Discussion: Florida's Toughest Orienteering Course

I've heard that a lot of adventure racers stay away from orienteering events because the courses are 'too short to work up a sweat' or is it 'too inexpensive to be worth it'?
Now you can sweat away on a 15-17 km orienteering course that will be the toughest set in Florida in years and the next day participate on a 20 km mountain bike orienteering course.
See Oscar Scherer #2 for more details. Contact gordhun@rogers.com for the full scoop.
This event is one week after the Georgia Navigator Cup so maybe a swing down through Florida could make a great O holiday. FLO has been known to put on events on demand for visiting orienteers.
All the other regular orienteering courses will be held as will a JROTC competition.

Who are adventure racers?

T/D Sometimes you ask pretty cryptic questions. This is one of those times.

That's a philosophical question.
I would say: adventure racers are men of mystery

Personally, I'm not real interested in the mountain bike O, but a second day of foot O courses (even keeping the same courses up for a second day) would be real appealing.

T/D has hit on this before; AR is a shell of its former self, which was only fringe to begin with. As much I personally love the sport, it's a terrible demographic to recruit from because there are none. Look elsewhere - trail runners, mudders, etc.

In my own market, the AR promoter has under facebook 500 fans. Some ultra running race weekend has 10,000. If I were setting up a booth, I'd do it at the ultra weekend.

Always wanted to try MTBO. Maybe it's a chance

In Florida the AR demographic is still pretty strong, not as strong as before the Tough Mudder fad but still stronger than orienteering. They have shown a willingness to drive several hours and endure some pretty rough conditions for less than perfect navigation challenges in a 3-8 hour adventure race that they can do as a team but will not attend a solo orienteering event with an expected 60 to 90 minute winning time.
The Oscar Scherer weekend is an attempt to attract them with the physical challenge they can handle and team aspect they like combined with a navigational challenge suitable to be called orienteering.
Mike, Yes the Mtb-O can be modified without problem or extra work to give a 3-4 hour Rogaine/ Long O as there are significant shortcuts that can be taken on foot.
Folks check your favorite air carrier as Delta and United have some pretty good connections through Atlanta and Charlotte to Sarasota, a short drive to the event site.
FLO has a second Bike-O in the works for Mar 9, 2014. It just needs final municipal approval. It will be in the vicinity of Melbourne FL in an area I'm calling the 'Labyrinth' because of its extensive road/trail network. (Bike-O instead of MTB-O because some courses will be tame enough for hybrid bikes.)

Sounds like a great way to appeal to a variety of demographics!

Wish I could go. We're setting up our own duo weekend next year with a 12hr rogaine on Saturday in May then a 3hr MTB rogaine on the Sunday on the same map - Sunday map drawn to MTBO standards though whereas the rogaine map will be to rogaine standards (which don't really exist in WA).

Now plans for the bike-O are on hold. Another park event is squeezing us out of the main parking/ recreation area. Officials will need to be shown that our event can be limited in size and not conflict with theirs. That does not seem to be too much of a challenge. Setting the course to avoid the area reserved for the other group will be more difficult.