Hollyburn Ski-O Wednesday Evening Training
February 12th 2020 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Organizers: Meghan MacLeod (Event Director), Dawn Mooney (Course Planner), Joanne Woods (Membership), Stan Woods (Coach), Robyn Rennie (Controller), Peter Bremner (Assistant)
Description
Ski orienteering! It’s just like regular orienteering, but you get to use Nordic skis and you have to figure out how to hold your map while also holding ski poles. The Cypress Mountain Nordic Area on Hollyburn Mountain has 7.5 km of trails lit for night skiing. Orienteers can use either skate or classic technique to navigate our Ski-O course of ~20 controls. Orienteers should have basic familiarity with Nordic skiing. Orienteers must purchase a trail ticket from Cypress and can rent classic or skate skis. Note that you cannot walk or snowshoe on the cross country ski trails.
https://cypressmountain.com/trail-tickets
https://cypressmountain.com/nordic-area-rentals
Schedule
6:45pm Introduction to Orienteering for Beginners
7:00 pm Starts
8:30 pm Course Closure, participants must report to the Finish before leaving.
Courses
One course of ~20 controls. This is score event with no set route - your map will only show you the start and finish (same location) and all available controls. Your task is to choose your route and return before the time limit is up to avoid time penalties. All trails are rated green (easiest) or blue (more difficult).
Special Instructions
You may not change direction while on a trail, only at a junction; and you must be able to reach the control flag with your ski pole. This means that you have to approach controls that are on bends in a trail from the correct direction. Plan carefully, otherwise you will have to ski past a control to the next junction before turning around and heading back to approach the control from the correct direction!
Safety Precautions
The trails are lit for night skiing but headlamps will be useful to see your map. Do not suddenly change direction or cross trails. Watch out for other skiers. Do not stop on steep hills or tight corners, and do not cross or damage classic tracks.
Parking/Start Location:
The start is at the Hollyburn Lodge, a 1 km ski from the Nordic base area. At the base area you can park, purchase trail tickets, and rent skis. Note that there is no cell service at the lodge, so make sure to join GVOC/renew your membership and sign the 2020 waiver beforehand here: https://zone4.ca/reg.asp?id=22841. There is cell service at the parking lot. There are washrooms at the base area and at Hollyburn Lodge.
Post-Event Dining
Dinner at Hollyburn Lodge afterward.
Acknowledgements
Without volunteers, these events cannot take place. A hearty thanks to all those helping put this event on. If you would like to volunteer/help at upcoming WETs/WJRs or would like to organize a WET please let us know.