Discussion: U.S. Corn Maze Long Course Championships

RMOC's corn maze event on 10/31/2010 has been designated (by RMOC) as the 2010 Long Course Championships!

We don't have an event logo, but we'll be shamelessly appropriating the CMOUSA logo designed by Patrick / J-J.

The corn maze at Rock Creek Farm has five miles of trails. The farm staff says it takes "most people" about 1 or 1.5 hours to find all 18 controls.

If the CMOUSA BoD approves, I can add information to the CMOUSA website.

Excellent! I'll be sure to forward results and photos after the event.

In a late night special meeting the CMOUSA board has unanimously approved the bid from RMOC to host the 2010 Long Course Championships.

A spokesman for CMOUSA said: "We were especially impressed by the advance planning by RMOC. Receiving the bid 10 days before the event ensures that there will be sufficient time to make this a true championship. Congratulations to RMOC for their efforts and we look forward to a great event."

There was also some discussion at the meeting about the possibility of RMOC holding an additional championship event on the 31st, such as the Trail-O champs, or the Night-O' champs (or possibly even the Night Trail-O' champs), or in case of bad weather the Ski-O' champs. The board, as usual, is prepared to act with great swiftness.

And, one further item, the Board was especially impressed with how its logo was used at the Classic and Sprint champs, with the ear of corn in the circle aligned to magnetic north. Several competitors had commented on how that helped them during the races. The Board encourages future championship organizers to do the same.

Will maps, course markings and additional overprinting be drawn and printed
according to the ISCMOM and all deviations approved by CMOUSA?

My copy of ISCMOM reads, in full:

"It is strongly recommended that the map be perfect."

Have there been any updates?

And my copy of CMOUSA's strategic plan says the following about championships bids:

"There must be a post-race party."

That's why the board was able to approve the RMOC bid so quickly.

or in case of bad weather the Ski-O' champs

??? Now I'm confused.

Isn't that the definition of "good weather" ?

RMOC is pleased to receive official CMOUSA approval!

A Corn Maze Night-O would be fun; but, as usual, we're having permit issues (the maze closes at 6:00 pm).

Jagge, the map is being provideed by the farm. I suspect they have their own "special" mapping standards...

With the 2010 Long Course Championships coming up this weekend, CMOUSA would like to remind both the organizers and the participants about the federation's rules regarding the placement of controls, and specifically about how close controls may be to each other.

Simply put, and realizing that most controls will be on similar features (corn), there is no rule. The course setter hangs the controls, the participant has to find them, it's all very straightforward.

Because there are no rules other than the requirement for a post-race party, CMOUSA would also like to remind participants that there can be no protests, and organizers that there is no need for a jury. If our one rule is broken, i.e. somehow there is no party, well, the Board will deal with it swiftly.

By the way, an examination of the maps from the 2010 Classic and Sprint Champs reveals that controls on similar features were as close as 13 meters. No one objected, of course.

If the only rule is the requirement of the party, does that mean I could bash through the walls of the corn maze?

Yes, but then you wouldn't be invited to the party.

I think Peter misspoke. The requirement for a party is a sanctioning criterion from the strategic plan. Not crossing corn is actually not a CMOUSA rule (the rules have not yet been published), but rather a stipulation of our gracious farmer hosts. You mightn't get disqualified, but you should be escorted from the premises and perhaps arrested.

J-J is correct. In addition to the rule about not short-cutting through the corn rows, the farm also has rules about not picking or throwing corn.

Also -- to hopefully avoid any potential complaints or protests, I requested an informal map / course review yesterday from a CMOUSA official (Cristina).

Can I bring my own corn and throw it? I kinda like the thought of running around pelting my fellow competitors and general orneriness.

I heard a rumor (completely unsubstantiated) that there was a proposal to modify the CMOUSA rules so as to require the wearing of plaid by competitors.

It would not have occurred to me to throw the corn. But, when I saw the sign with rules posted saying I couldn't throw it, of course all of a sudden I wanted to. ;-)

I betcha biggins' yak helmet is thrown-corn proof. He's prepared for everything.

Mmmmmm, plaid o' uniforms. Tasty.

I would have worn plaid if I had known it was the thing to do.

Some of us had emergency plaid on hand just for that occasion.

Seems like CMOUSA's campaign to get more terrains available is working quite well.

I think Peter misspoke....

Thank you, JJ, for your polite way of saying that I am old and easily get confused.

Well, at least you know I wasn't trying to insult you, because in that case I would have started with, "With all due respect...".

I'm wearing a western-style plaid shirt today! Woo!

Potential site for the 2011 US Individual (SML) Corn/Bamboo Maze Championships?

http://www.mazefunpark.com/attractions/index.php

Hey! We've got the inside line on the corn maze for 2011. Already have a site that is willing to shut the whole place down for us. http://carolsteam.org/racing/default.aspx/ameet