We’re recruiting volunteers now! There’s lots of opportunities to help – before, during, and after our event. Even if you’re registering to ride in our event (and we hope you are) you can still volunteer to help. It’s also a great way to get your friends and family involved in this event too. Check out our volunteer page to see all the opportunities that are available. The reward? FUN (we guarantee you’ll have a blast), FOOD (volunteer a minimum four hours and receive a free BBQ lunch and event t-shirt), and WARM FUZZIES (that feeling you get when you know you’ve done something worthwhile for a good cause).

PLEASE VOLUNTEER TODAY:

https://50mileride.webconnex.com/volunteer2012

JOIN OUR STRAVA CLUB:

Are you on Strava? If you are, join our 50 Mile Ride Club:

http://www.strava.com/how-it-works

You’ll get to meet and follow other Rwanda Riders. Remember, the day of our event you’re just “Riding”, not “Racing”. But while you’re training, go as fast as you want. Compare your times and heart rates and talk smack with your Rwanda Riding buddies. Not on Strava? Do you have a Garmin? What are you waiting for!

SIGN UP FOR STRAVA HERE:

http://www.strava.com/how-it-works

5. ENDURO STUFF CUP – OC PARKS TOUR 2012

We are proud to announce the first ever Mountain Bike race tour of the OC Parks. The Enduro Stuff Cup – OC Parks Tour 2012.
Not only will we have great racing but also each venue will have an expo with demos and cool products to try and check out. Come race or just come and try a cool new bike out!

Portions from all entry fees and a raffle to benefit maintaining the trails at every park in the tour!

Early Bird discount available, limited to 250 racers.

OC Parks Tour Dates:

Laguna Niguel Regional & Aliso Woods Wilderness – May 5th (registration is open), (first ever mtb race in Aliso).

Irvine Regional & Santiago Oaks Regional – July 14th (registration is open)

Oneil Regional – August 25th (Registration opens in a couple months), (first ever mtb race in Oneil).

Caspers Wilderness – TBA – Nov. or Dec.

For more info & registration go to:

endurostuffevents.com

6. EQUESTRIAN EVENT IN THE SANTA ANA’S ON MAY 4TH AND MAY 11TH.

The Equestrian event will be staged out of the mini airplane park in Trabuco Canyon.

Men’s ride is May 4 and Women’s ride is May 11.

Ride starts at 8 AM and they expect 3 hours to get to Main Divide Road via Trabuco Creek Road, the Trabuco Creek Trail and the West Horse Thief Trail.

Please avoid these trails during this event.

Shimano is a Founding Major Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

Rock N Road Bike Shops is a Major Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

El Pollo Loco is a Major Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

Hammer Nutrition is a Major Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

Switchback Cyclery is a Major Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

The Silverado/Modjeska Recreation and Park District is a Major Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

The Warrior’s Society is a Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) affiliated organization

The Warrior’s Society is a Tax Exempt Organization under 501 (c) 4 of the IRS Code

“Far better it is to dare mighty dreams, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take the ranks with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in that gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat!”

Theodore Roosevelt

www.warriorssociety.org