The Alberta Orienteering Association is currently looking for Canadian mappers who have extensive experience producing top quality orienteering maps (OCAD) to the latest ISOM and ISSOM standards to work on different projects in Alberta and BC during the summer of 2012, for a period of 8 weeks. Depending on experience, the pay range is from 18-22 dollars per hour.

The specifics areas where we want to map are still to be determined.

The mappers will be coordinated by the Alberta Orienteering Association.

If you are an interested mapper, and you have the experience send your resume to Pascale Lévesque.

photos: 23

Comments from last year's Peg-O event:
"That was the most intense racing I've done"
"That was super fun"
"We should do this every year!"
“Jane’s Princes Island Peg-O was the best event of the year”

Come on! One more race before hanging up the O-shoes for the winter.

The Peg & Scatter in Canmore outdoor fun …

Peg event - prizes for the person with the most pegs, for the first across the line, and so on

• Peg event - prizes for the person with the most pegs, for the first across the line, and so on

• Scatter event - for beginners, families, and the not-so-competitive

• Intro Clinic - a short pre-race clinic

Peg & Scatter event details

Online registration is open.

Register online to reserve a map (!), make sure we get the right number of pegs on course (!), and avoid lineups and delays on the day. On the day registration will be subject to a $2 extra fee. Entry fee is $10/adult & $5/junior (under 20).

Bow Valley & Canmore September 17, 18

Congratulations, FWOC Medalists

FWOC owns the podium at the Alberta Orienteering Championships,
capturing:
• 41 Gold
• 30 Silver
• 19 Bronze

The Fast Women of Calgary *sparkled* again…
• 26 Gold bling!
• 18 Silver bling!
• 2 Bronze bling!

Complete results are available at:
• Orienteering Calgary
• Barebones
• My-O
• Route Gadget

A huge THANK YOU to all the Barebones volunteers who provided yet another amazing weekend of Orienteering (this time “under the rainbow”)

photos: 3
Results Sprint
Results Forest
Results Urban Park

Participate in one, two or all three events. Your choice!
Free Orienteering
Lunch Provided Adults $15 … Juniors $10
• Register on-line

Complete Club Championships series consists of three(3) events:

Club Champs Sprint – Redwood Meadows (east of Bragg Creek)
Saturday Sept 3
Course Start : 10:00am – 11:00am
Course closing : 12:00 noon
Brunch and Awards : 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm

Club Champs Forest - Redwood Meadows (east of Bragg Creek)
Saturday Sept 3
Course Start : 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Course closing : 3:00 pm

Club Champs Urban Park – Edworthy Canada Olympic Park (COP)
Wednesday Sept 7
Course Start : 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Course closing : 8:00 pm

Sunday, June 26, 11:00am – 1:00pm
Kamp Kiwanis map, 1:5,000
Open to FWOC members: adults, as well as families in the Junior Program.
Approx 45 minutes drive from Calgary.

What to expect:
This is a training event, not a competition or a race. It will focus on the skills and knowledge required to help prevent you getting lost in the forest, and to help you relocate if you do get lost. Beginners, intermediate and advanced orienteers are all welcome. There will be a clinic at 11:00 – 11:30am given by Karen Martino on the topic of “Relocation”. Then there will be an activity until 1:00pm which will provide experiences of “getting lost and then relocating” all within safe boundaries. There will be flags hung at the control sites, but there will be no SI units. This training activity does not consist of any courses as such; the only course will be a short beginner one for the younger juniors.

Directions:
Drive west on Highway 8 towards Bragg Creek. At the junction with Highway 22, there is a roundabout. Do not enter the Kamp Kiwanis entrance here. Instead, go north on Highway 22 for about 50 metres and turn onto a small gravel road where there will be an orienteering sign. Park along this gravel road.
Directions to the site can be found here.

What to bring:
Compass, whistle, water bottle, lunch, sun screen, insect repellent, appropriate clothing for the weather.

Cost:
$5.00 per adult
Free for juniors in the FWOC Junior Program

Saturday, June 11, 11:00am – 1:00pm
Sulphur Springs map, 1:10,000
Open to FWOC members: adults, as well as families in the Junior Program
Approx 1 hour drive from Calgary.

What to expect:
This is a training event, not a competition or a race. It will focus on the skills required to understand contours. Participants are advised to walk the course (or maybe jog if you are an advanced orienteer). Beginners should definitely be accompanied by a more experienced orienteer. Your orienteering map will have a red line which you must follow as exactly as you can. You will find controls (no SI unit, just the flag) hung on features along this line. You must mark the locations of these control flags onto your map and record the control description. As you follow the red line on your map, you will cross a large variety of contour features such as hills, depressions, spurs, reentrants, etc. At some points you might follow a contour line exactly (staying at the same elevation), or you might cross contour lines at right angles (going straight uphill or straight downhill), or you might cross a hill obliquely. At the start, you will receive instructions and a handout, as well as a map. At the parking area, you must sign out when you leave, and sign in when you return.

