Ski- Orienteering Ponderosa Park, Feb. 3

Look at the PHOTOS below for some action! Click on image to get full size.

A few intrepid CTOC members made the trek up the road to experience the novelty of ski orienteering and Winter Carnival snow sculptures. Even Sergey admitted he'd never tried ski-O before. A mix of local cross country ski team members and people in town for the carnival made up the rest of the field. A sub-zero foggy morning quickly warmed up to perfect ski conditions when the sun broke out. The snow quality on the trails was said to be much better than at Bogus Basin. Off- trail was deep powder and slow going.

Jeff and Sergey started out first thing and made for an exciting neck and neck finish. Sergey, with a later start, beat Jeff by just 7 minutes. They looked to be a lock on first and second place on the advanced course until local ski team dad Steve Patterson, with a late start, came in with a surprise upset. His time, just 4 seconds behind Sergey's, put him in close second place! Steve was aided in his first orienteering effort by a thorough knowledge of the park and lots of experience working with maps for the Forest Service. He and his wife Margaret (and daughter) did so well, I hope they can make it out to more meets and give us some new competition.

Course setting for ski-O is quite a challenge with all the controls having to be accessible from groomed trails. The competitors found the few route choice options I worked into the courses and used most of them. Margaret and girls showed a real flair for route choice and I think had the best route on a leg that was shared with the advanced course.

Thanks to Consuelo for helping with registration and making the dandy hands-free map holders (that worked best for the slower skiers).

Advanced  (red) 7km. 100m. climb
Sergey Velichko             1:00:39    (skate)
Steve Patterson             1:00:43    (skate)
Jeff Black                  1:07:46    (skate)
 
Intermediate  (orange)  4.5km. 50m. climb
Margaret Hillhouse,
Katelyn & Catherine?          55:35    (skate)
 
Novice  (yellow)  3.4km.  25m. climb
Dan & Jo Ann Herring        1:42:29    (snow shoe)
Tim Quillin  +              dnf        (classic)
 
First Timer (white)  1.5km.  10m. climb
Ben Hipple & 
Diane McConnaughy             22:00    (classic)
Steve Dunlap & Kate           45:25    (snow shoe)
Lucas family                1:18:20    (classic)
Maggie & Deb  (unofficial)    30:00    (classic)
Vivian Driscoll (missed one)  56:06    (snow shoe)

- Karin Didisse

Some snow sculptures at McCall Winter Carnival!