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Bear Valley Ski-O

Date: (Sun.) Mar. 1, 2009
Location: near Arnold, CA
Event Director: - 650.793.8764
Course Setters: Neil Hunt, Julie Raymond
Type: Ski-O; Point-to-point ski-O event with five courses (White, Orange, Green, Red, and Blue) of standard lengths

Please note that fees and time limits apply, unless otherwise mentioned below. Events are typically not canceled due to bad weather.


Event Director's Notes

By

Things are looking great for the ski-O event this Sunday at Bear Valley Cross Country. We have plenty of snow, all the trails are open, and the course-setting team of Neil Hunt and Julie Raymond has set some very fast and challenging courses. The courses are on the long side (see below), but the climb is minimal (0.4–1.6%), and the route choices are great. Oh yes, just like last year, there will be quite a few secondary trails added to the mix, with some controls on the secondary trails.

This year, Neil and Julie are going to Japan to compete on the U.S. team in the Ski-Orienteering World Championships. Unfortunately, that happens on the same weekend that the Bear Valley event happens, so Tony Pinkham will be setting the controls in place for the courses designed by Neil and Julie. Yes, Tony will be helped by a few others, so all should be nicely set up and ready to go by Sunday morning.

Volunteers are needed to help with registration and control pickup. If you can help, please let know.

Course stats are as follows: 

                Distance
   Course    Direct  Optimal       Climb

   White     2.3 km   3.7 km     15 m  0.4%
   Orange    5.0 km   6.7 km     40 m  0.5%
   Green     8.6 km   9.8 km    100 m  1.0%
   Red       9.3 km  14.2 km    220 m  1.6%
   Blue     11.5 km  21.0 km    290 m  1.4%

The Direct Distance is the sum of the straight-line distances between controls. The Optimal Distance is the course setter's estimate of the "ideal" route.

Course descriptions:

Competitive classes and courses: We are not using competitive classes. You just pick the course that you prefer to race on and GO (when your assigned start time occurs)!

Starts and finishes: This is pretty much a self-serve event. You start and finish yourself. You can start with others who are on other courses, but must start at least two minutes after or before anyone else on your course. When you punch in at the Start, you are on the clock until you punch in at the Finish punch. Be sure to punch the Clear and Check punches before you start your course. We will have Clear and Check punches at registration and the Starts area.

E-punching will be used. Bring your SI card finger stick. When you finish your course, download your data into the GeBe printer twice to get two readouts. Place one printout in our results, and keep one for yourself. We will have SI cards for rent ($3). Be sure to tie your SI card to your wrist, or keep it on a string that goes around your neck—just attaching them by a strap to your finger means that you could easily lose it without feeling it drop off. If you lose a rental finger stick, you will have to pay $25 or $30 to replace it. Some people attach a piece of colored construction tape onto their finger stick so that it can be easily seen if dropped on the trail.

The weather is expected to be cloudy, but relatively warm, with a possibility of some rain on race day (the day before will be sunny). Temperatures will be from 40 to 50 degrees F. That's like spring skiing, but the snow should be reasonably fresh. Conditions should be perfect for fast skiing.

The general rules for Bear Valley Cross Country include the following:

BAOC ski-O rules include, but are not limited to, the following:

Registration, Starts, and Finishes are all located by the trail head, which is located across Highway 4 from the parking area. Please cross the highway with care. We want no accidents with motor vehicles.

Fees are as follows: 

      - Adults  (21+ years)   $10
      - Juniors (8-20 years)   $5
      - Children (0-7 years)  Free
      - Shadows for children  Free (but must have a trail pass)
      - Groups are charged the full orienteering fee for the oldest
        person, then $2 for each additional adult ($1 for each
        additional junior) in the group. The group must compete
        together as a team.

      - There are lower fees for people who do the White course:
        $6 for adults and $3 for juniors

      - Super seniors (70+)    $8
      - Seniors (60-69)       $12
      - Adults  (18-59        $20
      - Juniors (13-17)       $12
      - Children (9-12)        $8
      - Children (0-8)         $1

To compete in this event (everybody is welcome), you must register with us and, if you need a trail pass, purchase a discounted trail pass at registration. You will receive a chit that you take to the ski trail office to pick up your trail pass. People with season or multiday trail passes do not need to purchase a trail pass for this event, but they must register through us for this event.

If you need to rent skis, you can do that in the ski shop located between the main parking area and the trail head. Be sure not to purchase your trail pass there (those trail passes are sold at full price—discounted trail passes are available only at the ski-O registration desk).

If you need to wax your skis, you can do that outside the ski shop. If you prefer to have someone wax your skis, the ski shop can take care of that for you (for a fee of course).

Hungry? There is a great trail-side cafe out on the cross country ski trails. We recommend eating early, because they do run out of some foods later in the day. Tony's favorite is the Headwater's Cafe, which is located in the Bear Valley Lodge (great for a big breakfast before skiing).

Driving Directions

Take Highway 5 or 99 to Highway 4, and then drive east about 70 miles, through Angel's Camp and Arnold, to Bear Valley Cross Country Ski Resort. Bear Valley is 120 miles from Livermore and Sacramento.

At Bear Valley Cross Country, turn left and drive between two large wooden bear statues. Proceed about 300' to a large parking lot on the right.

Walk back to the highway and carefully cross it to the trail head, where you will register and buy your trail passes.