WPOC Orienteering Meets

Instruction:

We expect the orienteering skill level of our participants to vary widely. We provide instruction regarding use of the compass and the whole process of orienteering at every meet.

Cost:

Participation in one of our meets costs $4 per map. If a group of people want to go on a course together and one map is enough, the cost is $4 total. If each individual wants a map, it is $4 each. If the group is large and each wants a map, we can strike a deal. We allow maps to be reused the same day if a participant wants to go on a second course. If the same map is used twice at the same meet, we do not charge twice.

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). If we totally run out of color maps, we resort to black and white maps.

Types of Courses:

WPOC uses two types of orienteering courses: cross-country and score. Cross-country courses require the participant to go to a sequence of markers (controls) in a specific order. Participants are timed with the fastest person on each course the winner for that day. Score courses provide a collection of markers that may be visited in any order and has an imposed time limit. Participants try to visit as many markers as possible in the given time; a point system is used to determine the winner; penalties are assessed for participants who exceed the time limit.

Courses:

Cross-country courses are color coded to indicate their approximate difficulty. In the United States, the color coding follows this sequence from easiest to hardest: White - Yellow - Orange - Brown - Green - Red - Blue. This is to accommodate orienteers who are beginners (White and Yellow courses), intermediate level (Orange), or experts (Brown thru Blue). At WPOC meets, we normally use only White, Yellow, Orange, and Green courses; this is because we do not get many participants who can do the most difficult courses. As the courses become more difficult, they get longer and the trails and other "linear features" become less useful.

Score courses generally have some easy-to-get-to controls and some that are more difficult. At WPOC meets having a score course, either 60 minutes or 90 minutes may be used as the time limit. Points are usually 10 per control. Penalties are usually 5 points per minute late.

Course Descriptions:

The course descriptions sheet (clue sheet) that we use normally contains English text descriptions of the control features. Occasionally, we use international symbolic descriptions for the Orange, Green, and Score courses.

Equipment:

• A compass - the club will loan you a compass if you do not have one.
• The map you will use will be provided at meet registration.
• Appropriate footware - generally sneakers or running shoes. Many courses will cause you to get your shoes wet or muddy.
• Possibly a whistle - for safety.
• If the weather is rainy, either plan to get wet or bring a raincoat.

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