Ski Orienteering #1 - Kimberley Nordic Centre Ski O
January 27th 2024 1:00pm - 3:30pm
Organizer: JP Buysschaert (Event Director)
Map: Kimberley Nordic Centre Trails
Register for the SkiO by becoming a member of the KOC
Yeah for Fresh Snow !! - and for the first Ski-Orienteering event of the year at the Kimberley Nordic Centre.
What Is Ski Orienteering ?
It's simply X-Country Skiing ... with a small added adventure. You'll be given a simple map of the Nordic trail system. This map will show a series of checkpoints along the trails that you need to visit in order. Your challenge is to select the route between checkpoints that is best for You. Do you stay on the main trails as much as possible to play it safe, or take some of the smaller trails that wind around a bit more and play with your sense of direction? Do you take a more direct route that has more climb, or ski around a hill and add more distance but stay flat ? Do you stop more often to look at the map - or can you memorize your chosen route for skiing a longer stretch and then ski it without making any navigation errors? Even if you are very familiar with the Nordic trail system - this adds a challenge and you may experience the trail system and link trails together as you might not have before. And if you're a seasoned veteran skier - how well can you keep up those skills while reading the map and making these route decisions.
Ski Orienteering can be both a recreational activity or a competitive sport at the same time. You can participate simply to enjoy an activity and time outdoors - alone or with family or friends. OR - you can make it more competitive and ski against them - comparing times and route choices after you have finished.
Ski Orienteering takes place around the world - and here's a video where you can see the competitiveness of Ski-O athletes at the elite level.
Ski-O at Kimberley on January 27
There will be a shorter course around 5km in length, and a longer course between 6-7km.
As this is the first Ski-O event of the year - the courses will be more on the 'fun' side, to practice route choice and map-reading. We'll leave the 'epic' course for the big Ski-O in March during NordicFest.
To take part in any of the Ski-O events - you must of course have a day ticket or be a member of the Kimberley Nordic Club. You must also be a member of the Kootenay Orienteering Club. The good news is that when you join the Orienteering club now (for adults membership is only $10) you'll receive free entry into this event - and you can already sign-up for the Ski-O #2 in February as well for only an additional $5.
So use the link below to sign up for membership - and then put your name down for which course you wish to ski.
https://zone4.ca/register.asp?id=34401