Course Description & Maps 30km

The 30km Rookie course is designed equally for novice mountain bikers, first time racers or capable junior riders who are looking for a race to match their skills and help them set up to bigger challenges. It follows many of Forrest’s most popular trails and is a thrilling ride.

2024 EVENT PROGRAM

The official Event Program for the 2024 Otway Odyssey and Great Otway Gravel Grind is ready! It contains everything you need to know about the event weekend including a confirmed schedule, course details, parking, fun stuff and much more!

30KM  Course Description

The 30km course will start and finish in Forrest. It won’t be as technical as the 50km or 100km – avoiding the largest climbs and steepest descents – but will still have plenty of flow. And being held on Sunday means you have the single track to yourself and won’t be mixed in with the 50km or 100km riders.

Additionally, the 30km Rookie incorporates a mixed gender start at 9:30am and female only start at 9:45am (Odyssey Angels) to provide a less intimidating experience for all riders – all part of our range of  initiatives to welcome women to the event.

Date: Sunday 25 February, 2024

Start:

  • 9:25am Sunday – E-bike riders race start – Yaugher Rd
  • 9:30am Sunday – Mixed gender race start (all males and optional for female)
  • 9:40am Sunday – Female only race start (Odyssey Angels)

Length: 30km 
Total elevation gain / loss: 500m ascending and 500m descending

Course legs: Approximate course details below, 2023 tbc when the new trails are finished

  • 12.6km Leg 1 – The Michelin Loop (Start – Kaanglang Rd – Red Carpet – Barwon Water tracks below dam wall – Footy Ground): 12.6km.
  • 17km (30km total) Leg 2 – The Skratch labs Super Loop : (Footy Ground – Yaugher – Footy Ground): 17.3km,

2024 Course Description

The 30km course basically includes 2 separate loops and comes back past the start / finish at the 12.6km pt. It kicks off with a gradual climb on the 2WD Kaanglang Rd to where the Red Carpet Tk crosses Kaangalang Rd (4.3km pt). Riders turn right then race down the lower half of the popular Red Carpet single track descent that will have you wooping with joy.

Riders then do a small loop below the West Barwon Dam Wall and enjoy one of the newly constructed flow trails before returning through the Footy Ground at the 12.6km point where you can see your friends and family before heading into Yaugher’s for the Super Loop with great flowing single track and a blast of fun in the bush before returning to the footy ground to finish.

The Yaugher loop has some different sections compared with previous years, it starts with a tough climb beside the fence but then settles into some fun and fast flowing trails including the Superloop, Marriners, Foxtail and more Superloop that’ll see you riding plenty of buff trail through the bush. The course ends with a fun descent down to the Footy Oval and plenty of the smiles of satisfaction as you roll across the finish line at the footy ground.

30km COURSE MAP – Sunday 25 February 2024

CLICK HERE to see the 2024 COURSE MAP ON TRAIL FORKS

Scan the QR Code above to download the terrific CAPRA mapping app and receive the 100km map on your phone. (Follow the prompts to create an account and you’ll find the maps in the app’s ‘Library’)

CLIF nutrition and Skratch hydration points:

Listed below are the water point locations on the 30km course. Further details about the Football Ground water point, on course and water points and transfer services is online HERE.

  • 13km point (Forrest Football Oval): Full support feed zone and water bottle/food bag drop off point
  • 25km point (in Yaugher Forest at base of Yo Yo track): Water and Scratch product only – not a drop off point

“I do this race with a group of 10 people and we look forward to doing it each year!” – Justin, 2022 participant.

“As my first race experience on my MTB, I could not have asked for a better experience. From the track, the crew, the after-race entertainment and location were all on point. I will be back.” – Rowan Mickan, 2021 first-time participant.

“The Rookie (30km) was a fantastic introduction to MTB. Just the right length, good level of technical stuff so it felt like an achievement to finish but not too intimidating. Love the women only start.” Angela Johnson, 2020 30km Participant

COURSE VIDEOS AND INDEX MAP – 30KM COURSE

We have produced 4 little video clips on the 30km course to show you what it looks like and to dispel any concerns about the course so you know what you are getting yourself in for. The map to the right provides an index for each clip or watch them all for the whole picture! Note, the course map here is NOT current. See map above for 2024 course

  • Video #1: The start / finish venue at the Forrest Footy Ground.
  • Video #2: The first 5km of 30km (and 50km) course.
  • Video #3: The Red Carpet single track descent. UPDATE: the Red Carpet tk was renovated in 2021 – here is a video of the ‘new track’.
  • Video #4: The Yaugher single track..

The Michelin Tyres Red Carpet Track

The famed Red Carpet track was renovated in 2021 and here’s a video that shows what the new track is like.

RIDER ETIQUETTE

Passing etiquette – TAKE NOTE!

With a large number of riders a narrow trails there are a few points of common etiquette when it comes to passing a rider that we ask ALL RIDERS to be aware of. (Seriously – being passed by a fast rider is an incredibly intimidating thing for some riders so please be aware of these points).

If you are a faster rider who wants to pass a slower rider:

  • Let the slower rider know you are there and want to pass. Say something like, “Can I go past when there’s a chance…” or even “Track please” if you’re short of breath. Then wait for a wider section of track – don’t just barge on through
  • The slower rider can then say, “OK, go past on the right” or “just up here it’s a bit wider, go there”. But it’s good to acknowledge that you heard them and give direction for when they can go past
  • The faster rider should not and does not expect to go past the moment they catch you, slower riders should stick to their line and call them through when it suits both of you
  • If you are going to pass then make sure you are actually faster, don’t pass if you are pushing 120% effort to get around them and then slow down afterwards

Both riders should leave your ego in the car park and simply communicate that you want to pass and agree a point when it suits to pass. Happy riding!