Northern Illinois Adventure Racing's Annual Winter Orienteering Event

YAK-Off 3

Mandatory Team Gear: Each team must have these items on them

at all times times during the race. The only exception is during the 

tubing portion, teams are not required to carry their packs.


  • Copy of the rules, race instructions and maps
  • Water proof map case or Ziploc bag (maps are NOT waterproof)
  • Cell Phone - to be used only in emergencies
  • Writing Utensil (sharpie would work) 
  • 8 hour racers must have a bike lock to lock up bikes outside of Atwood
  • One compass per team


Mandatory Individual Gear: Carried by each team member at all times

  • Whistle (for safety reasons)
  • Enough food or water for the entire race (8 hour racers will be outside of Atwood for a good portion of the race)
  • 8 hour racers need a flashing red light for the back of their bikes (must be used outside of Atwood)
  • All racers need to wear a bike helmet at all times during the biking section
  • Any Personal Medications: Sample- Epi-pens are required for individuals with an Epi-pen prescriptions

Recommended Gear:

  • Bug Repellent and long pants are highly recommended during this time of year for the areas that you will be racing in. There are plenty of bugs, stinging nettles and thorns and poison ivy.
  • Bike repair tools / patch kit / extra tube
  • Ibuprofen, sun tan lotion
  • If you have any water concerns you can bring a personal PFD and leave it at Race HQ


*While in Atwood, racers will have access to gear at race HQ between transitions. Space is limited, so please have any race gear you will be leaving at race HQ in an organized bin of some sort. Please label your bin with you team name.

Yes, you can stash food and drinks in that bin.


Forbidden Gear:

  • GPS devices 
  • Any motorized transportation
  • 4-hour racers are allowed to use any type of bicycle, but we suggest a mountain bike since you will be riding single track 
  • 8-hour racers are allowed to use any type of bicycle, but will be deducted one CP for each non-mountain bike in their race corral. To be honest, with the single track section, racers using a non-mountain bike will be at a disadvantage for this race.