Discussion: HVO meet vs. West Point meet

I’m trying to plan for the spring and buy air tickets while they are still cheap, if possible. There seems to be two really nice events in New York in April, HVO April 21-22 and West Point April 28-29, both in Harriman state park. As far as I understand this is one of the best areas for orienteering in the US, but I will not be able to go to both. So which should I choose? HVO has not published any information yet, so it is a bit difficult to make a final decision, but someone maybe knows something about that event anyway?

Going to the HVO meet and skip West Point would allow me to sit in my sofa in Tennessee and follow Tiomila online, which would be great, but are there any other pros and cons? Any differences in terrain type for example?

The events are less than 10 km apart, so the terrain is basically the same. The quality of the map that HVO is using is probably somewhat better, since it was made for the 1993 world championships.

We have some info about the meet at HVO A-meet. Our server has given us a hard time, so the more updated version has been lost. The A-meet web master is working on an update tonight.

Both days of the HVO A-meet will be in the northern half of the Surebridge map. The character of the terrain changes from extremely fast open woods with no undergrowth to rugged hills, swamps and the rocky outcroppings in the center of the map. The course will take advantage of the technical challenges and the great precisioin of the Surebridge map. A few trails which have changed are updated, but most of the map can be used as is.

(Disclosure: I have spent many hours in Surebridge checking out the courses. I consider it one of best maps I have ever been. And I am the course setter.)

Thanks! That sounds great! I have seen some maps from the world championships and I remember that it seems to be really exciting areas.

J-J is understating the quality of the map a little, since he was involved in mapping there. - I would say, in the best case people visit both events. As Jon C. writes, West Point offers some training opportunities in between. I will ask the EPA camp, maybe people could even stay the week in between, too.

Mata, go to the HVO A-meet. This is terrain you have no right to miss out on while living in the US. West Point is great, too (and a really unique orienteering experience - living in army barracks, etc.), but if i had to choose, I'd pick Surebridge.

WOC'93 terrain and maps IMHO are the best in North America .... and quite likely the World!