2021 Team Trials

US Team Trials for the World Orienteering Championships

May 7-8-9 (Friday - Sunday)

Welcome to the 2021 Team Trials to choose the US Team that will compete in the World Orienteering Championships (WOC) in Czechia this summer (Covid permitting). Friday will be the Sprint race at the South Germantown Recreation Park (“Soccerplex”); Saturday will be the Middle race at Hoyles Mill Conservation Park. Both venues are located in Boyds, Maryland, and were used for Quantico’s Bumble event in February. Mapper Nadim Ahmed has added a small section on to Hoyles Mill (including the parking/start/finish areas) and updated the Soccerplex to sprint standards. This link [1] shows both areas on one map, as used for the Bumble.

WOC Team Eligibility: Must be a US citizen. Must be OUSA member or will join if named to WOC Team. Must be a US passport holder or will get one if named to WOC Team. Current US Team membership is NOT required. If you run in the Team Trials races (not the general public races), you are committing to attending WOC if named to the Team (coronavirus and travel permitting), so when registering, DO NOT ANSWER "YES" to THE "ELIGIBLE .. AND COMPETING ..." REGISTRATION FORM QUESTION UNLESS YOU WILL TRAVEL TO WOC AS A TEAM MEMBER IF CHOSEN.

Registration is now open: Registration for Friday & Saturday events by both WOC Team Trial competitors and non-Team Trialers is now available via this link [2]. Cost is $10 per race and if a Team Trialer requires an SI-AIR rental the cost is $5. Registration will close at 6pm on Wednesday May 5. To see who's registered, click here [3].

Friday/Sprint Information

Parking and registration on Friday will be in the Soccerplex lot directly north of the start triangle on this map. (Note: this is NOT the start for the Sprint races.) There will be portable toilets available nearby. The recreation park has multiple addresses, for all the various attractions; 18031 Central Park Circle, Boyds, MD, 20841 will get you into the park; look for signs to the parking near fields 12 and 13.

The sprint terrain is a mostly manmade landscape, with 24 soccer fields (all are STRICTLY out of bounds) and a fenced-in arena, a few ponds, paved trails, a splash park, mini golf, several parking lots, and a few buildings. Mostly open woods border the northern/northeastern edge. The park has many mowed grassy areas and paved areas that will yield fast running, along with some rough open areas to slow you somewhat. Small elevation changes keep the visibility from being wide open. There are just TWO courses, set by Linda Kohn (Rochester Orienteering Club): Blue and Red. The men running the Team Trials will run the Blue, while the women will run the Red. We are opening a limited number of slots for anyone else who wants to run. The Sprint will start at 3 pm, with the Trialers going first; the other runners will start between 3:30 and 4:15. Team Trialers will receive assigned starts; others can start whenever they want during the time slot they choose.

SI-AIR punches will be used for the Sprint. It is highly recommended you use a compatible SI-card if you are running in the Team Trials. If you are in the TT and do not have an SI-card, we can rent you one ($5). Please make sure to indicate this via the registration form if you are a Team Trialer.

Saturday/Middle Information

The middle terrain at Hoyles Mill Park is generally flat, with many (for Quantico) small boulders, ditches, and small cliffs. There is a lot of green on the map, which is mostly a barberry-like bush. The levels of green mostly indicate how dense the bushes are. Some are thorny. Even the “white” parts of the map have some bushes, but they are easily avoided. If it’s been rainy, the ground is wet in places, but that is not indicated on the map. Marshes on the map have different vegetation and are more consistently wet. Most point features are small. This is a technical area that will test your fine navigation and/or compass skills. If you are clean, you can be very fast. There are only TWO courses, set by Dave Linthicum: Blue and Red. The Middle will start at 10:30 for the Trialers, with the other runners following, starting at around 11. Team Trialers will receive assigned starts; others can start whenever they want during the time slot they choose.

New as of May 5: Detailed Course, Map and Event/Parking Notes

For the most recent event, course and map details please see this document [4].

General Information

Pre-registration for these Friday/Saturday events is required (via the link above). I am going to determine whether you need to register separately for Sunday; if the club agrees, you will automatically be entered into the Team Trials Long race on Sunday, for which QOC is waiving your entry fees.

As at all QOC events, we will be following our COVID protocols. QOC’s COVID risk reduction protocols [5], as also enumerated here [6], will be in effect. Please read these guidelines carefully, particularly keeping in mind the need to bring your own water for all hydration needs before, during, and after your runs.

Other points:

• PROPERLY WORN MASKS ARE REQUIRED at all times when near registration and epunch areas and their volunteers. Per CDC guidelines, this applies to everyone, whether or not you have been vaccinated.
• There is no entrance or parking fee on either day.
• We encourage everyone to download and use any or even all of the DC [7], Maryland [8] and Virginia [9] COVID exposure notification apps.

Please direct any event questions to Peggy Dickison [10].

The team selection procedure will be forthcoming, along with course details.