Timing:
Start when you are ready, at the parking area, between 11:00 – 11:30am. Finish at the parking area by 1:30pm. There will not be any SI units at the controls, except for a 1km beginner course for the younger juniors. If you want to time yourself, bring a watch; we are not timing anyone.

Courses:
1. 1.2km course (25m elevation) for younger juniors who must be accompanied by a parent
2. 3.3km line (25m elevation) for older juniors (and adults wanting minimum climb)
3. 4.6km line (220m elevation) for adults (technically relatively easy but strenuous)
4. 6.2km line (250m elevation) for adults (technically difficult and strenuous)

Directions:
Drive to Bragg Creek, continue south on Highway 22. At the T junction with Highway 66 (Elbow Trail), turn right (west) and follow Highway 66 approx. 13.5km to the Moose Mountain Road (on the right hand side). Turn right onto Moose Mountain Road, and drive 2.3km up this gravel road to a parking area on the left hand side.

What to bring:
Compass, watch, whistle, ball point pen, water bottle, lunch, sun screen, insect repellent, sun hat, appropriate clothing for the weather.

Cost:
$5.00 per adult
Free for juniors in the FWOC Junior Program

Update:
The Kamp Kiwanis event is postponed to Sunday, June 26, because the flooding of the Elbow River is too serious. The Youth/Youth Plus biweekly training will take place at a location within Calgary instead of at Kamp Kiwanis. Sarah will send those families more details shortly.

This Sunday May 29 will be our first “Step into the Forest” training opportunity. As part of the Beyond the Basics adult training, a session on the skill of “Relocation” will be offered this Sunday at Camp Kiwanis in conjunction with the Step into the Forest session.

Two sessions will be run for the “Relocation” training. The first session will be at 11:00 and the second, for those adults with kids attending the junior training session, will be at 1:30.

Directions to the site can be found here.

Please rsvp to Karen Martino if you are planning on attending and to what session you will be attending for.

This is a great opportunity to come try some orienteering in a forest environment.

We hope to see lots of new faces out in the forest!

What:
This orienteering season, FWOC would like to offer adult members with “some” orienteering experience an opportunity to further their orienteering knowledge through a series of short training sessions.

When:
The “Beyond the Basics” sessions will be offered at regular Wednesday evening orienteering events from 6:30-7:00. This will give you time afterwards to put your new skills into practice on one of the courses. A final session will take place during a Saturday forest training event. (Sessions may be repeated in August but the schedule is not set yet!)

Session Schedule:
      1) Orienting the map, Compass Basics - University of Calgary, May 4, 2011
      2) Map Simplification - Bowness Park, May 11, 2011
      3) Contour Basics - Edworthy Park, May 18, 2011
      4) Aiming off - Fish Creek Park (Glennfield), May 25, 2011
      5) Relocation - Camp Kiwanis, Sunday May 29, 2011

Who:
The Beyond the Basics training is open to any adult club member who has some basic orienteering knowledge/experience and wants to learn some different techniques/skills to take their orienteering abilities to the next level. You do not have to attend all of the sessions to take part! Just come out when you can!

Where:
Meet with your “Beyond the Basics” instructor at the registration table just prior to 6:30 on the scheduled Wednesday evening events. (Sign up will be required for the Saturday forest training session. More information will be available closer to the date.)

Contact Karen Martino if you have any questions.
Hope to see you out there!

The Alberta Orienteering Association is currently looking for Canadian mappers who have extensive experience producing top quality orienteering maps (OCAD) to the latest ISOM and/or ISSOM standards to work on different projects in Alberta during the summer of 2011, for a period of 6 to 8 weeks. Depending on experience, the pay range is from 18-22 dollars per hour.

The different areas where we want to map are still to be determined.

The mappers will be coordinated by the Alberta Orienteering Association. If you are an interested mapper, that you have the experience please contact Pascale Lévesque.

When : Tuesday May 3rd 6pm - 9pm

Where : SAIT campus – Heritage Hall, Ground Floor
            Room MA128

What : Introduction to Orienteering

Looking for a new activity to spice up your outdoor adventures? Just want a new activity to do with your family? Heard about Orienteering before but not sure what it is?

