Q. Is the VTH a Sea Kayaking Trip or a Whitewater Trip?
A: The VTH alternates between Sea Kayaking and Whitewater Kayaking every year. The 1st Annual VTH - Which was awarded to The Range Life Crew is a Whitewater Destination.
The 2nd Annual VTH - Which was awarded to Team Sweetwater is a Sea Kayaking Destination.
The 3rd Annual VTH - THIS WILL BE A WHITEWATER EVENT, ETC, ETC
Q. When Will the Winners Be Picked for the 3rd Annual VTH?
A. The winners will be announced at The Summer Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City Utah.
Q. How will the applicants be judged?
A. The applicants must be very skilled and experienced kayakers. Beyond that, here is short list of SOME of the assets that will help create a winning team: * Experience as a team * Experience with extensive multi-day kayaking trips in remote locations * Auxiliary safety and rescue skills- wilderness first aid, climbing, map reading, etc. * Experience with video equipment- particularly field experience. * Good verbal and writing skills- this trip will be documented in print and film.
Q. What do you mean by a "video application"?
A. We want your team's application to be submitted in video format. Find a camera, and tell us who you are, and why you should win. Many teams will submit resumes with similar experience, but ultimately the team with the best overall "vibe" will win. Your video will capture the skills AND personality of your team. This trip will be a very serious undertaking. Your video should demonstrate at some point that your team is up to the challenge. You will also have to submit a signed waiver, which will be available from this web site when it is ready.
Q. I have a life outside of kayaking, and I am only free for part of the year. Can you at least tell me when the Vacation to Hell is slated to start?
A. No. Not yet, at least. Submit your application anyway, and on August 1st - 6 weeks before we announce the winner- we will announce the approximate time period this trip is best scheduled to depart. The announcement will be phrased something like this "Based on the location we have chosen, the ideal time for the 2007 IR Win a Vacation to Hell contest to depart is sometime between January and March" The window we announce may be smaller or larger, depending on the location. This advance warning will give you some idea as to whether you should pull your application, or if you need to change a team member(s). If more than 1 team member leaves, YOU MUST SUBMIT A NEW RESUME.
Q. How is the prize awarded and distributed?
A. Based on the destination of the trip, we will create a budget. The budget will cover what we consider to be all expenses necessary for this trip- plane tickets, food on the water, extra equipment, permits, and other necessary travel expenses. The team leader will submit requests for cash to the Penstock offices, where checks will be distributed. The budget will be based on an "alpine model", in that the trip will be lean and mean. The spirit of this trip is to explore a remote region light and fast, not fat and slow. Any money left over at the end of a SUCCESSFUL trip will be divided equally amongst the team members.
Q. If my team wins, do I have to use the sponsor's gear?
A. Yes.
Q. How about my sponsorship deal with company X?
A. We don't care.
Q. Will the winners be traveling alone, or with a film crew?
A. Filming the trip is an essential aspect of this contest- the final production will be shown every year when we announce the new winners. At the same time, this trip will be alpine style, and will not allow for raft support, or extensive film crews. To resolve this issue, we are prepared to send one very experienced person from Penstock to film the trip for any team with little or no video experience. This person will not act in any advisory role, and will not take part in the day to day planning or execution of the trip. He or she will be along simply to document what happens.
