Gauja XXL Special is multiday marathon along the Gauja river from the bridge Lejasciems to the highway Riga-Tallinn (AI) bridge Carnikava with a total distance of ~ 303 km, which is divided into two phases with a mandatory 7 h stop.

 
Note, that it is longest paddling race in Europe and 6th longest in the world!
 

Participants applying for participation in a marathon should be aware of their health condition and physical fitness for distances of such length and intensity and the preparation for the race should include the following equally important factors and risks:

- Perhaps part of the distance will be taken after dark, which may seriously hamper orientation on the river;

- The completion of the distance and the well-being of the runner may be affected by the unpredictable weather at the beginning of May (a possibility of cold, frost, rain, snow, low temperatures);

- Due to increased physical activity pain may occur in shoulders, arms hands, back and body muscles, as well as there may be other health problems, hallucinations, etc..

- Lack of clothing may result in hypothermia and fatigue, lack of food and drinking may result in fatigue, dehydration etc.;

--  Obstacles in the river (rocks, tree branches, stones, rapids).

Participants should be provided with the necessary equipment, including several layers of warm clothes, water resistant clothes, food, and should be provided with the opportunity to prepare a hot drink, and should possess suitable inventory for spending a night in the open.

Proper equipment is part of the guarantee to finish the race. Good physical fitness and rowing skills are not enough.

 
1. Race timing: May 1 - 4
The rules of competition: Gauja XXL Statute and  Annexes 1 and 2. If a participant is non-compliant with this statute, the Judges of the competition are entitled to disqualify the participant and the whole team.
 
2. Participants:
Everyone who wants to enjoy and discover unprecedented emotions and feels to have sufficient physical and mental strength to do so, and has attained the age of 18, can apply for the Competition.
Persons under 18 years of age may participate in the competition only with a written parental permission, and only on double boats or barges (voyageur), together with adult persons.
 
Participation fee:
The Participation fee for GAUJA XXL SPECIAL is Ls 8 per participant (including the supporting staff) until 10th February. After 10th February the participation fee is Ls 10.
Payments of the participation fee should be made to:
Didzis Sedlenieks, SEB Nr. LV26UNLA0050015043919 SWIFT code UNLALV2X.
The Participation fee should be paid immediately after registration.
3. Boats
Permitted types:
  • Single and double sea or touring kayaks, min. length 4.40 m;
  • single, double and 4 seated canoes, min. length 4:40 m.
  • 12- seated Voyager canoes.
Asymmetric or flat-water marathon canoes and kayaks, and the usage of additional means of propulsion (nutty tools), sails or motors is forbidden.
Boat exchange during the race is prohibited.
 
4. Minimum requisites
Each team must equip themselves with the following minimum inventory:
  1. life jacket, which must be worn (and fastened) during the entire distance, while on water;
  1. spare paddle in the boat;
  1. bowl for water withdrawal from the boat (e.g., sponge, plastic cup or pump);
  1. river map (the river description or GPS) (track description shall be handed out by the Judge);
  1. first aid kit containing necessary individual medicines, gauze, or watertight patches, disinfectant (eg, hydrogen peroxide);
  2. enabled mobile phone with charged batteries in a waterproof purse, fixed to the rider clothing;
  3. head lamp with a spare battery pack;
  4. Drinking water and food * (min. amount of 5 liters of water per person per stage)

* organizers recommend to choose products that provide sustained energy; do not try to complete the distance with just a few chocolates, bananas or dried fruits;

 
i.   metal bowl to preparehot drinks (e.g. tea, soup, hot vitamin drink) (3 servings per member to the team per stage);
j. gas / alcohol primus, fuel for it, water balloon and matches in a safe container;
k.  metallic bowl for boiling water;
l shelter and a sleeping bag for each participant;
m. layer of dry clothes (preferably wool, fleece clothing) in a water-safe bag for each phase;
n.  tape (MacGyver type);
o.  headwear;
p.  passport (for border zone);
r.  cash;
 
Mandatory equipment may be added or changed at checkpoint Strenči. If any of the listed minimum inventory is worn out during the distance of lost / damaged, it MUST be restored in order for the participants to be allowed to continue into the next phase!
If the life jacket is not being used or not fastened properly, team should be disqualified, regardless of whether the violation has been committed by one or several team members.
 
5. Participant arrival, registration and equipment check
Participants are to arrive at the Lejasciems bridge at May 1, registration takes place between 16:00 – 21:00  
During the registration mandatory equipment will also be checked and participants will receive further instructions.
Registration shall be canceled for 21:00.a team, of which all members have not arrived until 21:00.
 
6. Starting procedure
Starting command for all registered teams will be given on May 2 at 5:00 in the morning. The Starting line will be open for 1 hour. The team, which has not gone on the run within this hour, shall be disqualified.
Organizers have the right to refuse the start for a registered team, which does not have all mandatory equipment.
 
