Winter Series / WIOL #5
WINTER SERIESWINTER LEAGUE
Saturday, January 7 at Fort Steilacoom – main entrance in Lakewood, WA
Meet Director: Bob Forgrave
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!
- Registration for the Lakewood Parks and Rec Navigation Training is by pre-registration only. Click the registration button below and select “Lakewood Parks Training (includes Winter O #5)”. The $20 registration includes both beginner instruction and your choice of a beginner or intermediate course. The fee is per-group or individual participating on the course. One family participating together costs the same as an individual. Everyone in the group gets a map, and we recommend no more than 2 or 3 per group.
COURSES
Course designer(s): Peter Golde
| Course | Controls | Length | Climb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary/Beginner | 8 | 1.9 km | 5 m |
| Middle School | 10 | 2.6 km | 95 m |
| JV Girls/Intermediate | 10 | 3.1 km | 100 m |
| JV Boys North | 10 | 3.1 km | 115 m |
| JV Boys South | 10 | 3.2 km | 115 m |
| Varsity | 14 | 4.0 km | 110 m |
| Short Advanced | 16 | 3.9 km | 120 m |
| Long Advanced | 16 | 6.0 km | 195 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 Setter’s Notes:
You will experience a wide variety of orienteering at Fort Steilacoom, with flat grassy areas, thick forest with a dense trail network, and urban campus all present. You will need to be able to adapt to all of these styles!
The main trail around the central lake is closed and fenced off. The out of bounds area is marked on the map and the fencing and construction zone should be obvious. Entering into the out of bounds area will result in disqualification.
As usual, in the campus area do not cross through any of the plantings.
Some courses will cross the entrance road to the parking. Traffic is light but please look carefully before crossing.
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
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, January 5
Day-of-event registration is available by cash or check, made payable to Cascade Orienteering Club
Registration for the Lakewood Parks and Rec Navigation Training is by pre-registration only. Click the registration button above and select “Lakewood Parks Training (includes Winter O #5)”.
LOCATION
PARKING
NOTE: Due to construction, we’ve had some major changes in parking requirements from the park itself–even since Wednesday’s mail! Here is the last, official word. No more parking at the soccer field. If you forget, our parking signs and volunteers will guide you to the big grass field across from the registration area.
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.
