Have you heard of the BAT Race ? Would like to register ? The BAT Race, one of the most famous Alpine Lakes Tour Races, is usually held in the middle of March….
The BAT Race is, according to the late SUP Race magazine SUP Racer, the most unique SUP Race in the world. This event is all the more exceptional as it is only organized every 4 or 5 years. The last edition dates from 2022 and the next is planned for 2025.
This underground lake in Switzerland is no ordinary body of water. Lake St. Leonard holds a constant, year-round air temperature of 15 degrees Celsius (59 F) and water temp of 11 (52 F).
The Bat Race will also be unique because it’s usually forbidden to stand up paddle on Lake Saint Leonard. Organisers have been granted special permission to host this one off race, and only a handful of paddlers have been allowed access to the lake.
Due to the very obvious space restrictions, entries for the Bat Race is limited to 60 paddlers and a few spectators.
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3 jours avant la BAT Race ! La course de stand up paddle la plus incroyable au monde, organisée sur le plus grand lac souterrain d’Europe le 10 mars ! Il reste 2 places suite à des désistements ! Merci de réserver votre repas (formulaire ci-dessous)
Le programme de la BAT Race 2018 / BAT Race 2018 schedule
9h00 : Accueil / welcome
9h30 : Premier tour femmes / First round women
10h00 : Premier tour hommes / First round men
10h45 : Premier tour enfants / First round kids
11h00 : Premier tour tandem / First round tandem
11h30 : 2eme tour femmes / Second round women
11h50 : 2eme tour hommes / second round men
12h00 : 2eme tour enfants / second round
12h00 – 13h00 : pause déjeuner, accès libre au lac (réservé aux personnes inscrites) / Lunch – Free access to the lake (for registered participants)
13h30 : 2eme& 3eme tours tandem / Second & Third rounds tandem
14h00 : 1/2 finale femmes / Semi-finals women
14h20 : Finales enfants / Kids finals
14h30 : consolante hommes / first round losers tournament men
15h00 : consolante femmes / first round losers tournament women
15h30 : 1/2 finales femmes / semi finals women
15h50 : 1/2 finales hommes / semi finals men
16h00 : finale femmes / finals women
16h15 : finale tandem / finals tandem
16h30 : finale hommes / finals men
17h00 : Remise des prix / Prize award ceremony
17h30 Concert
Sécurité et équipement / Safety & Required equipment
Les participants doivent être couvert par une assurance en responsabilité civile / Registered participants have to be insured with a liability insurance.
Les SUP sont fournis (Red Paddle Elite Race 26″ et 28″ en 12’6). Prévoyez de prendre votre pagaie. SUP are provided by the organizers. Take your paddle.
Wetsuits are recommended but not compulsory / Les combinaisons sont recommandées mais pas obligatoires.
Repas / Lunch avec with le Frisé Gourmet
* Chili con carne (bœuf Suisse) avec du riz ou pomme au four. 13.-
* Curry thaï végétarien avec du riz ou pomme au four. 12.-
* Velouté de carottes au citron 2.DL : 5.- 5DL : 10.-
* Cannelés à la vanille : 2.-/pièce, 5.-/les 3, 10.-/les 7 et 20.-/les 15
* Boisson :
– Coca et coca zéro 4.-
– Eau plate ou gazeuse 3,50.-
– Thé Froid maison 4.-
– Café du monde 3,50
– Bières locales et du monde à 6.-
Réservez votre repas / Book you meal (Participants & accompagnants)
Registration closed / inscription fermée
Concert
Un concert est organisé à 17h30 sur le lac. A concert will be held on the lake à 5.30 pm
Hébergement / Accommodation
Motel 13 Étoiles
http://www.motel13etoiles.ch/hotel.html
400 m from the Underground Lake entrance
Motel du Soleil
http://www.moteldusoleil.ch
400 m from the Underground Lake entrance.
Hôtel Ibis Sion Est
http://www.ibishotels.com
8 minutes away by car
Camper van
facilities available on the Underground Lake parking
Fees : Entrance Fee + Races : 30€ / CHF 35.- / Concert : CHF 20.- (special race for BAT Race registered participants) and CHF 30,- for everyone else.
For the lunch main course CHF 12.- to CHF 13.-
Frais de participation : Entrée au lac souterrain + inscriptions aux courses : 30€ / CHF 35.- / Concert : CHF 20.- (prix spécial pour les participants à la BAT Race) et CHF 30,- pour tous les autres.
