Ultimate Orienteer #4 – Ft. Steilacoom Park (Individual Relay) – CANCELED!
ULTIMATE ORIENTEER
Saturday, April 4 at Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood, WA
Event #4/8 in the Ultimate Orienteer Series!
Team up with: yourself! Join us for the 2020 version of an individual relay, where you do all the legs. To make it more challenging, this year we may add a 4th loop for the Open categories.
The individual relay uses forking courses, so while everyone will end up completing all the legs, they will do them in a different order. Don’t assume the person in front of you is going to the same control!
This type of event requires a lot of planning and maps, so please help us order the right number of maps by PRE-REGISTERING EARLY. It would really help us if you can pre-register by Wednesday evening, preferably by 9 pm. After pre-registration, there will be only a limited number of maps available for registration at the event. Thank you!!
COURSES
Course designer(s): Nikolay Nachev
Course distances will be provided here once the courses are finalized.
We’ll have an individual relay consisting of 1, 2, 3, or 4 loops.
What is my age class?
Individual Relay Course/Class Assignments for Ultimate points
If you want to earn Ultimate points, check the table below to see which category you should sign up for. Find your age class in the left column, then follow the row across to the right until you find the dark orange cell. That is your “assigned” category.
For example, if you’re a female 16 or under, your Ultimate age class is F-16 and, for this event, is assigned to the Intermediate course. If you are up for a more challenging course, you can also earn points in F-18 on the Short Advanced course, or F-21+ on the Long Advanced course. Just keep in mind that other courses are more difficult, both navigationally and physically. Also keep in mind that you’ll be earning points only in the class you sign up for.
How are courses measured?
Courses are measured as the crow flies, in a direct line from control to control. Unless you have wings, you will travel farther than this distance! Courses are measured in kilometers, so a good rule of thumb is to simply round up to miles to estimate how far you will go. So in a 5 kilometer race, you’ll likely travel up to 5 miles.
COURSE NOTES
Check back later for special notes from the Course Designer(s).
The relay:
- This is a mass start race. Following is allowed, but with a twist
- There are 8 mini loops of 4 controls all passing through the same pivot control.
- Depending on your category, you will receive from 1 to maps during the race, each with two mini loops. The first mini loops are separators, longer legs and route choice. The second mini loop, very precise short legs
- You will be given a ticket at registration with your map number sequence. Maps will be in boxes labeled with the map number.
- By race end, everyone will have run the same course, but in different permutations!
- At the mass start, the pack will break into 4 groups, each of which will further break into 3 more groups at the first passing of the pivot control, creating 12 packs of desperados, some totally lost because of following the wrong group!
- Course closes at 1:30pm. Lots of time. Take a break between loops. Have a cup of tea. But do have fun.
- Finally, no map is perfect. Please visit the registration tent, and indicate on the large map with a circle and a brief description if you experienced something amiss e.g. missing cliff; trail 90 degrees off; missing trail etc
SCHEDULE
SCHEDULE
9:00-10:00 am – Registration
9:00-10:00 am – Newcomer instruction
10:15 – Pre-race info and transition demo
10:27 am – 4-Loop Runners line up
10:30 am – Mass Start 4-Loop Runners
10:32 am – 3-Loop Runners line up
10:35 am – Mass Start for 3-Loop Runners
10:37 am – 2-Loop Runners line up
10:40 am – Mass Start for 2-Loop Runners
10:45 am-noon – Start window for Beginner course
1:30 pm – Course closes
PRICES
PRE-REGISTRATION PRICES
$17 base price
– subtract $5 for CascadeOC members
– subtract $5 for using your own e-punch
DAY-OF-EVENT REGISTRATION
$20 base price
– subtract $5 for CascadeOC members
– subtract $5 for using your own e-punch
What’s an e-punch?
An e-punch records your race. At each control, you’ll dip the e-punch into an electronic box, which will beep and flash as confirmation. After you finish, you’ll download the e-punch at the download tent and get a receipt that show which controls you visited and how long you took between each; these are your “splits.”
Part of the fun of orienteering is comparing your splits with people who completed the same course, and discussing the routes you took!
SIGN UP
Online pre-registration closes:
Day-of-event registration is available by cash or check, made payable to Cascade Orienteering Club
LOCATION
PARKING
CARPOOL
Looking for a carpool? Join the Yahoo listserv and share your request to find a ride.
THE MAP
While Fort Steilacoom is not rugged or remote, it can be fairly challenging for a city park. There are many criss-crossing trails here, both in open grass and in forest. However, there are also many distinct features such as buildings, roads, ballfields, and a small lake, that are great navigational aids.
Part of the park is very flat, while part of the park is quite steep. How steep your course is depends on which course you choose and how nice the course designer decided to be.
Read more on the map pageSAFETY & ETIQUETTE
Return to the Finish
All participants MUST return to the finish and download their e-punch or turn in their punch card.
Even if you have not finished your course, you must still return to the the finish and confirm with event staff that you have returned safely.
Out of Bounds
Some areas may be marked out of bounds. It is imperative to respect these boundaries to maintain our relationships with land managers. Participants MUST NOT go out of bounds. Any participant caught going out of bounds will be disqualified.
Course Closure
All participants MUST return to the finish by course closure time. If a participant does not return by course closure, event volunteers will begin coordinating a search party.
If you need a long time on the course, start as early in the start window as possible, wear a watch, and be prepared to cut your course short to make it back by the course closure time.
Whistle
All participants MUST carry a whistle on the course. Complimentary whistles are available at the start tent (please only take one).
If you are injured on the course and need assistance, blow three long blasts to call for help.
If you hear a call for help, abandon your course to find the person in distress.
Voices
Part of the fun and fairness of orienteering is navigating your own course, so please be polite when you find a checkpoint and don’t holler that you’ve found it.
