ARTICLE 1 GENERAL

A) The Race Committee has complete discretion in formulating and applying rules and penalties. The Race Rules may be modified at any time.

B) The official language of the event is Spanish and all competitors are responsible for reading and understanding these rules, race signs and directions, and oral instructions given at the Race.

C) The Racecourse, which will include mandatory checkpoints and sections, may be modified or canceled at any time.

D) The interpretation of these Race Rules and their application to both anticipated and unanticipated circumstances will be governed by this guiding principle: "Any action of a team or combination of teams which results in either an unfair advantage to the acting team or teams or in an unfair disadvantage to another team or teams will result in a penalty.

E) The Race Committee reserves the right to impose time penalties or to disqualify teams for conduct in violation of the Race Rules or contrary to the best interests of the Race. Decisions of the Race Committee are final.

F) The results for each Race stage will be determined by the fastest times for that stage. The final results for the Race will be determined by the fastest combined time over al¡ Race stages. The official Race clock will run continuously starting with the gun/horn signifying the start of each stage and stopping (for each team) when the last member of each team crosses the stage finish line.

G) Any team failing to start a Race stage with the starting gun/horn may be disqualified from that stage. Teams must start and finish each stage together and enter/exit transition areas together. In kayaking and other paddling sports where teams are split into two boats, the boats must remain within "shouting distance" (100 meters maximum) at all times on the water.

H) Any team failing to finish a Race stage within the allotted time or other deadline fixed by the Race Committee will remove itself from the Race course as directed by any Race official. Time cut-off points may be designated at various places in any Race stage. Teams arriving after the designated time at any cut-off point may be required, at the sole discretion of race officials, to; 1) withdraw from the stage, 2) take a shortened route to the finish line, or 3) continue with portable lights. Any team failing to complete an entire stage within the allotted time may be time penalized or removed from the Official Category of the Race but will be eligible to start all remaining Race stages.
I) Rules will be applied to allow as many teams as practical to start and complete each stage.
J) The use of any equipment or race tactic, the legality of which is unclear under these rules, must be disclosed in full to the Race Director prior to use and must be pre-approved. In the event that the equipment or tactic is approved, the Race Director will keep the inquiry confidential. In the event that a team fails to pre-disclose and receive pre-approval, this fact will weigh very heavily against the team in the determination of any protests filed on account of such equipment use or tactic.
K) Failure of any team member or a team to immediately and respectfully comply with a direction or decision of a Race official will result in the disqualification of the team.
L) The Race is a team competition and all¡ forms of teamwork, including pushing, pulling and carrying team members will be allowed. Teams may use any self-propelled means to traverse the race course provided the teams start and finish each race segment with all required equipment for that sport/discipline.
M) No outside support is allowed between the start and finish lines of any Race stage. Only Teams are allowed in any official race area, including the race equipment room or any area where official team boxes are accessed. Only Teams may place or remove equipment from official team boxes. Teams must be self-
N) Time penalties may either be added to a teams finish time or a team may be stopped on the Racecourse or in a transition area in order to serve a time penalty.
O) The use of any drug or substance prohibited by the current rules of the IAAF, UCI or ITU is prohibited by the Race. The Race may employ any testing procedure then authorized by the IOC, IAAF, UCI, or ITU. Penalties for positive test shall be disqualification from the race and other penalties as determined by the appropriate national federation of the involved athlete. By participation in the race, each athlete agrees that he/she shall be subject to, and will participate, in drug testing procedures conducted by accredited laboratories and sports federations.

ARTICLE 2 RULES OF INDVIDUAL SPORTS

MOUNTAIN BIKING

1 Traditional mountain bike frame & geometry is required. Wheels must be
26 inch (660 mm) diameter. Road bikes, time trail bikes, cycle-cross and tandem bikes are not permitted. Tires (and wheels) must be 26 inch (660 mm) diameter with a minimum width of 1.8 inches (46 mm). Semi-slick tires are permitted. Teams may ride, push, pull, or carry the bikes. Each team member must wear a bike helmet at all times whenever both feet are on the bike pedals.
Teams desiring to ride questionable or unusual frame sets, wheels or tires that fall into the gray area of the above mountain bike definition must have their bikes pre-approved by the Race Director. The policy of the Race is that teams will not be permitted to push the limits of the requirement that traditional mountain bikes be used and the race Director will disallow any unusual or questionable equipment in favor of traditional mountain bike look, geometry and function. Any teams arriving in Mexico with gray-area frames, wheels or tires not pre-approved by the Race director will penalized as much as 2 hours for each cycling segment.

TRAIL RUNNING
1) Runners may run, walk or crawl.

