North American Champs

[Becks]

Another blatant plug thread! This year the North American Champs are in the NYC area at the Delaware Water Gap, meaning they're easy to get to from any of the NYC airports. They're in mid-October, there's WREs at every discipline, and the organisation team is one of the best you'll find on this side of the Atlantic. They're promising hi tech and high fun.

http://www.naoc2012.org/index.php

As if that wasn't enough, there's going to be a week long training camp which you can run either before or after the races based around Harriman State Park, home of the legendary 1993 WOC races and the most amazing place I have ever orienteered. Wild, complex, full of rocks and bears and scary things, it's pretty unmissable.

The weekend after my club, WCOC USA, are running a B Meet, which is a Regional competition I guess, in some of Connecticuts gorgeous runnable woods.

So there's plenty of O' for your money! Thus far, Wendles and Dad are planning on coming, as is Meat Market. Anyone else fancy making the trip? I can help out with planning logistics etc, which is the main reason I'm posting here.

(Graeme can also tell us how great the areas are).

[graeme]

Surebridge is the best area I've been on.
DVOA is the best organised club I've been in.
This should be a classic.

Caveat: never been to those Water Gap areas...

[Becks]

Forgot to add, first entry date for bargain entries (about £60 for all three races, depending on the exchange rate) is June 1st.

[andy]

If only I could get more time off (and hadn't been going to that part of the world in August...)

[Domhnull Mor]

I'm not sure if I like the comment in the final details that "competitors should wear bright clothing" as hunting is allowed in the park. The bears, snakes and ticks I can handle but guys with guns are another matter (although I have come across them before when out on a course). Might be an advantage to have a later start time. Thankfully hunting isn't allowed on Sundays so the folk doing the sprint race can rest easy.

[Becks]

It's pretty standard for these areas at this time of year, although a lot of state parks only allow bow hunting and not firearms. They suggest you wear orange, but I never understood why, given that deer are orangey and all the leaves are mega orange during hunting season. I usually go for my FVO top.

Very excited about next weekend and seeing the Brits making the trip! The guys working on the arena and presentation sound like they're doing an incredible job, and the leaves are looking great - just keep your fingers crossed there's no wind in the next week!