Courses
Friday: late afternoon Score-O; one course for all participants; time limit one hour.
Saturday and Sunday: combined event with 4 numbered courses each day: 1, 2, 3, 4. Results from each of the 2 races will be combined to determine the overall finish order.
Course time limit: on Saturday and Sunday there is a time limit of 3 hours.
The terrain at Mt. Van Hoevenberg is challenging, and the courses, especially #4, are designed to challenge top ski-o racers. Even if they are competent foot orienteers, competitors who are not strong skiers may not be able to finish their courses within the 3 hour time limit. While we appreciate their determination to find every control, fatigue can set in quickly and without warning in cold conditions, and the meet organizers and Mt. Van Ho rescue crews are obligated to start a search for racers who do not return within the time limit as they could be injured somewhere out on the course.
Please ensure you are back and have checked in at the Finish within 3 hours of your start so that we know you are safe and do not initiate a search!
Racers who do not return to the Finish within 3 hours on Saturday will be disqualified from Sunday’s event.
Classes
Course 1
F/M -12
F/M -16
F/M 80+
F/M Open1
Course 2
F/M -20
F/M 60+
F/M 70+
Course 3
F/M 40+
F/M 50+
F/M Open3
Course 4
F/M 21+
Open Classes: The F Open and M Open classes are for participants who prefer to use snowshoes and/or don’t wish to participate in their regular age class. Participants will compete on Course 1 or Course 3. Snowshoers may use poles. Those on snowshoes MUST stay to the edges of the trail and not interfere with skiers!
There will be no age classifications or awards for the Open Classes.
Medals: ESWG medals will be awarded to the top 3 in each class (except Open) in the Score-O, and to the top Combined Event finishers. There will be no medals awarded for Saturday and Sunday’s individual events. To qualify for a Combined medal participants must ski in the same class in both races.
Start Procedure for All Races
Interval starts will be used for each of the 3 races with racers starting every 30 seconds. Please arrive at the call up line a few minutes before your start time. With 30 second starts it will be difficult to fit you in if you’re late for your start and you will probably have to wait until everybody else has started. Clear and check your SI stick at the boxes situated near the line.
There will be 2 lines: one for those starting on the minute and the other for those starting on :30.
Please stay quiet at the start area so everyone can hear the start officials.
At your start time you will be given your map and you will then punch the start box manually.
You must punch the start box before placing your map in your map holder. Be sure to have your SI stick available to punch the start box. The start box will not be in beacon mode. You may not look at your map before placing it in your map holder!
The Start triangle is the Start line.
As soon as you punch the start box continue to move forward to clear the area for the next starter. You can take as much time as you want to get your map into place but please keep advancing to make room for the next starter. Since you will be on the clock as soon as you punch the start box, it will help to have mastered the art of using a map holder ahead of time!