La liste des inscrits / registered participants
Sandro Ackermann
Sigrid Baumgartner
El boukili Smail
Grollimund Barbara
Carole Luzon
Catherine Zalts Dafflon
Blanc Christophe
Bureau Christophe
Vercel
Comazzi
Crettenand Nick
ventura
Bruchon
Esnaola
Matado
Denais Francoise
Pannetier
Guillermin Stéphane
Haytam saja
Allistair Swinsco
Kevin Kohn
Champendal Lidvina
Sabrina Lauper
Almeida
Lehmann
Ada
Gjota
Rossel Loreline
DEMICHELIS ruben
DEMICHELIS romane
Savet DEMICHELIS
Martignoni Vincent
Mathieu Conus
laugerat jeremy
morand
Naty Philippy
Nicault Julien
Ruedin Olivier
Philipp Schmocker
DEMICHELIS pierre
CLOTTEAU
Manuel
Steve Chambovey
Miggler Steve
Ruedin olivier
Tanja Ecker
Guellaen
Pannatier
Pannatier Kenza
Forny Pannatier Petra
Louppe virginie
Vincent Marti
Jocelyn Dinten
Wouters Vincent
Bonne nouvelle pour les 12 premiers de la liste d’attente pour la BAT RACE : ils vont pouvoir participer ! (10+2 avec les désistements)
Good news for the first 12 riders the BAT RACE waiting list : they are in ! (10+2 with the 2 riders who canceled)
L’organisation des courses de la Bat Race a été légèrement modifiée afin de pouvoir accueillir 10 compétiteurs supplémentaires. Les 10 premiers sur la liste d’attente pourront donc participer à la Bat Race ! Les confirmations par e-mail suivront dans la journée.
The organisation of the Bat Race tournament has been slightly modified and can now host 10 extra competitors. The first 10 competitors on the waiting list are in! Confirmation by e-mail will follow shortly.
The Bat Race : The world’s first underground stand up paddling competition on Europe’s largest underground lake in St-Léonard, Valais, Switzerland on 14th March 2015.
Riders will compete in sprint races in a double elimination tournament. Time for strolling on the lake and fun activities are also on the day’s schedule.
The event is baptised Bat Race in reference to the mammals that populate the cave where the event will take place.
Registration, limited to 40 riders, opens on 24th February 2015 at 20:00 CE on this website. Get ready !
Recently named a candidate for “the world’s most beautiful SUP race series” shortlist on supracer.com, the Alpine Lakes Tour features races on the Alps’ most breathtaking lakes. No waves or coconut trees – here it’s crystal turquoise water, wild nature and snowy peaks that build the stage on which the tour’s competitors race year-round since 2013. Initially held in France and Switzerland, in 2015 the tournament will extend its reach to Italy with a race in the city of Turin. The tour launches its third edition with this world premiere organised with Swiss partner Alps SUP.
Lake St-Léonard is Europe’s largest underground lake. The about 300 m long pool is housed in a cave hidden in mountainside in the beautiful region of Valais, known for its vineyards, apricot orchards and world-class ski resorts. Mostly unaffected by the seasons change, the lake’s water is at a constant 11°C year-round and the air temperature in the cave averages 15°C. The lake is open to the public from March to October and can be visited through guided tours, which bring visitors on a rowing boat tour through the lake’s several bays.
Stand up paddling on the lake is forbidden and has been granted exclusively to the Alpine Lakes Tour for this unique event!
Event description
In order to avoid overcrowding and guarantee the lake’s magic stillness to all participants, registration is limited to 40 entrants. 25 further non-competitors can register as spectators. They will have the chance to paddle on the lake and take part to the SUP game scheduled at mid-event. One-design 12’6 inflatable race boards will be provided by the organiser. Competitors will be free to use their own paddles.
The tournament includes 3 rounds of which all competitors will race at least the first two. A different course and distance is planned for each round:
Round
approx. distance
buoy turns
competitors per heat
Round 1
1 km
3
4
Round 2
550 m
4
4
Round 3
500 m
1
5
Final
1 km
3
6
It’s a tradition of the Alpine Lakes Tour to organise a SUP game (a SUP-related innovative and fun activity) at each event. Such a game will take place at one end of the lake at mid-event and will be open to all competitors, spectators and volunteers. Extra boards will be provided for free strolling on the remainder of the lake.
More information contact Marc Nava : marc@alpssup.ch / Phone +41 79 214 43 52
3 days to GO before the second BAT Race ! The world’s most unique SUP Race happening on Europe largest underground lake on march 10th ! 
