St. Malo Snow-O City Park Meets
February 23rd 2019 12:00pm
Organizer: Thomas Graupner (Event Director)
Map: St. Malo Park
The St. Malo Snow-O is an orienteering event with categories for
skiing, snowshoeing, and running/walking. The objective is to
score as many points as possible within the 90-minute time limit. First start will be at 12 noon. For safety reasons, all
competitors must check out and back in with the organizers. Drinks and
snacks will be provided at the end of the race.
Please bring a watch, a compass, and a completed membership/waiver form if you are not yet a 2019 member. This event is free for 2019 members since it will be your first event of the year. Depending on your mode of transportation (skiing, running, etc.), you may also want to bring something for holding your map. The maps will be on 11 x 17 inch paper inside 12 x 18 inch plastic map cases. String and tape will be available for those who want it. Finally, don't forget to bring warm clothing.
Parking will be at the organizer's parents' home, which is across the lake from St. Malo Provincial Park. See the road map below. The actual start/finish will be on the lake, about 100 m from the park.
If you intend to come, please register by using this web site or by contacting Thomas Graupner (thomasg@cottonwood.ca or 204-292-4209). Please register by Thursday, February 21st to ensure that a map will be printed for you.
Choice of Category (mode of transportation)
The course can be completed on skis, snowshoes, or just running shoes or winter boots. Runners are usually the fastest. Here are the organizer's recommendations for choice of footwear:
- If you're at all worried about damaging your skis or snowshoes, then wear running shoes or winter boots.
- Whatever your mode of transportation, make sure your footwear is warm and durable.
- Until the weather and trail conditions are known, be prepared to run in case skiing becomes impractical.
Scoring and Ranking
There will be 16 controls worth 10 points each. There will also be 4 special legs worth 10 points each. A special leg is simply two connected controls. If you get the two controls consecutively (in either order), you will get the points for the leg in addition to the points for the controls. (Maximum score is 200.)
There will be no penalty for being late, but controls punched and legs finished after the time limit won't count.
Participants will be ranked according to number of points. Participants with the same number of points will be ranked according to total time (from start punch to finish punch).
Conditions as of Sunday, February 10, 2019
There was more snow than last year and very few snowmobile and ATV tracks, which are usually all over the place in the winter. These two factors combined made running/walking very slow going.
Skis or snowshoes may help with the deep snow, but could make it more difficult climbing through drifts when getting on and off the lake.
Update on Sunday, February 17, 2019
The ski trails have been groomed.