Come out to the Foothills Wanderers Orienteering Club spring Open House. This is a drop-in session, no pre-registration needed. Learn how easy it is to get involved in orienteering, basic skills, how to read a map, and upcoming events where you can participate.

We’ll even have a short course you can try out.

Make sure to mark this event on your calendar.

*Photos
*WinSplits
*RouteGadget

Due to weather conditions - lots of snow - Prairie Opener is postponed until Saturday, April 30.

If you have registered online, and cannot be at Rumsey on April 30, please contact Meet Director
Clarence Kort 403-282-1767 about refund information.

This year's Prairie Opener will return to the beautiful landscape of Rumsey, Alberta, on the SL Ranch, fastest orienteering terrain in Canada.

Registration opens at: 9:30 AM

Course Starts: 10 AM to noon

Course Closing: 3:00 PM

SL ranch, east of Highway #56, between minor highways #589 (N) and 585 (S).

Google Maps

6 courses will be offered - to suit your skill and fitness level...

1. C0 string

2. C1 2.2 km

3. C2 2.2 km

4. C3 3.5 km

5. Short Advanced 4 km

6. Long Advanced 8 km

Online Registration (closes Fri, April 15).

Driving?

From Calgary: Hwy 2 North to Olds, East on Hwy 27. At T-junction (Hwy 21), North for 3km, East on Hwy 585 at Trochu. At T-junction (Hwy 56) north for 9.6 km. Township Road 344 (right) to SL Ranch. (2 hours)

From Edmonton: Hwy 2 South to Innisfail, East on Hwy 590. Cross Mackenzie Crossing Bridge, to Hwy 56. South for 9.5 km (3.2 km south of Hwy 589). Township Road 344 (left) to SL Ranch. (3 hours)

Meet Director: Clarence Kort 403-282-1767

Course Planner: Don Merriam

Controller: Marion Owen

*photos: 9
*Results

Date: Sunday February 20th

Time: 4-hour category goes from 10am-2pm
         2-hour category starts at Noon-2pm

Organizers: Andrée Powers & JP Buysschaert

Format: Score-O - 'Rogaine' style controls (big features, off-trail, expect some climbing)

Participation: Teams of 2 traveling together - you must stay within sight of each other.

Map: Elbow Bluffs - 1:10000 scale w/ 5m contours. Before the event you will receive more directions & parking instructions.

Cost: $20 per team - collected at the event. All participants need to be members of FWOC (or another orienteering club). If you aren't currently a member (or if you haven't renewed your membership for 2011) you will be able to purchase a membership at the on-site registration the morning of the event.

Registration is at https://www.zone4.ca/register.asp?id=1709, and will be open the morning of Tuesday February 8th. When you register you must enter the names of both teammates. If the event fills-up, and you didn't get in on time, we'll keep a stand-by list in case any registered team drops out.

*photos: 33

Attention all Ghosts, Goblins, Witches and other Scary Creatures!!

• place: Confederation Park - the parking lot at the NE end of the park on 30th Avenue (go north on 10th St (keeping on 10th st when it turns up the hill instead of staying on Cambrian Drive); East (right) on 32 Ave. It turns back south down a hill and becomes 7th St and then 30th Ave). The parking lot is on your right at the bottom of the hill (see the link to the map below).

• date: Friday October 29th, 2010

• time: 6:30pm onwards (with the last start around 7:30 - we don't want our ghosts etc to freeze!) Although the clocks have not 'fallen back' it is dusk by 6:45

• after social: the Triwood Community Centre, 2244 Chicoutimi Dr NW. It is only about 5 minutes drive away. We tried to get a hall right on this map and other maps but this was the best we could do! We will provide hot dogs and buns and something to drink - and maybe even candy...

• bring:
  yourselves (+/- costume!) (Just remember to dress warmly, even though the weather is expected to improve by the end of the week)
  flashlight or headlamp
  Hallowe'en themed snacks, either savory or sweet
  friends - but we do need to know numbers by Wednesday evening

• cost: $5 per participant to a family maximum of $15

• courses:
  short which will only be in the park between 10th St and 30 Ave, and approx. 1.2km with lots of spooky, scary fun stuff
  medium, approx 2-3km, some spooky, scary fun stuff
  long, approx 3-4km, some spooky, scary fun stuff and maybe wet feet...
  Any of these courses can be done as individuals or in groups! Both the medium and long courses go west of 10th Street but only via the tunnel. Please do not cross 10th Street!

• Directions: GoogleMaps

Witch-in-charge (Marion Owen!)
and numerous other witches and hobgoblins, spooks and monsters

Welcome to Orienteering Calgary’s 2010/2011 TNT season … this year’s promotion is Twoonie Night Training … pay only $2 and participate in TNT training ... it’s that easy.

