Discussion: Less than 14 days and counting...

...until the 2nd Annual Sprint Series Finals kicks off! This time around we're leading off with a sprint race. Being a sprint, you want something fast, and we have optimized that by choosing some very unusual Faerie Terrain. The date makes it unlikely that you will see any actual, living faeries--though it can't be ruled out--however cattle will not be abundant, and anyone who is moving lethargically and looking crippled will be safe from attack badgers and other imaginary creatures. The race will feature some nice contour details, but only a very little up little down, and some fine running possibilities. And, if everyone shows up who indicated on their entry form their intent to race in the first sprint of the day, then we're going to have a big and talented group of sprinters vying for opening honors.

And yes, Victoria, there will be a prize; several actually.

But don't worry, the prizes will be wet and/or contain a lot of zeroes. That's another time honored SS Finals tradition. ; ) And Zimbabwe is a fine place this time of year.

Spciy details abound at: http://www.sju.edu/~sfillebr/Orienteering/SprintSe...

Leading off with a sprint race? Do you mean on Saturday? Will it feature sprint series points?

Definitely leading off with a sprint race on Sunday, with two other ones to follow on Sunday, just like last year.

Saturday will feature the farsta and the night-O.

I guess my blatant rip-off of Swampfox's advert is even more confusing than the original?

You can't outfox Swampfox's perfect prairie poetry. You need the thin air and the smell of visualized t-bone beef with freshly herb buttered tomatoes to achieve the full Wyoming twang/flavor. But then, since Swampfox settles for trail-o, we can at least enjoy the sprints without being ground into mere spectators by a certain Western mountaineer's speed.

Is there some mountain laurel crawling involved in the sprint? I remember this cool mountain laurel stands at Hickory Run, which are crossed easily when crawling through the fresh pink flower pods in the tunnel under the big laurel 'trees'.

No more mountain laurel at HR than sage in WY, I'd say. Just enough to tickle your shins, shine your shoes, and keep the cattle at bay.

The stuff I remember at Hickory Run that fits your description isn't mountain laurel, it's rhododendron. They have similarities, but they're not the same plant.

Don't worry -- there is a little of that, but it's mostly for decoration. You'll encounter much more laurel, but I hope you will appreciate the aesthetic contribution it makes.

You can actually go under any of the rhodo you're likely to encounter on the sprints. But on the farsta? HR without rhododendron just wouldn't be the same.

Just like Vlad's description of O in the Oaks IV:

Info:

IV is what you get after running through p. oaks

the following users have this on their calendar
...
86 Y Tundra/Desert If they all stay home, I win
...

except that j-man is course-setting so he won't win.

I am glad I am not Clint, he would be fired for misidentifying the plants. It makes sense, the rhododendron has similar leaves but the larger flowers.

I assume Ross Smith will cross under the rhodo with his famous Superman leap.

I heard the rumor that one sprint is on the famous boulder field, with the controls tucked really low between the rocks. Are we allowed to wear the sticky mountain climber shoes for this sprint?

There may be a bonus sprint if any cowboys show up. You can wear whatever you want. Just bear in mind that the control description for each control may likely simply be "boulder."