Despite forecasts predicting more heavy Spring rain, 71 brave souls came out to try BAOC's newest map, at Vasona Lake. This "Come and Try It!" event was an attempt to move orienteering "closer to the people" by having it in a local park with easy access. The thought is that once people get hooked on these events, they'll travel a little further for BAOC's "full service" events. The responses from many of the finishers indicated that the plan worked, and we'll see them at future events.
The event consisted of a single White course of about 3.0 km. No poison oak, no climb, no water stops, no e-punch, no search parties needed. Just easy, enjoyable orienteering through a beautiful park. First-time and beginner orienteers treated the course as a normal course, while four of BAOC's more advanced orienteers treated the 10-control course as a Memory-O, having to memorize the entire map (on the clock) before leaving the start area.
The winning time of 19:18 for the regular White course was posted by the team of Daniel Johansson & David Osterstrom, who indicated after they finished the course that it was considerably easier than the Brown course at Sunol!
Despite having a problem remembering where the final control was on the Memory-O course, Tapio Karras posted a time of 23:20 to win that part of the event. After a brief rest, Tapio decided to try to set a faster time by doing the course again. About 5 minutes into the course, he was hit with a deluge of rain. He spent another 11 minutes running (swimming?) the course for a second time of just under 16 minutes. We're not sure if the faster time was because it was his second time through the course or that he just wanted to get out of the rain!
The special award for person or team returning weighing more than when they started goes to Ev & Jean Beuerman. They were caught in the same downpour. It is amazing how much rain one of those BAOC sweatshirts can hold!
Thanks to all those who helped with the event. Bob Cooley printed the maps. Ev, Jean, & Steve Beuerman ran registration. Carol Lewis did starts. Chuck Spalding and Nancy Lindeman (who didn't do a course) provided the most important beginner clinics. Jeff Lanam provided an extra tent and helped tear down the event in the rain. Thanks to everyone who came out that day.
Pl Name Time White Course (3.0 km, 30 m climb, 10 controls) 1 Daniel Johansson, David Osterstrom 19:18 2 Exel Mitshtein 19:45 3 Beatrix Paal, Tom Wiseman 23:37 4 Jeff & James Tait, Tim Switick, Derrick Freihofer 24:35 5 Marsha Jacobs 28:16 6 Ilan Sasson 29:35 7 Mark & Julie Rockelman 39:42 8 Eric & Courtland Prestemon, Reese Clement 40:10 9 Stephanie Chow, Emily Cheng, Brian Chang 42:13 10 Jeffrey, Samantha, Kim & Tom Stein 43:15 11 Audire Faist 44:20 12 Joanne Leadbetter, Mike Coulombe, Brian Davidson 45:09 13 Aleene & Carl Reisinger 46:12 14 Michelle Dick, Tom Phelan 46:24 15 Geneva Scharff, Tara Parker-Essig 49:23 16 Robin Leadbetter, Audrey Davis 53:18 17 Ev & Jean Beuerman 59:30 18 Mike, Terri, Ethan & Nolan Angerbauer 59:45 19 Robert & Dan Rose 63:43 20 Caleb & Anne Ling 65:55 21 Ann Martin 66:56 22 Kathy & Jason Bassett 70:45 23 Susan Miller, Alexandra Henrick 72:22 24 Harry, Eleanor, Dean & Bridgett Zuzan 79:08 25 Jeff, Julie, Christine, Shannon & Reilly 81:10 26 Kyra & Katie Johnson 84:00 27 Terry, Joe & Emily Farrah 97:07 Jaakko, Jukka & Johanna Karras DNF (rain) Memory-O Course (3.0 km, 30 m climb, 10 controls) 1 Tapio Karras 23:20 2 Werner Haag 25:48 3 Jeff Lanam 30:24 4 Steve Beuerman 37:44 Tapio Karras (2nd time) 15:52