CNYO - SNOWGAINE XV

	Central New York Orienteering
	SNOWGAINE XV
	Updated: 02/20/2008	Sponsored by: www.LightLink.com

CNYO Gaining Trifecta Cup — Event #1
SNOWGAINE XV
Winona State Forest, Mannsville, NY
Saturday-Sunday, March 1-2, 2008
DOWNLOAD Information Sheet and Entry Form

The annual CNYO SNOWGAINE is a navigation/endurance event in a ROGAINE-format with a few modifications to make it appropriate to the snowy, winter conditions of upstate New York. The event is open to teams of 2-5 persons who must stay together throughout the competition. The race is split into two eight-hour segments, starting at 9 am each day and ending at 5 pm. Competitors have their choice of equipment to use in the race—skis, snowshoes, running shoes, mountain bikes, etc., but the equipment must be either with the competitors or at the start/finish area during the race (no temporary caches of mountain bikes along a road while dashing in on snowshoes a little way to do the last 200 meters to a control, for example). Hot food will be provided for the competitors at the finish area at the end of each day's competition. The object of the event is to maximize your score by visiting as many as possible of 40-50 control markers, each with a specified value, within the specified time period. There will be heavy penalties assessed for late finishes to try to assure that everyone gets back safely on time.

CNYO will provide each competitor a detailed topographic map of the area (1:30,000 scale, 5-meter contour interval) with the control locations pre-marked and a plastic bag to protect it. Also we will provide a list of control descriptions for each location, available both in English and international orienteering symbol form, to make it clear exactly which feature is being indicated by the center of the marked circle. One punch card will be provided for each team to prove you have visited the controls. Control markings will be orange and white orienteering markers, usually to be found wrapped around the trunk of a tree at the control location. For durability in the winter conditions, these will usually be metal or plastic sheeting rather than a standard cloth orienteering flag. They will be visible from all sides. There will be a standard orienteering pin punch at each control marker, and a sign-in sheet to indicate time of arrival and next intended stop for search purposes should a rescue operation become necessary.

The competitors must provide their own equipment (skis, snowshoes, pack, extra clothing, etc.) and must provide for their own water needs throughout the day. We cannot provide water drops at a selection of the controls as is typical at summer rogaines since they would simply be frozen when the competitors arrived to use them. It is very important to carry appropriate amounts of layered clothing, including a waterproof outer layer if the weather gets up above freezing and we have rain, since it is possible to have gigantic temperature swings during the course of a day in this late winter period.

New Directions to the Meet Site: Follow I-81 north from Syracuse to exit 37 (Sandy Creek/Lacona). Go east to County Route 22 in Lacona. Continue on Center Road for 5 miles where it changes to County Route 13 at the Boyleston town hall. Parking will be at the town hall parking lot at the corner of Center Road and Bargy Road. The new start location is at the cabin of Russ and Becky Myer, a brown, single-story chalet 0.1 mile east of the Boyleston Town Hall on the south side of County Route 13.

Fees and Important Times for the Event: Eric Smith has extended the date for entries without a late fee to February 20, 2008. Send him e-mail notification of the entry information by end of day on February 20th in addition to sending the entry fee and paper copy by regular mail. His e-mail address is ens5@cornell.edu. Otherwise, for registrations received by February 24th, the fee is $45/competitor. Canadian registrants may pay on arrival. For registrations received within the last week or the day of the event, the fee is $55/competitor. The registration desk will open for check-in at 7:30 am on March 1. Maps will be distributed at 8:30 am. Mass start at 9:00 am. Food is available from 4-6 pm each day (a bit flexible depending on when people start arriving and appear to be finished eating). Late minute penalties begin to accrue after 5:00 pm, with a start on March 2 delayed behind the regular mass start by 3 minutes for each minute (or part thereof) late on March 1. A finish after 6 pm on March 1 will result in disqualification, and no start allowed on day 2. On March 2, the registration area will be manned starting at 8 am, with a mass start for all racers who were on time on day 1 going off at 9 am. Official finish time is 5 pm on March 2. On day 2 the penalty for late minutes is the subtraction of the least valuable remaining control from the score for each minute of delay until there is no score left. Awards, usually on the minimalist side, will become available as soon as we can get the scores added up-probably 5:30-6 pm.

Payment: Make checks payable to: Central New York Orienteering
Send payment and signed waivers to: Eric Smith, 275 Main St Ext, Freeville, NY 13068-9768

Accommodations: A recommended accommodation for race participants who would like to stay near the event site is Harris Lodging, 141 Salisbury St, PO Box 547, Sandy Creek, NY 13145-0547. Housing up to 27 people, the rate of $35/person/night includes a full breakfast. Other amenities include kitchens, gas grills, and high-speed, wireless internet. For reservations, call Linda at 315-387-5907 and mention the CNYO SNOWGAINE. There are also some other local inns and motels in Sandy Creek, but Harris Lodging is a particularly good value. Unheated communal camping in one of the cabins at the CCC camp may be possible.