Support crew
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"They were absolutely fabulous, funny, patient, resourceful, and oh so great! There’s no way we would have completed it, let alone enjoyed ourselves as much as we did without them." Team Shark Water, winner Best Support Crew 2010 |
Your support crew is your lifeline during your Oxfam Trailwalker experience. A good Support Crew is the voice of rationale and understanding when you are weary. They will give encouragement and motivation when you question if you can walk any further. They will provide a laugh and a friendly face when you are tired and emotional.
They will cook for you and provide you with drinks and treats. They will set up an area for you to relax and regroup. They will look after your gear and provide you with changes of clothes and equipment. These amazing people will massage your smelly feet, replace your sweaty socks and go without sleep!
They are essential to your Oxfam Trailwalker experience (and we recommend you have at least two)!
For support crew
Create a clear plan based on the recommended areas below to help ensure the weekend runs smoothly.
Pre-event
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More information and on-the-day checklists can be found on the Support crew checklist page.
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Find out from your team what their expected arrival times are for each checkpoint based on their training pace.
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Get a clear indication of how long the team wants to spend at a checkpoint. You will need to make sure they do not overstay during their less lucid moments or when they’re struggling to get started again!
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Have emergency contact numbers for all team members.
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It’s important to talk about money – agree on a budget in advance to know who will cover fuel, accommodation, food and drink expenses.
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Join your team on a long training walk (or just meet them halfway) to practice being support crew
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Plan your journeys to and from Taupo to consider Friday night registration, plenty of rest before driving home Sunday and efficient carpooling.
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Book your accommodation in Taupo – or think about hiring a Maui motorhome to cover both accommodation and the journey (Maui offer great OTW deals too, check out the special offers page)
Logistics
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Prepare a schedule of requirements specific to each team member for each checkpoint.
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Consider having a named plastic bin for each team member to store their own gear in, to be laid out at each checkpoint.
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It’s a good idea to bring some form of shelter, for your own comfort at checkpoints i.e. tent or gazebo. You are there for many hours while your team is walking and need to be comfy too.
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We ask for two Support Crew contact numbers at registration and highly recommend these are on different networks.
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Think about how you are going to charge your phone during the event!
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When you have heard from your team that they will be arriving soon – be somewhere visible to greet the, guide them to the check in table and show them where you’re parked.
Food & drink
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Only the basics are provided for participants at the checkpoints so you need to have your own plan for what the team will eat at each checkpoint. And it is important the team eats at every checkpoint – even if sometimes it’s just small snacks – to maintain the energy for an endurance event.
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Pre-package small food bundles for your team to take on the trail.
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Be prepared for erratic changes in appetite and cravings!
Medical
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There is medical support and emergency response throughout the course, however we expect teams to be self sufficient for first aid requirements such as blisters, pain relief, preventative strapping, cramp and chafing.
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Blisters are the number one reason people don’t finish Oxfam Trailwalker (followed closely by knee pain) so it helps to be well versed in how to help prevent them.
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Have plenty of the Scholl Blister Stop Prevention Kit. This kit contains soft Blister Stop pads that reduce friction on any part of the foot to protect sore spots and relieve pain.
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Just in case someone does get a blister—Scholl’s got you covered with Scholl Clear Gel Blister Plaster Pack. These relieve blister pain and create the perfect condition for your skin to heal while protecting against future blisters.
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Make your team stretch! First thing into every checkpoint a quick five minute routine will make getting up again far less painful.
On the day
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More information and on-the-day checklists can be found on the Support crew checklist page.
Morale
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Your job is to look after your team! They will go through emotional highs and lows throughout the challenge. Try to love them even when they don’t seem to love you. Your attention to them and enthusiasm for them will rub off – so keep your spirits up too, and stay positive and encouraging.
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Prepare games for your team to play while they’re walking – headbands is an oldie but still a goodie and keeps many teams entertained each year.
Sustainability
Oxfam Trailwalker has won Best Environmentally Sustainable Event for three consecutive years by the NZ Association of Events Professionals.We could not achieve this without the support of event participants, so we need you to help us this year!