We are starting off with a really solid schedule but we need more Twoonie Night Training event organizers … make somebody's day >>> please check the open dates and sign-up as an event organizer by emailing Don M at FWOC Executive Contacts.

Event Organizer Rules

1. Sign-up as event organizer , you are responsible for the week with Wednesday in the middle. You can hold your event, any day, from Sunday thru Saturday of that middle Wednesday.
2. The type of training is flexible, not only Orienteering … any type of athletic training is welcomed. Re-running your summer course would be ok.
3. Get creative with map location. Check out Don M’s Edge City series.
4. Event can be held from a coffee shop, car, home etc.
5. Organizer is responsible for sending a reminder email 2-3 days previous and email Don M to update website schedule.
6. First timers must become club members (fill and sign membership form) … $10 for the entire event.
7. TNT Kit contains all required equipment.
8. Schedule of event details posted on web site.

Organizer’s get half a year of free TNTs.

*photos: 15

There are some photos from the 2010 OCCC event at Nose Hill Park (click the photo to the right).

And don't forget to Register on-line for the September 19, 2010 OCCC Spint event at the ZOO.

NOTE: registration for the ZOO event is ON-LINE only. On-site at race day registrations are NOT possible because we'll enter the ZOO before ticketing offices open.

2010 Orienteering Calgary Club Championships & Brunch

Visit our 2010 OCCC web page for detailed info, latest news and results.

Participate in one, two or all three events. Your choice!

Or come just for brunch :)

• Register on-line

• Early bird deadline: register BEFORE Sep 01 to claim your discount!

The complete Club Championships series consists of three(3) events:

1. Club Champs Forest - Fish Creek Park (Bebo Grove - 24 St SW)

Saturday Sept 11

Course Start : 10:00am – 12 noon

Course closing : 2:00pm

2. Club Champs Urban Park - Nose Hill Park (64 Ave NW)

Sunday Sept 12

Course Start : 10:00am – 12 noon

Course closing : 2:00pm

3. Club Champs Sprint & Brunch/Awards - Calgary ZOO

Sunday Sept 19

Course Start : 8:00am - 8:35am

Course closing : 9:15am

Brunch and Awards : 9:30am

• Register on-line

Because the weather is poor today, TRY-IT event is extended to the next week.

So everybody welcome to try orienteering for free today April 28 at Eau Claire Market or on May 5 at University of Calgary.

The Prairie Opener 2010 will take place at the SL Ranch, near Rumsey… Orienteering courses for all ages.

Date: Saturday April 17, 2010

Registration: 9:30 AM

Course starts: 10 AM to Noon

Course closing: 3:00 PM

Location: SL Ranch, which is east of Highway #56 in between minor highways #589 (N) and #585 (S).
Google Maps

>>> Go to online registration <<< Cost .. Adult $20 , Junior (10-20) $10, Kids (9 and under) $0.

6 courses will be offered, choose a course appropriate to your skill and fitness level as follows:

• C0 String
• C1 2.2km
• C2 2.2km
• C3 3.5km
• Short Advanced 4km
• Long Advanced 8km

Course Planner: Marion Owen

Meet Director: Don Merriam

Registration closes Fri April 16.

FWOC / JDP is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Foothills Nordic Ski Club (FNSC)!

Starting Tuesday May 04, cross-country head coach Chris Jeffries will be running a weekly Club Night fitness/conditioning practice. These sessions are open to all JDPers with an active FNSC membership! You can purchase a FNSC membership at the FNSC website: http://www.foothillsnordic.ca .

The first session will take place at Confederation Park (19^th St and Chicoutimi Dr NW) from 6:30 to 8 pm. More details will follow shortly.

From the FNSC website: FNSC is very excited about this new relationship that promotes active sport for life in a year round setting. Cross-country director Stan Prenioslo sees it as a perfect fit for both clubs. “Orienteering and Nordic skiing are both hugely popular in the Scandinavian countries, we see this as a perfect union as we continue to develop our respective programs in the coming years.”

JDP 2010 is open to all juniors 6-20y (must turn 6y on or before Dec.31, 2010). JDP 2010 Fees are $50/junior (prior to April 1, 2010) and $60/junior (as of April 1, 2010) - each junior fee includes 1 complimentary adult Wed. event season pass for family members e.g. parents, grandparents or older siblings.

* Registration will continue until all available spots are filled.

More information on JDP website: http://orienteeringcalgary.ca/junior/

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact FWOC Junior Program Coordinator:

Karin Gerritsen

E-mail: junior@OrienteeringCalgary.ca Phone: 283 9531

*photos: 5

Fantastic area, fantastic weather, fantastic courses. It was a wonderful training at the foothills of Rocky Mountains last Sunday.

