Discussion: Definitely going ahead?

So this is definitely happening? I may make the trip!

Anyone know? Please?

Yes it is still happening. Details are on the hvo site. There will be cps but no punch or epunch given the likelihood they could be removed in such a busy park. We will use crayons instead. Its a barebones event but we are planning preprinted maps.

Edit: Neil made me feel too mean, probably a good thing, so I deleted my rant. For future reference on securing controls:

This is a good place to start:
http://forum.nopesport.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=129...

http://blog.oobrien.com/2008/10/13/how-we-secured-...

http://www.deeside-orienteering club.org.uk/resources/How%20to%20use%20Gripples.pd...

Thanks Neil, agreed. -

This being Central Park, the safe e-punching solution is to have a person guarding each control. That's possible for a large event in Europe. Having 25 people guarding controls for an event with 20 or 30 people running doesn't really do it.

CP is so regulated, that one can't even put a stake or a post in the ground.

Sometimes barebones is the way to go. I have done training exercises for myself with NO controls and had the most enjoyable time in the woods.

Of course a World Cup Race at Central Park would be great. We once did the math for a Park World Tour event and realized, that we could not afford the fees and the cost for such an event.

None of those solutions involves putting stakes in the ground or people guarding controls btw. They are used for evening events run by one or two people in Scotland regularly.

If US orienteering really wants to take itself seriously, it needs to make more of great opportunities like this. I have also done a billion training runs with a map and no controls, but chances like this one don't come along too often.

The cable solution would get us in trouble in CP. -

The larger problem is the rarely discussed fact of organizer burn-out, for which HVO is clear example. The club had a very active time, yet over the years people moved away, retired from orienteering or simply got older. Or had done their share and realized, that they have to make a living.

Organizing a big event can be fun and to some degree a learning experience in planning, creating and managing an event. Yet this wears out. It's the problem of any sport based on volunteer work.

I am glad you guys are putting on this meet with crayons or not.

It is OK sometimes for the community to put on events for the enjoyment of the community itself.

In principle, an event at CP sounds like a great way to get exposure. Getting any publicity milage out of this would require a lot more legwork than simply having real controls and epunching, however.

CP events don't need to be big. They need to be weekly. Or fortnightly. With or without streamers... Maybe instead of flags, a bit of pink tape around a wooden block?

Then you would get a steady group of people turning up, something social, and it could be built upon.

Re organiser burnout. My feeling is that a lot of people (besides those who burnt out) don't get asked to do much. But it would take a good people person and knowledgeable organiser (Ellen?) to make some phone calls, and then some more calls... Lots of people are willing to help, if the task is bite-sized. But currently the tasks aren't bite-sized, and that scares people.

Yup Daniel, you don't need to talk to me about organiser Burnout. I've already run two meets this fall. But I still would have helped out with this, had anyone asked, because I see it as important.

Sprint the Golden Gate in 2011 used epunch, and plans to use epunch in 2013. It remains to be seen if >30 people show up.

You'll just need 29 more, because I'll be there.

When is it this time TD?

December 6-8, 2013, per the sanctioning schedule.

Oh, that's a long way away! Remind us in the summer!

In Vancouver we use small construction pin flags at our training nights. They rarely get taken, unless there are lots of kids in the area. We also use e-punch in urban areas at our weekend meets, and I only recall us losing 2 in the past 4 years (mostly the SI box is removed and thrown somewhere nearby - apparently that counts as a fun activity!)

Thanks to Jeremy, Geoff, whoever else involved. This was a lot of fun, and particularly entertaining for my daughter and my cousin's son, both of whom live in Manhattan and spend a lot of time in the park. Gave them a new way to look at it and an interesting mix for them of things they are familiar with and things they are not.

Agreed; this was a great event, not made any less fun for competitors by its barebones approach. Great job pulling this off in the face of some formidable constraints -- it was much appreciated and enjoyed by those who were lucky enough to attend.

In Edmonton we did a training session with pre-printed maps but no control flags of any type. Runners used Garmin GPS and punched when they thought they were at the control. We gathered afterwords to watch everyone's race on the computer. Lots of fun and good training.