7. Checkpoints
The run has several checkpoints, where participants should arrive within the time specified in the regulations. The team, which arrives at one of the checkpoints after the stated control time should be disqualified. These Teams can, of course, continue the distance as tourists.
 
checkpoint
Spicrāmis. 108.4 km from the starting point.
Control time - May 2 20:00.
The team should call to the Judge, stating the number of the team.
 
Estimated arrival time of the leaders: 15:00
2nd checkpoint
Stenči, phase 1 over, 140 km from the start. Control time – May 3 03:00. Arrival time will be fixed by the judge.
 
Estimated arrival time of the leaders: 22:00
 
At this checkpoint participants should have a minimum 7-hour resting period, which starts from the moment the participants arrive at the checkpoint;
At At the checkpoint Strenči assistance from aside is allowed. It is also allowed to replace or add mandatory inventory, if necessary (replenish food and water, change clothes, etc..)
Teams, which are arrived at checkpoint Strenči should to continue the race only after 7 hours from the time of arrival;
Teams have the right to continue the distance after about 7 hours from the time of arrival, but in this case it will be considered, that the team has transited from checkpoint Strenči 7 hours after the arrival there. Time will be calculated without taking into account the actual departure time from checkpoint Sternči;
Before leaving checkpoint Strenči, the Judge shall check the inventory. The team is forbidden to leave checkpoint Strenči before mandatory equipment has been checked.
3rd checkpoint
Sigulda. 252 km from the start.
Control time – May 3 22:00.
The Team should call to the Judge, stating the number of the team.
 
Estimated arrival time of the leaders: 15:00
FINISH
Approximately 1 km before the Riga-Tallinn highway bridge. 303 km from the start. Control time – May.
 
Estimated arrival time of the leaders: 21:00
 
8. On the run
8.1. When the participant is on the run, any planned or unplanned assistance (including inventory change, food supplementation, etc.) from aside is forbidden, except in case of an accident and at checkpoint Strenči. If the team has received unauthorized assistance, they are obliged to immediately, but not later than 30 minutes after the finish, informing the Judge about it. In each case the judge decides whether the unauthorized assistance is penalized by adding time, taking the finish of the Team out of the overall competition or disqualifying the Team.
 
8.2. Participants should inform the Judge by telephone during the run in the following cases:
a. on arrival at the checkpoint;
b. if there has been an accident involving the team or its members;
c. for each known incident, which has happened to another team;
d. in case of an unplanned stop which has lasted longer than 1 hour, regardless of the reason for stopping;
e. in case of withdrawal from the race (even if the team is evacuated by the support group);
f. when special sign is displayed.
 
8.3. Each team has the duty to provide necessary assistance to other teams (such as boat capsizing, in case of acute health problems, etc.) or call for assistance to the Judge, if it is impossible to provide the necessary assistance of their own. Te assisting team has no right to leave the team with injured members until it has been ensured that the team with the injured members shall or has received help from aside. Participants, who have not given assistance to the team in danger if they have had a chance to provide such assistance, shall be disqualified from the race "for life".
 
8.4 22:00- 04:00 it is mandatory to use the head lamp when on the run between 22:00 - 04:00.
 
8.5. Participants are prohibited to throw out food or other garbage in the river or on the banks, only in waste collection containers / urns.
 
8.6. Participants are forbidden to hinder other teams, including threatening the safety of other teams (such as rolling over the boat of the other team).
 
8.7. Participants are prohibited to use alcoholic, narcotic and other intoxicating substances while on the run.
 
Evacuation:
Race organizers do not provide retired participants any “picking up'', that is done by participant support groups or by contacting the Judge. In this case the service costs Ls 30.
 

Recommendation:

If the participants are starting to feel physically and mentally impaired by fatigue, hypothermia or start to feel signs of dehydration, health or other problems while on the run , participants are advised to cease participation in the race and head for the coast to change clothes, make a hot drink, eat, relax, etc.. In any case, decide on the continuation of the race only after resting.

N.B.! NB! If the participants decide to withdraw from the race, they should be able to get to the next checkpoint, if the team does not have its own support group!


9. Responsibility
Participants take full responsibility for the truthfulness of in the formation provided to the organizers in the registration sheet.
When applying for the race, the participant certifies that he has read the Statute and its Annexes, has understood and agrees to it, and is aware of all the risks of involved in the competition, and no claims shall be brought against the organizers for injuries or damages which have occurred due to the participant’s negligence, exhaustion, weather conditions, underestimation of the circumstances or injuries and damages inflicted by other teams. as well as stating that race, during or after will not be brought claims against the organizers in connection with injuries or damages, which happens due to the participants own negligence, congestion, weather conditions or the underestimation of others.
Participants have the right and obligation to carry extra safety equipment deemed necessary for the completion of the run.