Winter Series / WIOL #7

WINTER SERIESWINTER LEAGUE

Saturday, February 4 at Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, WA

Meet Director: Amanda Dabbs

Welcome to the Winter and School League (WIOL) Series!

ABOUT THE SERIES
These concurrent and popular series run from November through February. The Winter Series is open to all, while WIOL (Winter Interscholastic Orienteering League) is designed for students from Elementary-age through High School.

Events in the first half of the season are held in beginner-friendly venues, some of which are trails-only, while events in the second half move to more forested and challenging venues. The season is capped off with a championship event and an awards ceremony to recognize top participants and school teams in both the series overall and championship event.

As with all of CascadeOC’s series events, while it is fun to participate in the entire series, it is not required. Each event is a stand-alone event and open to all!

  • Registration for the SCHOOL LEAGUE is done through paper forms. For more information, visit the School League (WIOL) page.
  • Registration for WINTER SERIES (open to both kids and adults), can be done at the link below or at the event!

COURSES

Course designer(s): Glenn Rogers & Paul Franklin

Course Summary for WIOL 7: Point Defiance Park

Winter O Controls Length Climb
Beginner 8 1.2 km 35 m
Intermediate 12 3.3 km 80 m
Short Advanced 13 4.4 km 120 m
Long Advanced 14 5.8 km 125 m

 

WIOL Controls Length Climb
Beginner   8 1.2 km 35 m
Middle School   9 2.4 km 50 m
JVG  12 3.3 km 80 m
JVB North   9 3.4 km 75 m
JVB South   8 3.4 km 75 m
Varsity   9 3.9 km 100 m

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

Pt Defiance Park is a large urban park with a well defined trail network.  There are also a number of roads that you will be crossing on your course.  These roads are open to traffic so look before you cross.  Your courses will offer you route choices that vary from long road runs, trail runs and if adventurous, cross country.  Be advised that it can get darker green in spots if you choose to go deep into the woods.  There is currently construction going on in spots as they are building a new aquarium.  These are marked out-of-bounds and no routes should offer you advantage by going through the out-of-bounds areas.  The zoo and dog park are also marked permanently out of bounds.
While out see if you can find the 450-year-old Douglas fir (Mountaineers Tree).
Below is a brief history of the park from Wikipedia
Point Defiance Park began as a military reservation after the Wilkes Expedition visited Puget Sound in the 1840s to map the bays and estuaries. Wilkes is thought to have noted that with a fort positioned at the point, and at Gig Harbor across the narrows, one could “Defy” the world.[2] The high cliffs and prominent location were never used for military operations. In 1888, President Grover Cleveland authorized its use as a public park. By 1890, streetcars brought visitors to wander among the gardens. In 1903, a waterfront pavilion was completed. By 1907 a seaside resort designed by Frederick Heath offered heated saltwater bathing in a pavilion called the Nereides Baths located on a bluff above the boathouse.
Fort Nisqually is a replica of Hudson’s Bay Company’s presence in the region in the 19th century when the English trading company had trading forts stretching from Fort Vancouver on the Columbia River, Fort Nisqually on south Puget Sound near the Nisqually River and continuing to the Far North to Fort Yukon on the Yukon River in Canadian territory which later became the state of Alaska.

SCHEDULE

9:30am – Registration opens & Newcomer instruction available
10:00am – Start opens
11:00am – Newcomer instruction ends
11:30am – Registration closes
Noon – Start closes
3:00pm – Course closes

Why is there a start window?

This event uses an interval start, which means that participants are started in waves instead of all at once. When you arrive at the start tent, find the chute for your course and follow the start volunteer’s instructions.

Those participating in School League (WIOL) will be provided a specific start time, and should show up at the tent several minutes before their designated time.

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

Become a member for $5-20

Buy your own e-punch for $38

 

SCHOOL LEAGUE (WIOL)

Registration for the School League is done through paper forms. For more information, visit the School League (WIOL) page.

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: 9pm, Thursday, February 2

Day-of-event registration is available by cash or check, made payable to Cascade Orienteering Club

Registration for School League (WIOL) is done via paper forms. See the School League page for more information.

Learn more about volunteering

Volunteers make these events happen! You can volunteer and participate on the same day, plus earn volunteer points to earn a free meet.

LOCATION

PARKING

Due to construction, parking, registration/check-in, start & finish will be in the Owen Beach Lot area.

CARPOOL

Looking for a carpool? Join the Yahoo listserv and share your request to find a ride.

THE MAP

Navigational Challenge:

Physical Challenge:

SAFETY & 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.