ADVENTURE SKIL
1) Teams must carry all mandatory equipment designated in pre-race materials for each adventure skill and each team member must wear a bike helmet at all times during an adventure skill test when helmets are listed as mandatory equipment for that test. Teams will be advised of mandatory equipment in pre-race materials for known adventure skill tests and at the pre-race or pre-stage meeting for surprise adventure tests. In adventure skill tests involving ropes, race staff will affix all competitors to ropes. All harnesses and safety equipment will be inspected and approved by Race staff prior to use. Teams may be required to wait at a staging area for an open rope. The Race clock will continue to run during any such wait and any protest of such wait or failure to explicitly follow the orders of Race staff or officials will result in time penalties or disqualification. Ropes will be made available to teams on a first come first served basis.

KAYAKING
1) Teams will be provided with two tandem kayaks and paddles randomly selected by Race Officials. Variations in equipment are not grounds for a protest. Buoys or other course markers may be placed on the water or on land that must be negotiated according to pre-race instructions. Both team kayaks must leave the put-in transition area at the same time and enter the take-out transition at the same time. Each team member must wear a life vest at al¡ times while in the kayak. Kayak skirts, which will be provided by the Race, must be worn and fully attached to the kayaks at all times when in the kayak.

ARTICLE 3 WITHDRAWAL FROM THE RACE
A) Teams must immediately notify Race Officials at the nearest checkpoint transition area of the withdrawal from the Race of a team member or an entire team. Any team failing lo immediately and effectively notify Race Officials of a withdrawal will be disqualified from the Race. Team members of a withdrawn competitor are responsible for assisting the withdrawing team member to a checkpoint or transition area where transportation off the course can be arranged. Failure to assist a withdrawing team member will result in team disqualification. Additionally, the team will be charged with the costs, if any, incurred by the Race in mounting a search for any member of that team.

EXTREME ADVENTURE HIDALGO 2004

ARTICLE 1 GENERAL

A)
The Race Committee has complete discretion in formulating and applying rules and penalties. The Race Rules may be modified at any time.

B) The official language of the event is Spanish and all competitors are responsible for reading and understanding these rules, race signs and directions, and oral instructions given at the Race.

C)
The Racecourse, which will include mandatory checkpoints and sections, may be modified or canceled at any time.

D)
The interpretation of these Race Rules and their application to both anticipated and unanticipated circumstances will be governed by this guiding principle: "Any action of a team or combination of teams which results in either an unfair advantage to the acting team or teams or in an unfair disadvantage to another team or teams will result in a penalty.

E)
The Race Committee reserves the right to impose time penalties or to disqualify teams for conduct in violation of the Race Rules or contrary tthe protesting team.

ARTICLE 5 SAFETY & EQUIPMENT

A) The equipment listed below is mandatory and must be carried and properly used at all times when engaged in the sport for which the equipment is required. Equipment designated as "Team Equipment", must be carried by the team all times when engaged in the sport for which the equipment is required.

At all Times
Race vest
Compass

Mountain Bike
Helmet

Team Equipment
2 inner tubes
1 tool kit
1 gear cable
1 brake cable 1 patch kit
1 tire pump
2 brake pads

Adventure Skills
Helmet (bike helmet acceptable)
1 commercially available climbing harness that conforms to national safety or testing standards
1 descending device (Figure 8)
2x AUTO LOCKING carabineers and non-automatic carabineers are NOT allowed)
1 commercially available sewn sling no shorter than 60cm circumference (30cm flat)
1 pair be layers gloves with full leather fingers and leather palm

Other required equipment may be announced in pre-race materials or meetings.

Run
Back or waist pack carry mandatory gear in all runs.
Helmets must be hard shell Snell or ANSI approved and worn by each team member. The same helmet may be used for Mountain Bike and Adventure.

Misc.
4 properly functioning portable lights such as headlamps or flashlights. For each Stage. Teams must place their portable lights in their Team Box designated for the final Stage transition area. lf directed to do so by a race official, Teams must carry their portable lights during the final section of any stage.
1.- Failure to wear properly buckled helmet or properly secured life vests at all times in the segments where required will result in the disqualification of the team. Failure to carry mandatory equipment or to wear the team hat when required may result either in disqualification or time penalties.
2.- The Race course may be changed due to weather, safety hazards or darkness and the Race Committee will have complete discretion to adjust raw stage finish times to reflect any course changes.
3.- Teams may be required to carry a medical assistance card, cellular phone, telecommunications device, money or safety beacon at all times during the Race and while at the Race venue. Teams will be notified of the rules regarding the use of such devices when they are issued.
4.- GPS systems are forbidden.
5.- Athletes requiring an IV between the start and finish line of any stage will likely be removed from the race course (and his team relegated to unofficial status) for medical reasons. The team of any athlete requiring an IV after crossing the finish line of stages 1-3 will be penalized 30 minutes for the first IV liter and 15 minutes for every additional IV liter. Time penalties will be assessed on a per athlete per stage basis. For example, if two athletes on the same team receive one liter each the team will be assessed a one-hour time penalty. lf one athlete receives one liter after Stage One and two liters after Stage Two, the team will be penalized one hour and 15 minutes.
6. If the Team exceed the time of each stage it will be penalized.

