Venice

[LostOldTimer]

Its almost time for the Venice street-o, and over 80 brits going...
anyone whose been before give some insight into what goes on please?
where is start located?
Anyone upload map?

Where are people staying, and how getting there?

discuss...

[Simon E]

Try this article I wrote for a few links for starters.

Definitely an event you should do at least once.

[IanD]

Simon's links are great!

Two things I would add:

1) Make sure you go to the right start. They have two, one for the serious competition and one for the novices. Make sure the other people at your start are wearing bibs.

2) There will be people round blind corners, often orienteers coming the other way FAST. Try stamping your feet as you approach a corner, and listen for others doing the same.

And please, can someone not clash it with the Oxford City Race, Southern Night Championship & Southern Day Championships in future!

[LostOldTimer]

Some good info on those links.

Anyone able to post / send a full map from a previous year?

Does start and finish vary its position? anyone know where it is this year?
or where event centre is / how to find it?

What is best way from Airport to centere of Venice?

[Gross]

What is best way from Airport to centere of Venice?

Boat

[LostOldTimer]

Takes about 1.5 hours on boat from airport and not very frequent... what about bus to piazzale roma then boat / walk??


Anyone who is going to venice - when/ where you flying from? where you all staying?
what about a Brits meet up (party) one evening??

[Scott]

Yeah, bus from the airport followed by a vaporetto ride is probably quickest.

[Simon E]

What is best way from Airport to centere of Venice?

Boat works OK from Marco Polo but is a less good option for those flying Ryanair to Treviso.
From there you can get a coach or a train.

Don't want to worry anyone but...

When we went three years ago Treviso was fog-bound so we ended up in Trieste. Ryanair promised a coach, but that seemed a bit boring so we got a local bus into town and then the train. Worked fine and is very cheap, but it meant we got to Venice too late to run the Saturday park race.

[Gross]

I was in Venice 3 weeks ago... got the boat across from Portoros in Slovenia... checking forests for warm weather training next March:)

[IanD]

or where event centre is / how to find it?

This link points at the Event Centre - the Sport Palace Arsenale http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=45.4330,+12.3509

[AndyO]

What a co-incidence. I was in Venice last week and wondered where the Street-O went and how it was organised. All the info I need is in the links so thanks Simon and others. I thought they might avoid the busier alleys, but no compromises, is there? I think some local knowledge would pay off around Rialto/San Marco to avoid the worst of the crowds, though.

On best way from airport to Venice - €9 return coach from Treviso to Piazzale Roma, then walk/vaporetto to digs.

Good luck to anyone going.

[epocian]

waterbus from Marco Polo to Fondamente Nuove is good but depends where you are staying
Would suggest you do the model event on the Saturday - it gives you a 'feel' for the map

[Spookster]

Just finished my first ever Venice street race - brilliant event!

The map is amazing and the courses went right through the busiest narrow streets, full of really slow tourists. Lots of weaving required to avoid hitting them (too hard ). Over 3000 people orienteering as well.

I don't think there were any Brit winners, but several 2nds & 3rds (sorry, can't remember them all):
W21E Jenny Johnson 3rd
M21E Oli Johnson 2nd (just 6 secs behind Mattias Merz)
M40 Martin Ward 2nd
M50 Martin Dean 3rd

[awk]

M50 Martin Dean 3rd

Just behind James Crawford in 2nd.

Other 'medallists':
M55 Mike Smithard 3rd
M60 Tony Ludford 2nd
M70 Guy Goodair 2nd
W60 Jean Lochhead 2nd

Best juniors were Duncan Birtwhistle 6th in M16 and Joanne West 5th= in W20. I gather Brits made up the third largest contingent behind Italians and Austrians.

I agree Martin - brilliant race. We went last year too, and my course (M45) was definitely a lot more technical this year.

[Angry Haggis]

Wow, loved it. 100% intense concentration needed - got cocky after 16 controls, thinking I was on to a great run, and promptly blew 10 places by stopping concentrating for just a moment. My Garmin reckons I ran ~50% further than the quoted course distance. Great weather - cold and crisp, and no flooding!

Was only involved in one collision - Czech guy hurtled out of a hidden alley just in front of me. But 100s of near misses - little room for error, some of the "streets" were 0.5m wide. Surprised that the (hordes of) tourists and locals took it all in their stride, considering the speed that many of us were running straight for them at.

Awesome race, good to see so many Brits out there . Some great results especially from Team SYO - makes GBR look a serious world force in street race orienteering with their dominance near the top end of the elite classes.