Delaware Valley Orienteering Association

Topic created by billyscho44 on Wed Jun 1, 2011 at 9:04 am

billyscho44
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Hi... new to orienteering and I am preparing for an adventure race.  Through the DVOA site, I found Core Creek Park in Newtown, PA (a good intro, but very basic even for me)... could someone point me in the direction of a course or two in a 45 minute or so radius to Trenton/Princeton? Ideally I'm looking for something with some elevation, which is hard to find in NJ.

Reply by Sandy on Wed Jun 1, 2011 at 9:24 am

Sandy
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I don't think DVOA has any other permanent courses close to Princeton, at least I'm not aware of any.

If you're willing to drive a little further, this weekend's event at French Creek sounds ideal for what you want.  The score-o format means you can hunt for whichever control points you want so you can start with some easier ones and then if you still have time try for some of the advanced ones.   There is a 3 hour time limit.

Reply by edscott on Wed Jun 1, 2011 at 2:16 pm

edscott
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I agree that the score event this weekend will be appropriate for your training.  There will be controls of various degrees of difficulty and you may pick and choose the ones you want to attempt.  French Creek is somewhat steep in spots and can be rocky.  Other areas are open woodland where you can go as fast as your map reading skills allow.

Reply by WindWalker on Wed Jun 1, 2011 at 9:12 pm

WindWalker
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I'll throw in this warning - This can get addicting!

As an ex-mountainbike racer wanting to explore new adventures I decided I was going to do some adventure racing this year. Like you, that brought me to the DVOA website wanting to get better at land navigating for Adventure racing. I took an intro class by the DVOA back in March (I think) and did my first O event shortly there after and got hooked.

Funny thing is I'm having so much fun with O that I've sorta lost interest in the adventure racing thing. Adventure racing is pretty exspensive, but it's only $6 to play Orienteering (DVOA member), and they even give you water and cookies, sometimes gatorade and fig bars too. And results are the fastest I have ever seen in any sport - instant!

Sunday would be a great training run, just study the map and pick and choose controls, start with the easier ones and if they go well try some harder ones. Hang out at the start and introduce yourself, everyone is very friendly and very helpful. Lots can be learned post race from the veterans also by discussing problems you may have had out on the course.

Good luck and enjoy,

Mike

Reply by billyscho44 on Fri Jun 3, 2011 at 8:46 am

billyscho44
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Thanks for the replies... I thought about the event this weekend, but can't fit it in... I did find basic permanent courses (probably better suited for families wanting to go on a hike) sponsored by the dvoa at Core Creek Park in Newtown PA and one near Philly at Riddley State Park.  You don't really need your compass for those, but used it anyway for the practice.

All of this stuff is addicting for sure.  Looking forward to future events.

Bill Schofield