"How long is it?" In the participants eyes we see "can I cover that distance?" That's not the right internal question. The real question is "can I cover twice that distance in two hours over rough terrain". The running surface is not flat. The way is not marked. The direct route (how the course length is measured) is the worst likely route. And at Orange course and above, the controls are not easy to find. They are not supposed to be. That's what makes Orange, Red, Blue, etc. what they are. Until you've pulled off a couple Whites flawlessly, don't go to Yellow. Until you've completed a couple Yellows flawlessly (and understand why) in under an hour, don't expect to complete an Orange within time limits. And when you are comfortable with Orange, you should be able to find the control bag that has fallen on the ground, rather than hanging from a tree. At that point you are looking for the feature, not the control bag.
The Wild-Onion Urban Adventure Race will be held in the southwestern China city of Chengdu in April 2008, rather than Chicago.
Opinions expressed above are not those of the entire club or it's officers, but have come up in discussions by many people of diverse experience over the past 6 or so years, and are summarized by past board member Gary Schopp
An Orienteering First
Anne Margrethe Hausken, member of Norway's national orienteering squad, achieved a first for the sport by helping to arrange the first event held on an oil rig. Hausken arrived on a helicopter, and touched down on the Heidrun platform, north of Brønnøysund. She nearly blew over, with 52 kph (32 mph) winds greeting her arrival. "I would never have believed that I would be part of arranging the world's first orienteering race on an oil rig," Hausken said, who managed to get 60 rig workers entered in the unique event. "We used the platform map and laid out 10 control points. The competitors went from deck to deck, and there were many climbs and obstacles. There was electronic timing, just like a conventional orienteering race, and enthusiastic discussions about the control points they found," Hausken said. On one platform running was forbidden, but one can watch as racers rush past at Olympic walking pace, dressed in protective suit, boots, glasses and helmet. "Everyone thought it was great. It isn't easy to take part in a competition after working a twelve hour shift," Hausken said.
We are often asked "what compass do you recommend?" Here what I consistently offer the questioner: +Borrow before you buy. The club has nice basic compasses to loan for $1, and if you ask the right person, they may let you borrow one of theirs +Get a clear,rectangular baseplate +Scales are not important at first +Declination is not important for O. +Expect to spend between $9 and $45. A $15 one can last a lifetime +A steady needle is more important than a fast needle but both are desired (difference between $45 and $15) +Brands count: Suunto, Silva, Brunton, or Moscow. Anything else is a toy.
Help Our Parks
Jubilee State Park, Brimfield--Every first and third Saturday : Very necessary trail rerouting, repair and closing. Vegetation control (read as turn green to white). Contact Gary for more info. 243-8258
