Regulations

A. General Terms, Liability, and Responsibility

  1. Declaration of Acceptance of the Regulations: Every adult on his own responsibility declares that he/she has read and understood all the rules with the conditions of participation, the relevant information and instructions for the race, and unreservedly accepts their content as a whole.
    For participants under the age of eighteen (18) participating in the kids’ course, the parent or legal guardian, by submitting the registration form, expressly declares that he/she provides written consent for the minor’s participation in the event, accepts full responsibility and liability on behalf of the minor, and consents to the use of the minor’s personal data and of photographs and audiovisual material in which the minor may appear, in accordance with these Regulations and applicable law.
  1. Limitation of Liability and Waiver of Claims: The Organizer is a Civil Non-Profit Company (Astiki Mi Kerdo­skopiki Etairia – AMKE), acting as the sole entity responsible for the organization of the event. The organizers and all other persons involved in the organization of the race in any way are exempt from any claims of the participants and their heirs in connection with the execution of the race and are not responsible for:
    1. the death, injury, or any damage to health and, in general, the physical integrity of the participants
    2. any loss or damage from any cause (action, inaction, or negligence of certain persons) during the race or after 
    3. an accident due to any reason, such as poor health or inadequate training
    4. theft or loss of the participant’s items
    5. financial compensation in case of external assistance to any participant

      This limitation of liability shall not apply in cases of willful misconduct or gross negligence on the part of the Organizers.
  1. Participants’s Acknowledgement of Risk and Personal Responsibility: Each participant, by submitting the application, declares officially that he/she:
    1. Participates in the match with his/her full personal responsibility, being fully aware of his/her intention to take part in a sporting event taking place in a mountainous environment, with generally unfavorable conditions for the human body
    2. Has done all necessary medical examinations, such as cardiac tests, and his/her state of health allows him/her to compete in a race of the kind of Pierra Creta.
      The participant acknowledges that the Organizers do not provide and do not substitute any form of medical assessment or certification of fitness.”
    3. Personally assumes the responsibility to compete wisely and responsibly and not to place himself/herself or others in objective risk conditions
    4. Fully accepts the responsibility for any injury caused by a fall, accident, or anything else that may be caused during the race, before and/or after it
    5. Finally, accepts the responsibility for whatever may occur from his/her participation in the race

      The Organizer bears no responsibility for false, incomplete, or inaccurate medical declarations made by participants.
  1. Processing of Personal Data: Participants in the race allow the organizers to make use of the personal data provided in the event for the purpose of communicating and informing them about the race and the events taking place in the context of it, as well as for operational reasons.
    The Organizers act as Data Controllers. Participants retain the right of access, rectification, and erasure of their personal data in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR).
  1. Image Rights and Audiovisual Material: Participants in the race allow organizers and entitled third parties, such as sponsors and the media, to make use of the photographs and audiovisual material produced during the race, in which they may appear.

