Discussion: Course design - Comfortable Pedestrian Middle M21
in: Orienteering; General
Jun 15, 2016 11:54 PM
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rm:
Below is the submission of a Middle M21 (H21) course on the autogenerated WOC 2016 Tanum map. Let us know your thoughts on this course, and on its media and spectator features.
Jun 16, 2016 4:04 PM
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I'll jump before I lose my first impressions;-) Under the banner of "this is just what I think", I'm calling the legs as I see them.
I'm in with the starting location if and only if that road is closed throughout the area. I'm not a fan of having to run across a road with traffic at the start.
1 - mixed opinion here as a likely path is to take the re-entrant up, hit the trail and then come in close to the flag.
2 - I hate to say it, but I think I'd rather just go to 3... This doesn't move me.
3 - wonderful location and approach (from either direction;-)
4 - good first approach to this repeated control, you can't "just" get there.
5 - its "just" West through the saddle, but there are a few things to keep the competitor on their toes.
6 - another wonderful direction and puzzle to solve, it isn't a straight contour.
7 - back to the same control, but it will take some physical effort and thought to avoid getting pushed.
8 - crossing the wetland, some handrail to hold, but still a bit of detail to get there well.
9 - I like the repeated cliffs, odd angle and climbing over to get to this location.
10 - 11 - 12 - all across terrain, and given that varied terrain, should all be good controls.
13 - 14 - back across the wetlands, over or around obstacles, and intricate locations, all good here.
15 - 16 - 17 - over the edge, down, and across the field - not much more that you could do through here.
18 - 19 - 20 - three good controls on the other side of that ridge.
21 - not a fan of this control, but there's not much better once you've gone to 20.
It's probably an expectation that from 21 to the finish might be flagged or a chute.
It would be interesting what the course setter had in mind for access from the finish (and staging?) area to the start.
Overall - I'd be happy to have the chance to run this;-)
I'm in with the starting location if and only if that road is closed throughout the area. I'm not a fan of having to run across a road with traffic at the start.
1 - mixed opinion here as a likely path is to take the re-entrant up, hit the trail and then come in close to the flag.
2 - I hate to say it, but I think I'd rather just go to 3... This doesn't move me.
3 - wonderful location and approach (from either direction;-)
4 - good first approach to this repeated control, you can't "just" get there.
5 - its "just" West through the saddle, but there are a few things to keep the competitor on their toes.
6 - another wonderful direction and puzzle to solve, it isn't a straight contour.
7 - back to the same control, but it will take some physical effort and thought to avoid getting pushed.
8 - crossing the wetland, some handrail to hold, but still a bit of detail to get there well.
9 - I like the repeated cliffs, odd angle and climbing over to get to this location.
10 - 11 - 12 - all across terrain, and given that varied terrain, should all be good controls.
13 - 14 - back across the wetlands, over or around obstacles, and intricate locations, all good here.
15 - 16 - 17 - over the edge, down, and across the field - not much more that you could do through here.
18 - 19 - 20 - three good controls on the other side of that ridge.
21 - not a fan of this control, but there's not much better once you've gone to 20.
It's probably an expectation that from 21 to the finish might be flagged or a chute.
It would be interesting what the course setter had in mind for access from the finish (and staging?) area to the start.
Overall - I'd be happy to have the chance to run this;-)
Jun 18, 2016 11:33 AM
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Over all I like it, like ccsteve wrote I'd be OK to get this as one of the spectator courses.
I do think it is bad to reuse any controls unless you do so in order to introduce a butterfly or phi loop, so I would have avoided the 4/7 combo.
I also happen to think that it should be possible to avoid any event center run-through today: With a big screen, GPS tracking and lots of cameras in the forest you don't need to sacrifice 10-20% of the available orienteering.
OTOH, this is the sort of feature that is locked down by the IOF and SEA, i.e. not really open to the course setter to determine, but it is a rule which isn't needed anymore.
I do think it is bad to reuse any controls unless you do so in order to introduce a butterfly or phi loop, so I would have avoided the 4/7 combo.
I also happen to think that it should be possible to avoid any event center run-through today: With a big screen, GPS tracking and lots of cameras in the forest you don't need to sacrifice 10-20% of the available orienteering.
OTOH, this is the sort of feature that is locked down by the IOF and SEA, i.e. not really open to the course setter to determine, but it is a rule which isn't needed anymore.
Jun 18, 2016 4:28 PM
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AZ:
I agree with TM's comments - all three points: it is a nice course, no need to reuse control sites, arena-run through is a waste (and puts restrictions unnecessarily on the course planners)
I do think that the course could use more of the terrain available (not just the terrain on this cut-out of the entire map) to get more variety - some flatter areas. There tends to be a lot of controls 'on the side of the hill' - which is fine, but it is nice to mix it up a bit more.
Here are some comments on particular legs:
1 - I find this far too easy. Either following the ridge or taking the reentrant to the path. Very little concentration asked for.
9 - is that a power line to the right? If so it makes the leg a little trivial
12 - this seems dangerous. I suppose it depends on the cliffs
Final loop - I think this is as good as any I've seen. I'd like to see it be more technical, but often it has been much simpler than this.
I'm not sure what the requirements are for a WOC arena, but I would have thought I'd want the finish closer to the road just in case the weather is bad (less muddy for all the 'stuff')
I do think that the course could use more of the terrain available (not just the terrain on this cut-out of the entire map) to get more variety - some flatter areas. There tends to be a lot of controls 'on the side of the hill' - which is fine, but it is nice to mix it up a bit more.
Here are some comments on particular legs:
1 - I find this far too easy. Either following the ridge or taking the reentrant to the path. Very little concentration asked for.
9 - is that a power line to the right? If so it makes the leg a little trivial
12 - this seems dangerous. I suppose it depends on the cliffs
Final loop - I think this is as good as any I've seen. I'd like to see it be more technical, but often it has been much simpler than this.
I'm not sure what the requirements are for a WOC arena, but I would have thought I'd want the finish closer to the road just in case the weather is bad (less muddy for all the 'stuff')
This discussion thread is closed.