WPOC Orienteering Events

Introduction:

An orienteering event is an opportunity for people to participate in the sport of orienteering.  WPOC hosts 10-12 orienteering events each year; all are open to the public.  At these events, WPOC offers one or more courses (see below) and participants choose which course they want to try.  Generally, there is a map fee collected to participate in a course.  We call it a map fee because we collect based on the number of maps used, not by the number of participants.  For example:  an individual will use only one map at a time (one map fee); a group of people may share a single map (one map fee) or get multiple maps for members of the group (multiple map fees).

How it Works:

These are the steps a participant goes through at an orienteering event.  There are three stations at every event (Registration, Start and Finish); there are always signs marking where these are.

Waivers:

WPOC carries liability insurance for all of our events through the national organization (Orienteering USA).  One of the requirements of the insurance agents is that every participant at every event sign a waiver at least once a year.  The waiver essentially says that you won't sue WPOC, the volunteers at the event, and the people/organizations that own the area we are using for the event.  The waiver also causes the participant to be covered by the liability insurance that WPOC carries.  We normally structure the waiver text so that once a person signs it for an event, s/he is covered for all WPOC events for the rest of that calendar year.  This saves a little time at the Registration table.

Instruction:

We expect the orienteering skill level of our participants to vary widely. We provide instruction regarding use of the map and compass and the whole process of orienteering during the first hour at every regular event.

Cost:

Participation in one of our events usually costs $6 per map. If a group of people want to go on a course together and one map is enough, the cost is $6 total. If each individual wants a map, it is $6 each. For any individual or group that does a second course an event, we reduce the map fee to $3 per map.  Club members (of any OUSA or IOF club) who participate get a $1 discount on their first map fee at an event.

Maps:

We try to provide pre-printed, 5-color maps for participants for all events. The pre-printing shows the day's course already on the map. If we run out of pre-printed, participants may have to copy the course onto their map (this is done off the clock).

Types of Courses:

WPOC uses a variety of course structures at its events. In addition, sometimes the courses are a bit different because of the mode of transportation or the time of day. Participants are always timed while on their course and for most structures, the fastest person on a course is the winner for that day. However, there is no requirement to run; if you don't care about the time; just go at your own pace.

Course Descriptions:

The course descriptions sheet (clue sheet) that we use normally contains English text descriptions of the control features for Beginner (White) courses.  We use international symbolic descriptions for the Advanced courses  (Brown, Green, and Red) and for Score courses.  We provide both English text and symbolic descriptions for the Novice and Intermediate (Yellow and Orange) courses as these are transition points in skill level.

Punching

"Punching" is the act of  proving that you have reached a control; it may be done manually or electronically.  With manual punching, there is a red punch at each control; it is used to punch a pattern of holes in a paper that the participant carries around the course.  With electronic punching, there is an electronic box at each control that keeps time; when the participant reaches the control, s/he puts a SI-card (also called a "finger stick")  into the box and has the time and a code recorded on the card.

Equipment:

Cancellations:

Orienteering is generally an all-weather sport. Short of tornadoes, floods, hail, lightning and snow storms, the event will go on as scheduled. In the rare case that an event must be canceled, every attempt will be made to notify participants who are known to be coming to the event.