| Mendon Ponds Park Winterfest | 2017-01-15 |
| results | created by Ór |
44 Starts
Winterfest, January 17, 2017, Hopkins Point Lodge
In planning the Winterfest ski-o there was good news and bad news. The bad news; no snow was
mentioned in any of the forecasts. The good news: no agonizing as to whether to plan for foot or
ski. Gary Maslanka took advantage of the reduced winter vegetation to take us to places in the park
where few had gone before. The weather was cold enough to freeze the wet spots, but otherwise
not too bad.
One control in the woods went missing. Eventually the stake and epunch box were found in
separate places. It’s hard to imagine why someone walking in the woods in winter, presumably a
kindred spirit, would do this.
The turnout was a small fraction of the ROC membership, but it was a very interesting and diverse
group of eager orienteers. Carl Fey was in town visiting from his present home in Finland. Carl
was a member of ROC until he moved away, and has been a member of the US ski-o team.
Tamara Yobe is a medical doctor visiting Strong Memorial Hospital for a month. Her home is in
Mendoza, Argentina, in the foothills of the Andes. She came to Winterfest to experience Mendon
Ponds Park. She was excited to discover orienteering. Her energy was contagious.
John Edgemon lives in South Carolina. He is an ROC member because he enjoys the opportunity
to orienteer when he visits his Rochester family.
We missed Rick and Linda’s energetic presence. They were in Georgia participating in the annual
Georgia Navigator Cup. This was one of Karl Kolva’s favorite events.
There were a few noteworthy orienteering accomplishments. Jackie Alexander, age 12, was second
on the beginner 1.9k course, very close to first place. Jason Urckfitz had an amazing time of 63:26
on the 7.4 k long advanced course. Rob Stevens was right behind him by 4 minutes.
Vince Cassano did not do a course. At 30 degrees, it was too nice a day not to bike, so he rode
from Bushnell’s Basin to pick up the most difficult controls on the east eskers and hills.
Last, but not least, we thank the hard working dedicated volunteers who made the meet a success:
Gary Maslanka , course setter; Dick Detwiler, printing and consultant; Mike and Jackie Alexander,
Jim and Patty Borden, Heidi Hall, registration; Don Winslow, greeter; Dayle Lavine, food; Rick
Lavine, instruction; Tyler Borden and Stina Bridgeman, epunch; Stina Bridgeman, Vince Cassano,
Rukhsana Cofer, Carl Palmer, Dayle Lavine, flag pickup; Patty Borden, cleanup.
Meet directors: Dayle and Rick Lavine