B. Pierra Creta Race Regulations

  1. General Description: Pierra Creta is an open, team ski mountaineering race that takes place every two years in Crete. It consists of two routes, a route A with an indicative altitude difference of 1800m and a route B with an indicative altitude difference of 900 m. It also includes a kids’ course of maximum 300m altitude difference.
  1. Definitions and Interpretation: In the regulations listed below, the words noted here refer to specific terms. 
    1. Race – to Pierra Crete
    2. Participants – to the participants, that is, those who have registered and participate in the race
    3. Organization/Organizers – to the organizing committee of Pierra Creta
    4. Race committee – to the committee set up by the organization, responsible for the execution of the race and taking the decisions
  1. Team Composition and Categories: The teams consist of two or three persons and can be divided into three categories:
    1. Women’s teams (ski mountaineering)
    2. Men’s/mixed teams (ski mountaineering)
    3. Splitboard teams
  1. Right of participation: Men and women who are 18 years of age or older on the day of the Race shall be eligible to participate. For the kids’ course, minors aged between 15 and 18 years on the day of the Race shall be eligible to participate.
  2. Registration, Fees, and Payment: The participation fee per participant is 100€.
  1. Cancellation and Refund Policy: Participants can cancel their participation up to 30 days before the race and get 75% of the amount they paid for their participation refunded. After that time, no refund can be made for any reason. The cancellation request must be sent electronically (e-mail) from the e-mail address given by the participant in his/her application and must indicate the bank account desired to be credited for the refund. Each participation is personal and unique for each participant and therefore cannot be transferred to another person.
  1. Compliance: Participants are required to fully respect the rules outlined below. They are also obliged to obey the instructions of the judges of the race. When the judges of the race notice violations of the rules, they record them and inform the offenders. Apart from the judges, also persons authorized by the organization have the possibility to record offenses and submit them to the race committee.
  1. Mandatory Equipment:
    1. Helmet
    2. Ski or Splitboard
    3. Ski Boots
    4. Mountaineering crampons
    5. Avalanche Transceiver
    6. Shovel
    7. Avalanche probe
    8. Gloves
    9. Sunglasses or goggles
    10. Backpack
    11. Whistle
  1. Race Numbers, Identification, and Timing: Each participant is required to wear the bib number visibly on the rucksack and on the upper part of the right thigh, as well as the electronic timing chip, throughout the duration of the race. Every participant is obliged to return the race number and the electronic timing chip to the organization after termination or in case of exclusion or abandonment of the race.
  1. Course Marking and Route Control: The race route is marked with temporary marking by the organization and there are checkpoints along with it.
  1. Technical Briefing and Event Schedule: For the instructions, details, and program of the event, participants are required to attend and be informed by the technical briefing that takes place the day before, at the venue, and the time that will be announced by the organization. 
  1. Modification or Cancellation of the Event: The organizers reserve the right to change or even cancel all or part of the race if deemed necessary. In the event of the race being canceled for reasons of safety or force majeure (bad weather, road blocking, strikes, prohibition by authorities, etc.), the participant is not entitled to claim the reimbursement of the financial contribution or other financial compensation.
  1. Team Movement and Assistance Restrictions: The team cannot depart from the checkpoints if its members are not together. Team timing stops when the last participant of the team crosses the finishing line. It is forbidden to pull another team member with either a rope or an elastic band within the first 15 minutes of the race, as well as in corridors, ridges, or while skiing down.
  1. Right to Withdraw an Athlete from the Race: The organizers reserve the right not to allow a participant to complete the race if there is a related opinion of the medical staff of the race.
  1. Environmental Protection and Waste Disposal: It is forbidden to dispose of any kinds of items along the route, such as equipment or food packaging material used by the participant during the race. Participants are required to store them and drop them into the special bags provided in the finishing area.
  1. Awards and Prizes: The first 3 teams of the race, from each of the three categories will be awarded with commemorative prizes. (see regulation No. 3).
  1. Penalties, Disqualification, and Exclusion: A team may be disqualified or excluded in the following cases:
    1. Object missing from the obligatory equipment
    2. Departure before the starting time
    3. Not passing through a checkpoint
    4. Incomplete team for departure on checkpoints
    5. Shortcuts from the route
    6. Abandoning equipment or dropping waste
    7. Inappropriate or unsportsmanlike behavior
    8. Reckless behavior or serious mistake
    9. Failure to comply with the rules or the instructions of the organizers
  1. Protests and Appeals: Any objection to the race must be submitted in writing to the organizers within 1 hour after the last participant has finished the race. Decisions regarding any objections will be made in accordance with the Greek version of the regulations.
  1. Right to Amend the Regulations: The organization reserves the right to amend the rules of the race without prior notice.
  1. Governing Law and Jurisdiction: These Regulations are governed by Greek law. The courts of Heraklion, Crete, Greece shall have jurisdiction over any dispute arising from these Regulations.
  1. Insurance: The Pierra Creta race prioritizes participant safety and provides insurance coverage for the day of the race, including an emergency response plan covering ambulance transport. In accordance with applicable legislation, this coverage is available only to participants who are permanent residents of Greece, regardless of nationality. Participants residing abroad are solely responsible for securing adequate insurance covering accidents in Greece and participation in organized sporting events and are advised to obtain supplementary travel insurance where necessary for the duration of their stay in Crete.

    Any insurance coverage provided by the Organizers does not substitute personal private insurance coverage.

    Participants acknowledge they have been clearly informed of insurance limitations prior to registration.