Discussion: Water required and physical therapist on site

Competitors will be required to carry water. It is going to be very hot and humid. Also a physical therapist will be on site and available.
These updates in more detail and bulletin 3 coming soon:
https://backwoodsok.org/2019-ardf-us-and-region-ii...

Will it be required to carry water on the short courses (Fox-O, Sprint) or just the championships?

The only race where it won't be required is the Sprint. Will still need to carry water (*not* plastic bottles) for the Fox-O as well as the Classics. The Fox-O will be lengthy like the classics.

Presumably reusable plastic bottles (like bike bottles) are okay?

We are committed to reducing our use of disposables and single use plastics, so disposable drink bottles or disposable cups are not permitted at the start, finish or out on the course.

Looks like a typo in the bulletin there. Seems you meant to say "your use".

Yes jjcote. Reusable is fine.

Are backpacks going to be searched for contraband, eg, bottled water?

Have no idea. You'll have to ask the organizers about any exceptions to their rule. I plan on using a camel back. Details are in bulletin 3 here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1U1thSK_1fzawiY...

I'm not going to the event, so it's all fine with me, and I realize that the organizers are not part of this conversation. Although I will note that the water bottle that I keep in my car has been refilled from my kitchen sink many times, although it was originally purchased as a bottle of water (Poland Spring, I think). And on my desk at work is a plastic cup from the cafeteria that I've been using at lunch for about the past year, I think. Among the several "disposable" containers that I often use.

Much like JJ, I have a "disposable" McCafe cup in my freezer with about 3 cm of water in the bottom. Nice ice base, add tap water and I've got a cold drink for several hours of driving or whatever. Re-used repeatedly. It is more than a little annoying that they are saying I can't bring it on site. I understand the desire to reduce waste, and we certainly don't want disposable bottles being discarded in the forest - great - but trying to force people to do it "your way, and ONLY your way" just breeds resentment. Most orienteers already do a lot to reduce waste.

Another example - the bulletin says they will have sports drink at the finish, but I have no desire to contaminate my camel-back with stains and aftertaste. A minimal supply of recyclable sustainable paper cups, or the option to refill my "disposable" gatorade bottle would sure be appreciated. Why should I BUY some "refillable" bottle when I already have a perfectly good container?

+1 to fossil. Its not the organizers reducing the event's use of resources - it is the imposing their almighty will (whether you agree with the principle or not) on participants. And I have no gripe with the principle, I object to the method.

I'm just posting info here to keep everyone informed because nobody else is. Again, if you are coming and need help/clarification with this or anything else please contact the organizers, who I know to be great people.

Thanks, Vector. Mike, if you want to bring your McCafe cup, I'm sure that no one will object. And I suspect that eco-friendly vessels for the sports drink will be available. In my opinion, it's a mischaracterization to say that the organizers are trying to impose their almighty will. They are trying to avoid the scores of single use plastic bottles that were deposited in Birkhead Wilderness a few years ago at a similar event and that are still routinely found there today. If you (viz., an adult and experienced orienteer) have an alternative eco-friendly method of hydrating yourself, I'm sure that no one will fuss.

And I didn't interpret the word 'our' in the bulletin as a typo. I read it as a collective 'our', as in 'humanity's'.

Thanks Dave. My response was a little strong, and I definitely agree that we want to avoid having bottles, cups or anything else tossed in the forest. And I certainly want to reduce the waste stream that we collectively generate.