Section 1 - Snowy Mountains Climbing School Ride (Mountain Bike)

Competitors will cycle 38 km over hilly forest trails, 4wd tracks and open paddocks in and around Khancoban township, including 20km on the privately owned property 'Khancoban Station'. From the start outside the general store, competitors will follow residential streets onto a short section of forest trail that leads onto a hilly 5km loop on 4wd tracks above the golf course and town.

The route then returns over the forest trail section, follows some quiet backstreets and crosses the Alpine Way near the dam wall. Follow the flat dirt track for the full length of the airstrip before entering Khancoban Station.

The route follows internal farm tracks as it passes through prime cattle country before climbing steeply onto a high ridge that offers fantastic panoramic views of the district (and tests your quads).

A steep descent and creek crossings follow, before following the Swampy Plains River upstream. A final dash beside the airstrip and you're nearly at the transition.

Total distance is 38km and will take between 105 and 180 minutes to complete. Use of 'slick' tyres is not recommended and competitors should have plenty of hill climbing practice.

Competitors can only practice on the Khancoban loop prior to race day, as the remainder of the course is on private property'. .

Section 2 - Paddle

From the transition, competitors will paddle down the swift-flowing Swampy Plains River for 11 km, to it's confluence with the infant Murray River. The characteristics of the Swampy Plains River change significantly depending on the volume of flow. At high levels (which is normal in spring) there are 0.5m high standing waves in places and a couple of tricky ‘chutes’ to negotiate.

From the confluence competitors continue for another 15 km to the transition at Towong Bridge. This paddle section is not usually suited to craft with an understern. Other kayaks and canoes, including K1, TK1, surf ski’s, sea kayaks and Down River Racers, with trailing rudder, are recommended if you have experience in swift flowing conditions. Paddlers not experienced with turbulent eddies should exercise caution, particularly on corners.

For paddlers who mainly practice and compete on lakes or slow moving rivers (Murray River below Albury/Wodonga, Barwon River, etc), it is recommended that you gain some experience on a river with some current OR sacrifice some time in this event and use a more stable craft. A capsize will make self rescue of your craft difficult, due to the volume and power of the freezing water.

Total distance is approximately 26 km and will take between 90 and 150 minutes to complete.

Section 3 - Run

Runners will follow and should enjoy a gently undulating dirt road for 7 km (that offers outstanding views over the Murray River flats towards the Main Range), before a grueling and at times very steep climb, gaining 500m to the summit of Mt Elliott. They then follow the undulating Mt Elliott Ridge 4WD Track until descending into Thougla valley and then through farmland to the finish at Corryong . Total distance is approximately 25 km and will take between 120 and 210 minutes to complete