There were four courses with difficulty from “slightly more difficult beginner” to “long advanced”.

Courses short and long advanced (C5 and C6) are put into attackpoint so you can enter and compare splits if you like http://www.attackpoint.org/splits.jsp.

30%FTE (12h/w – on average) Jan – Dec. (year round position) rate: $22/h.

Is responsible for the development, implementation and delivery of a coaching curriculum that is appropriate for all Calgary Junior Program members (ages 6-20y).

Requirements: Previous orienteering experience, a good understanding of long term athlete development and a willingness to complete a police information check, to complete the NCCP community coaching workshop (if not already done so) and to have up to date first aid certification.

To apply for this position, please email your orienteering and coaching experience resume to: junior@OrienteeringCalgary.ca by March 12, 2010.

If you have any questions or would like further details, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Hurray! We are through our cold spell of the winter! Now let’s get on with some training.

To kick off the TNT (winter training) season, Christmas “race” will be organised on Tuesday, December 22^nd in Sunnyside / Princes Island.

Organisers will be needed for subsequent weeks. Please send an email to Teresa Winn (tkwinn@shaw.ca) if you would be willing to organise a training session. If possible let her know which date you would like and she will coordinate.

Congratulations to all organizers, volunteers and participants for an incredibly diverse season of events. Calgary’s Orienteering community has come together to guarantee a wide variety of high quality events, for all ages. Here’s a quick recap for 2009:

Still to come!
The FWOC 2009 season still has three excellent events to come:
1. September 26 - Urban Hunt Calgary Corporate Challenge Eau Claire Market (Food Court)
2. October 3 - (CANCELLED) Mountain Bike Orienteering - Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park
3. October 4 - Run the Wild - Sun Sandy McNabb Recreation Area (Kananaskis)

Calgary Roadrunners experienced a great evening of orienteering at Edworthy Park on the 21^th of August. There was about 15 in attendance, beautiful evening, BBQ potluck. Runners were treated to three fun loops of varying difficulty and terrain. Lots of positive comments but runners were surprised at just how fun the sport is!

*photos: 3

Jen Silverthorn met Paul Karchut from CBC Radio on Wednesday evening, the 19^th of August! They had a blast trying out Cindy Heselton’s course in Bowmount and taking about orienteering. The CBC article is available here (go to article from 20^th of August). The news article read directly by clicking here.

Register now for JDP 2009! The first 40 junior registrants will receive a FREE Orienteering bumper sticker. Families who were part of JDP 2008 will be guaranteed a spot in JDP 2009 if they register PRIOR to April 05, 2009. JDP 2009 is open to all juniors 6-20y (must turn 6y on or before Dec. 31, 2009). JDP 2009 Fees are $50/junior - each junior fee includes 1 complimentary adult Wed. event season pass for family members e.g. parents, grandparents or older siblings. To register follow the three steps on the junior web-site.

The Alberta Orienteering Association is currently looking for Canadian mappers who have extensive experience producing top quality orienteering maps (OCAD) to the latest ISOM and/or ISSOM standards to work on different projects in Alberta during the summer of 2009.

The different areas where we want to map are located in Calgary and Alberta Rocky Mountain.

The mappers will be coordinated by the Alberta Orienteering Association.

If you are an interested mapper and you have the experience please contact Pascale Lévesque at pascale@orienteeringalberta.ca

Each year a number of Alberta Orienteers make the trip to run on some of Sage’s open, challenging, very beautiful maps and enjoy the laid-back BC hospitality. More details on the Sage website.

If you missed Nicki's article on sprint orienteering when it was originally released in Impact Magazine's July/August 2007 issue, a PDF of the article is now online.

Registration for JDP 2008 is now open. The first thirty registrants will receive a free Silva souvenir control flag and some registrations have already been received, so sign up now! More

FWOC is looking for one or more part-time Technical Specialists who will develop and teach a new officials' course, conduct group coaching sessions, and create instructional materials. More information is in the job description Contact FWOC President, Nicki Rehn, to apply, or for more information.

We've updated the look and reworked some of the contents but this is just the beginning. In future expect more information, more news and interesting stories, and more photos. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the new layout and if you have comments, suggestions or wish to have news or event information published, please email me.

Watch a video of Thierry Gueorgiou, one of the world's top orienteers, navigating through terrain at high speed.

In the World of O's second story in a series on Thierry Gueorgiou, Thierry describes his navigation technique. The technique is not just for elite orienteers; every orienteer could benefit from following its principles.