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Frequently Asked Questions
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Common Questions
How good of shape do I need to be in?
Urban Challenge is quite challenging, but accessible
to people of varying fitness levels. To participate and successfully complete
the course, you need not be a runner or even particularly fit. Every team
competes at the highest level they can muster. Almost all challengers will
sprint until they can only run, run until they can only jog, and then jog
until they can only walk. But even those who begin the course walking can
compete with the fastest runners if they have the ability to think quickly
on their feet.
The biggest hurdle for anyone considering Urban
Challenge is overcoming fear of the unknown and participating in a fresh, unique
event where the outcome is uncertain and the challenges are not described in
detail prior to the event.
For anyone who competes, the primary challenge is "Can your
team successfully complete the course?" Once a team answers that challenge,
it becomes a question of how quickly they can do it. Participating is the only
way to find out.
How well do I need to know the
city?
It doesn't hurt, but the "I-know-the-city" advantage is way
overstated. A smart team with a good map and a working knowledge of the
transit system can compete with the "homeys." Don't forget — it's
an adventure.
Checkpoints
Is there an established
course to travel in Urban Challenge?
No. Teams are free to chart their own course between checkpoints during the
event.
How do I find out
the exact location of each checkpoint?
Each team is given a list of the checkpoints as it begins the event. The list
doesn't give the exact location of all the checkpoints. Some of the locations
are hidden in puzzles or clues or equations. Teams are expected to solve the
puzzle clue or equation to determine the exact location of each checkpoint.
What happens
if I can't find a checkpoint?
Urban Challenge encourages you to keep looking. Use your resources
to discover the solution. Ask other teams for help but be careful. Giving false
information to another team is not against the rules in Urban
Challenge. Telephone a friend for help. If you're still stuck, take your best
guess and move along.
Do all the
teams travel to the checkpoints in the same order?
Yes and No. Each team is assigned a random initial checkpoint at the beginning
of the race. The number chosen corresponds to the first checkpoint the team
must visit. The team must then visit the rest of the checkpoints in numerical
order.
For example, a team whose initial checkpoint is 3 must
travel to checkpoint 3 first and then, in succession, checkpoints 4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,
1, and finally 2.
What's the average
checkpoint success rate?
80% of the teams successfully find all 12 checkpoints.
Registration
Can
I register without a partner?
Yes, you can. You must add information for your partner at least two weeks
prior to the game. Add partner info at registration@urbanchallenge.com.
Can't I participate
alone?
Kevin wrote 2-person teams into the rules for one reason — fun. Make sure
your partner is the kind of person that laughs.
How old do I have
to be to participate in Urban Challenge?
Persons less than 18 on event day must possess valid high school ID.
Are there any restrictions
on the genetic compostion of a team?
Both team members need only be alive and human. Race officials will settle
any disputes that may arise on this issue.
Do I have
to sign a waiver and release to play Urban Challenge?
Yes.
Participating
Can I use a car or taxi to travel the course?
No. Teams may only travel by foot or on a public bus or train.
Can I use roller blades
or other wheeled transportation devices?
No. Teams may only travel by foot or on a public bus or train.
What's to stop people
from using a prohibited form of transportation?
Urban Challenge uses a variety of video surveillance techniques
as well as its field marshal force to apprehend a team that would use a prohibited
form of transportation during the event. Additionally, all players are encouraged
to photograph cheaters and
to report any team using prohibited forms of transportation during the event.
Race Time & Length
The length of the course will vary depending on the quality of the local
public transit system; the better the public transit, the longer the course.
The portion of the course most quickly covered on foot will always be 7-9
miles in length. That mileage is typically split into bite-sized pieces
ranging from a couple of blocks to a couple of miles.
How long does the event last?
Hmm. We give up. How long does it last? The course is designed to be
completed by the winners in 2-3 hours.
Do all the teams start at the
same time?
No. Urban Challenge uses a trivia challenge to determine the
starting position of the teams. Teams that score highest in the challenge begin
first. Approximately thirty minutes will elapse from the time the first teams
begin the event until the last teams begin the event.
Winning
How do I win?
The first team to return to the Event Headquarters and cross the finish line
with photographs
of the team at each checkpoint in the correct order is the winner. Each team
must cross the finish line together.
How does
Urban Challenge know that the teams visited all of the checkpoints in
the correct order?
Each team must take a photograph of both team members at each checkpoint. The
photographs must be taken in the correct order. The photographs must be taken
with the given camera or a standard disposable camera.
What can I win?
Top ten teams get free entry to the Championships.
Event Play
What is the Skip Man?
The Skip Man is a person that will roam the city during the game. A team that
locates the Skip Man and obtains a picture of their team and the Skip Man
may "skip" any one of the checkpoints on the course.
Can I take photos of two locations
if I am not sure about a checkpoint?
A team is allowed to take multiple pictures of the same checkpoint to make
sure you "got it" but you can't take pictures of two different places because
you are not sure which one it is. For example, you think that Checkpoint 3
is either 121 West Main or 125 West Main. Taking pictures at both addresses
will eliminate a team. Part of Urban Challenge is making a
decision and going for it.
What happens if I take a
photo and it ends up being wrong?
Taking a checkpoint photo of a location that is not a checkpoint always eliminates
a team from the event. Urban Challenge will endeavor to avoid
becoming hyper-technical, but a picture with both team members in it will likely
be viewed as an attempt to prove the team visited that spot because they thought
it was a checkpoint, not a shot for the scrapbook. A visitation photo of an
incorrect checkpoint always eliminates a team from the event.
What happens if my team accidentally
skips a checkpoint?
In the unlikely event that a team visits a correct checkpoint, but visits it
out of order, it may repair its error by returning to the missed checkpoints,
taking another photo, and then visiting (and re-visiting where necessary) each
succeeding checkpoint. For example, a team mistakenly skips checkpoint 5, and
then goes to checkpoint 6, then checkpoint 7. After checkpoint 7, the team
realizes its mistake. It may repair its mistake by backtracking to checkpoint
5, then checkpoint 6, then checkpoint 7, and then continuing on the course.
Can I skip multiple checkpoints
with multiple photos of the Skip Man?
A photo of a team and the Skip Man allows that team to skip one and
only one checkpoint no matter how many photos are taken of the team and
the Skip Man. A team may skip a checkpoint early in the event and gamble
on finding the Skip Man before they return to event headquarters. A team
may not use a photo of their team and the Skip Man to offset or "redeem" a
photo of an incorrect checkpoint. A visitation photo of an incorrect checkpoint
always eliminates a team from the event.
Do I have to wear the
Urban Challenge T-shirt during the event?
No, but teams must display a bib number at all times during the event. One
team member wears it on the front of his shirt and the other team member wears
it on the back of his shirt. Team members are encouraged to dress in matching
apparel.
Can teams form alliances with
other teams?
Sure, but it probably won't help.
Do we have to do any silly stunts or
eat gross food or anything?
No, Urban Challenge does not contain any silly stunts or pranks.
Urban Challenge is about using your mind, body, and spirit
to complete the course as quickly as possible.
Is there any time limit?
The event officially ends five hours after the first team leaves event
headquarters. Teams that have not returned to event headquarters within
the time limit are eliminated from the event. Five hours of adventure is
enough for one day. C'mon back, have a beer, and let it all go. All teams
are required to return to event headquarters and return the
camera phone loaned to them by Urban Challenge.
Do I get anything just for
finishing?
You betcha. All teams that are not eliminated or disqualified and
return to event headquarters within the time limit are considered finishers
and receive a special medal to commemorate their achievement.
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