ARTICLE 6 THE COMPETITORS

A) Registration is done by teams. Each team must consist of exactly 3 persons including one person of the opposite sex. Proof of age of any 50+ competitors may be required at the race site. Teams must notify the Race Committee of any substitution of team members and the Race Committee reserves the right to reject for any reason substitutions of team members from those stated on the entry submitted by the team.
B) Competitors are solely responsible for knowing and complying with all laws of the host country.
C) Race officials reserve the right to prohibit a competitor from starting or finishing any segment of the Race for medical reasons. Any decision of the Race Medical Director is final.
Competitors must be at least 18 years of age on the first day of the Race.
D) By starting the Race or any Race stage, each competitor certifies that he / she is a competent swimmer, possesses sufficient skills and training to safely and successfully complete the Race course, is in a physical condition to safely finish the Race, and does not suffer from any medical condition which is likely to prevent the competitor from finishing the Race.

ARTICLE 7 - EQUIPMENT

A) Teams are required to carry all food and water required during each Race stage segment. Bottled water will be available and aid stations or other areas designated on course maps or at the pre-race meeting. Other nutritional supplies may also be available at aid stations to be announced in pre-race materials or at the pre-race meeting.

B) Prior to the start of each Race stage, teams will be solely responsible for packing their equipment, water and food into designated official footlockers for transportation to the various transition areas for that stage. Race Officials will deliver each footlocker to the designated transition area. Teams will unpack the footlockers, change equipment, re-pack the footlocker with used or unneeded equipment and food and close and lock the footlocker prior to leaving the transition area. Failure to properly re-pack all equipment will result in time penalties. Failure to pack required equipment will result in time penalties or disqualification from the stage.

ARTICLE 8 - BRANDING

A) Athletes will be provided with and will be required to wear at all times when on the Race course, as their outer garment, a race provided and branded EAH 2004 sleeveless vest. No other sponsor branding shall appear on this vest except that one athlete sponsor logo may appear on the bottom front and center of the vest, provided that ¡t appears under the EAH2004 branding and does not exceed the size 25cm width x 15cm height. Vests may not be removed except in transition areas. Individuals waiting for a full team to enter a transition area may not remove their vests. Subject to Rules
B) athlete sponsor logos/patches may appear on sleeves of shirts (which are worn under the Race vest), on short or long bottoms and on sides of helmet covers and race provided hats. All athlete sponsor logos must be properly and securely affixed to clothing / equipment in an orderly and presentable fashion. The Race reserves the, right, at its discretion, to remove patches / decals / logos that do not look presentable and / or are not properly affixed.
Packs, l¡fe jackets, and camelbacks must be worn under the Race vest.
C) Athlete sponsor logos appear on athlete provided equipment except for on the front handlebars of bikes, where a branded Race number (provided by the Race) will appear.
D) The Race reserves the right to provide teams with color coded Race vests for television identification purposes or to indicated leadership of the Race or any Race stage or category.
E) Teams must wear substantially similar uniforms made up of a top and shorts / longs (which should be the same design on each day of the event) whenever participating on the Race course.
F) Race numbers and vests may not be altered, defaced or modified in any way.

ARTICLE 9 THE RACE COURSE

A) The Race course will be marked by signs, arrows, ribbons, chalk, buoys and other devices. Teams are responsible for (1) staying on the course; (2) slowing down to pay attention to course markings or the absence e markings; and (3) making reasonable assumptions and decisions with regard to the direction of the Teams may be provided with course maps and / or compass headings and are responsible for understanding the maps and headings and following the maps and headings in the event of missing, altered or confusing course markers. Athletes / teams who / which remove or change the location / direction of course a markings will be disqualified.
B) Teams must stay on the marked course. Any team inadvertently leaving the marked course will be time penalized unless ¡t reenters the course at the exact place that ¡t left the course. Teams intentionally leaving the marked course will be time penalized or disqualified. Teams leaving a logical course or direction between course markings will be deemed to have intentionally left the marked course. Where two course markers are visible, teams must go to the closest marker. lf a logical route is evident and both visible markers are distant (i.e. one that is evidently not the next mark in sequence) teams must proceed on the logical route.
Unless directed to do so by a course marking, cutting switchbacks on paved or dirt course is considered intentional course cutting and will result in a minimum penalty of one-hour per occurrence.
C) Any act harmful to the ecology of the race venue, including littering or leaving any trash, garbage or equipment on the race course, will result in a time penalty of not less than 5 minutes or disqualification. Water and food containers gotten from aid stations must be deposited in trash containers or carried on the racecourse until they can be deposited in trash containers. Water and Gatorade containers may not be removed from aid stations, transition areas or water stations. Teams must use their best efforts to place al trash in their team boxes or waste containers.