Ski Orienteering (SkiO) is a fun mix of skiing and navigation and route finding. This event, the first of its kind ever at the Canmore Nordic Center, will be a chance for skiers to explore their favorite trails in new ways and for orienteers to enjoy their favorite sport on skis. The event is a "come and try it" event, it is open to all levels of skiing ability, fitness, and orienteering experience.
News
| Mar 15 | Results & RouteGadget animations updated |
| Feb 18 | Online registration open using Zone4.ca website. |
| Feb 03 | Preliminary information - DRAFT only |
Results
You can draw the routes you chose and see the routes others took - just click on the RouteGadget link below. And then you can watch an animation (very cool) of the race.
| Splits times | RouteGadget | Split Analyzer | Photos |
Schedule
| Sunday March 15th | ||
|---|---|---|
| 9:00am - 9:30am | Clinic | Nordic Center Day Lodge |
| 9:30am - 10:00am | Sign-in | Nordic Center Day Lodge |
| 10:00am - 11:00am | Model race | Nordic Center Stadium |
| 10:30am - 11:00am | Kids race | Nordic Center Stadium |
| 11:00am - 1:00pm | Adult race | Nordic Center Stadium |
| 1:00pm | Awards | Nordic Center Day Lodge |
| 2:00pm | Course closing | |
Registration
Register online using Zone4.ca website. On-the-day registration will be available, cash only, with only limited number of entries available then.
Categories & Courses
See Technical Details below for course details.
| Course | Approx length | Navigational difficulty | Categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course 1 | 1km | Very easy | Super Juniors (9 & under) |
| Course 2 | 3km | Easy | Juniors (10 - 12) Recreational Family |
| Course 3 | 5km | Intermediate | Youth (13 - 15) Youth Plus (16 - 19) Venerable (55+) Sport solo Sport team |
| Course 4 | 10km | Tricky | Expert solo Expert team |
Entry Fees & other expenses
You must purchase a Trail Pass or have a valid seasons pass. In addition you must pay a race entry fee. This fee includes the Clinic and all races. And finally, for insurance purposes, you must be a club member - memberships are cheap and can be purchased online (see below).
| Race Entry Fees | Adults | Juniors (under 20) |
Kids race |
|---|---|---|---|
| Race entry (before March 8th) | $10 | $5 | $3 |
| Race entry (after March 8th) | $15 | $10 | $5 |
| Additional team members (max 3 per team) |
$5 | $0 | $0 |
| SI Card rental | $2 | $2 | $0 |
Last Minute Registration Disincentive
On-the-day registration is possible, however only a limited number of maps will be available - and the entry cost are WAY higher. Save the anxiety, register online before March 8th.
Cancellation & Refunds
In the event you should cancel your entry, we�ll refund 90% if the cancellation is received in writing before March 8th. No refunds will be given after then. If the race is cancelled by the organizers all race fees will be refunded.
Club membership
In order to participate in this event you must belong to the Foothills Wanderers orienteering club or be a member of another Canadian orienteering club or belong to another country's national federation (for insurance purposes). Visit the Foothills Wanderers membership page to sign up. Membership is cheap and all memberships are valid until the end of 2009.
Electronic Punching
All events use electronic timing. There is a small charge of $2/event to rent SportIdent cards if you don�t have your own. The use of this equipment will be demonstrated during the clinic.
Equipment
Skis & clothingYou will need the equipment & clothing that you would normally use skiing at the Canmore Nordic Centre. You should carry drink & food for a 1 - 2 hour ski. Classic and skate ski is allowed - no restrictions on technique.
Map Holder
You will need some way to hold your race map. Dedicated ski-orienteers use a specially-designed chest harness that keeps the map visible at all times and allows the map to be rotated. Most people though will either carry the map scrunched up in their hand or devise a homemade map holder. For inspiration, check this idea or this other idea. But please, if you are wearing a string around your neck, please use a lanyard with a safety-release.
Clinic - Introduction to Ski Orienteering
Free clinic in the Day Lodge. No pre-registration required.
This clinic will cover the rules, the map, navigation, route selection, and safety. In addition, it will cover the logistics of the race, including the start, what to do when you arrive at a control, what to do at the finish, and proper use of the timing equipment. No previous orienteering experience necessary.
Race Information
Super important information
- You must always report to the finish, even if you don�t complete your course. This is to avoid us worrying unnecessarily and/or pointlessly executing our emergency search procedure.
