Canmore orienteering

The emphasis is on fun in this mass-start orienteering race as we wind down the 2011 orienteering season.

Peg event

This will be a mass-start race with a handicapping system built-in. There will be just one course set - an intermediate-level course with about 10 control sites. At each control site there will be (say) 10 clothes pegs attached to the control. The first ten runners to reach the control will each take one of the pegs. They will then have a ï¿½bonusï¿½ control to visit, adding extra distance for the faster runners. Slower runners will then have a chance to get to the second ï¿½pegï¿½ control before the fast guys. There will be various prizes ï¿½ for the person with the most pegs, for the first across the line, and so on.

If I've got the course planning correct, then all runners should get a good challenge physically and technically, and everyone will have the joy of running in "trains" - which is astonishingly fast. Previous "Peg" events have enormously fun - and very competitive. Comments from last year's event: "That was the most intense racing I've done", "That was super fun", "We should do this every year!". Come on - one more race before hanging up the O-shoes for the winter.

Scatter event

For beginners, families, and the not-so-competitive there will be a more relaxed Scatter event. You will have loads of controls on your map, and you choose which ones to visit and in which order. This is a great way to dial-in your map reading and navigation skills. Controls will vary in difficulty, and there are plenty out there - so the kids will have lots to find! Note - the courses are not suitable for children under 14, but they are welcome to go in a team with an adult.

Intro Clinic

If you are interested in a short pre-race clinic covering the basics of navigation using the orienteering map and simple racing strategies, please register online and we'll tailor a clinic to the demand.

The clinic and race course will be designed for orienteers of all of all ages (14 and over), experience, and fitness levels. Individuals, teams, and family entries welcome. If the demand exists (please contact the organizers) then we will of course create a course suitable for under-14 age group.

Frozen Thunder & Festival of Eagles

October 15th may - depending on weather, etc - be the day that the first nordic ski trails are open in all of Canada this year! The Canmore Nordic Centre has been saving snow since last winter and if they feel the weather is cool enough they will spread it out over 3km of the paved ski trails. So you will have the amazingly unique opportunity to do orienteering and cross country ski-ing on the same day! And I believe the mountain bike orienteering course will also be open at the Nordic Centre - so you could do a tri ;-)

October 15th is also Canmore's Festival of Eagles. Every October, the Town of Canmore celebrates the migration of the Golden Eagle through the Canadian Rockies with the Festival of Eagles. You can join serious birdwatchers and amateur bird lovers in the autumn celebration of the ancient migration of the Golden Eagle. Share in the spirit of the eagle, take part in guided eagle-viewing hikes, or listen as interpreters explain the ancient phenomenon of these birds of prey. Take time to see the daytime interpretive show and featured evening speakers - always a sell-out event! See the website for details.

Latest News

Oct 3

Preliminary information

Event Schedule

Saturday October 15th 2011
10:00am	Registration Opens	Nordic Center Day Lodge
10:15am	Clinic, if requested	Nordic Center Stadium
11:00am	Mass Start	Nordic Center Stadium
1:00pm	Awards	Nordic Center Day Lodge
1:00pm	Course closing

Registration

Online registration is open.

Register online to reserve a map (!), make sure we get the right number of pegs on course (!), and avoid lineups and delays on the day. On the day registration will be subject to a $2 extra fee.

Entry fee is $10/adult & $5/junior (under 20).

Race Info

Event details

Officials	Adrian Zissos (email: adrian 'at' barebones.ca)
Map	Canmore Nordic Centre Scale: 1:7,500 with 5m contours
Entry fees	$10/adult, $5/junior (under 20).
Directions	Park at the Canmore Nordic Centre Day lodge. Start / Finish are in the stadium. The clinic will be held at the Day Lodge.

Courses & Categories

Peg-O Course
(approx. 40 - 60 minutes)

This "PegO" course will have a variety of technical and physical challenge. The base-route will be intermediate level, approximately 3.5km on the straight line between controls (which you never actually take ;-). "Bonus" controls for runners will be physically and technically challenging, with lots of off-trail navigation. There is only one category, with awards for first across the line and also for the most number of pegs collected.

Scatter Course
(60 minute time limit)

The Scatter course will have a lot of controls - mostly the same ones as used in the PegO course. But participants choose which ones to visit and in which order. There are three categories in the Scatter event:

Category	Controls	Handicap
Long		For fast runners (sub-25 minute 5km)
Medium		For average runners ( 25 - 30 minute 5km)
Short		For families

Clinic

Depending on demand, this free 30-minute clinic will cover the basics of navigation using the orienteering map and simple racing strategies.

What to wear

Sturdy running shoes or hiking boots. They will get dirty, so don't wear your favorite new shoes.
Tights or long running pants. Keep in mind that you might want to take shortcuts through the forest, so your clothes might get snagged or torn - so wear old stuff.
Long sleeve shirt - an old technical shirt is a good choice.
Bring a change of clothes (including socks!) to switch into after the race.

Maps

Maps will be in plastic bags to protect them during the race. The maps are yours to keep after the race.

First Aid and Emergency

Adrian Zissos is the Safety Chief
Limited first aid is available at the finish.
Contact Adrian Zissos (cell: 403 585 8478) in the case of serious injury or an overdue competitor.
Medical services are available in Canmore. Dialing 911 will contact emergency services.

Super important SAFETY information

You must always report to the finish, even if you donï¿½t finish your course. This is to avoid us worrying unnecessarily and/or pointlessly executing our emergency search procedure. Regardless of anything else, you must report to the finish by course closing (at 1:00pm).
Everyone must carry a whistle. In an emergency, repeatedly blow three blasts on the whistle until help arrives. Competitors hearing three whistle blasts must abandon their race and go to give help.
Consider carrying a cellular phone if you are unfamiliar with the Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park terrain. Call the Day Lodge (403.678.2400) or make noise to alert others of your presence if you become lost.
Make lots of noise as you travel through the woods to alert wildlife of your presence. For more information on dealing with wildlife, please visit www.wildsmart.ca
Pay attention to the details of the map ï¿½ avoid steep hills or other natural hazards.
At the Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park there are many options for which trails you can take from one control point to another. The straightest line is sometimes not the fastest way from one control to the next ï¿½ the terrain between the control points could make another route faster. Consider your route carefully!

Peg & Scatter orienteering