First Aid and Emergency
- Limited first aid is available at the finish.
- Contact Adrian Zissos (403.585.8478) in the case of serious injury or an overdue competitor.
- Medical services are available in Canmore and Calgary. Dialing 911 will contact emergency services.
Maps
Maps will handed out one minute before a participant's assigned start time. It is up to the competitor to protect the map - we will have clear plastic bags for this purpose available at the start. Legends will not be printed on the maps, but printed legends will be handed out during the clinic.
Control Descriptions
Control descriptions are not used in Ski-orienteering. All control sites are on the trails and are marked on the map with a small red dot. All controls will be easily visible while skiing on the trail.
Water
There is no on-course drinking water. Please keep this in mind and plan accordingly to stay well hydrated.
Electronic timing
The SportIdent (SI) electronic timing system is used for all events. There is no back-up punching in case an SI unit fails. If a unit fails we will endeavor to replace it as soon as possible. Obviously in the spirit of fair play we expect runners not to communicate with other runners about failed devices.
Event details
| Saturday | Canmore Nordic Center: MTBO | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Officials | Course planner: Adrian Zissos / Alaric Fish. | ||||||
| Terrain | The Canmore Nordic Center has excellent terrain for ski orienteering
due to its complex network of trails. It also has lots of elevation gain to
provide route choice and a test of fitness and endurance. All controls are located on the trails. It is allowed to go off the marked trails - though you must have your skis with you at all time (e.g. if you are on top of a bridge and realize the control is underneath, it is allowed to take off your skis and climb down - but you must take the skis with you). Part of the navigation challenge is to decide when it is better to 'short cut' the trail system. |
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| Map |
1:5,000 scale with 5m contours for kids race 1:10,000 scale with 5m contours for intermediate courses 1:15,000 scale with 5m contours for the longest course Drawn to Ski orienteering mapping standards. To see courses from a mountain bike orienteering event held in the same area visit RouteGadget; the terrain & trail network is the same but keep in mind that the Ski orienteering map will look slightly different. Green lines - trails regularly groomed for skiing. Black lines - summer trails, not usually groomed for skiing. We have created the ski orienteering map using the existing Mountain Bike orienteering map as the basis. However we have not made exhaustive checks of our work and it is possible that some groomed trails are not marked properly. It is also possible that some trails we have marked as groomed are not groomed. Trails used in the summer but not groomed for skiing have been marked with black lines. It is possible that some of these can be skied on. |
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| Courses |
Long - approximate winning time: 45 - 50 minutes Short - approximate winning time: 20 - 25 minutes Both courses have intermediate navigational difficult. All controls are on the trails or slightly off them. |
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| Categories | See Registration section above. | ||||||
| Prizes | Prizes from the local bakery! | ||||||
| Start times |
Start time: 10:30am � Course 1 11:00am - Courses 2, 3, and 4 Interval starts, assigned at the start line. To get an assigned start time, please report to the start area approximately 15 minutes before race start time. Course closing: 2:00pm (max time is 120 minutes) |
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| Notes |
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| Directions |
Park at the Canmore Nordic Center day lodge. The clinic is in the day lodge. Start & Finish are in the stadium. |
FAQ
Q. I've got a question - how do I ask it?
A. Send email to adrian _at_ barebones.ca. Or try phoning 403.262.4457.
Q. Is there any childcare organized? Or courses for kids?
A. There is no childcare organized, but we do have courses suitable for kids
able to ski 500m with gentle up and down slopes.
Q. What is the difference between SkiO maps and FootO maps?
A. They are very similar - the main differences are with the trails and tracks.
Because ski orienteering navigation and route choice depends on the condition of the tracks
- how easy to ski and how fast - there are a lot more track symbols. Have a
quick look at the
SkiO mapping standards and pay particular attention to the trail symbols.
Note that we have not been particularly fussy in categorizing trail sizes - we
have tended to use the same "wide track" symbol for all trails - but then again,
most tracks are wide tracks at the Nordic Center.
Links
Ski orienteering has somewhat different rules and map standards from foot-orienteering.For good overviews & introductions to ski orienteering visit these links:
* Melbourne Nordic's brief overview of ski orienteering
* Jack and Jill magazine article about ski-O for kids
* Ski orienteering relay - YouTube
* SkiO mapping standards.