Ski-O race 38:07 [2] *** 5.7 mi (6:41 / mi) +189m 6:04 / mi
spiked:7/11c
Did the long course first. It went okay, but not good. Partly due to navigation, partly due to a couple of other things (see control descriptions):
1. Off to 1 on big trails, had to check the map re: confusing trails near the start. Started 8 seconds late.
2. Took the north route choice to #2. When I got there the stupid punch card separated from its elastic. I had to get rid of the safety pin safely, and then tie the elastic around my map board strap. Good god can we just get e-punching for these Windblown events already? ~60 secs lost.
3. Eschewed the narrow trail and tok a more roundabout route choice for the start here. Then followed the 6–7 line which paralleled the 3–4 line (Jim did the same thing, apparently) and got to 6. Whoops. Wasn't a terrible route choice and climbing that narrow trail I realized I really didn't want to come down that narrow trail. Ever. Was frozen quite solid for going up, though. Lost some time here. ~30 secs
4. Errors here. I tried to get fancy on a narrow trail and crust, wound up going down the narrow trail and then back to the control. ~30 secs. I think this was also the one where I spent the better part of a minute unwinding the puncher from the branch it was tangled around. Good lord can we just get e-punching for these Windblown events? I'd gladly pay $5 for splits (/a donation to the Skio team or something).
5. Took the upper route to avoid the hill.
6. Took a decent route to avoid the narrow trail downhill of doom but it was sort of out of the way.
7. Nice route choice to 7. Along the mostly flat "logging road" and then whee down a hill. Not much navigation or turning on hills. Or skittering ponds.
8. Up the outside, then second left.
9. Actually went up here, but that meant that I hit the open slope and could schuss down to the next control.
10. Took the outside trail again; the climb up from 7 was pretty icy and fast.
11. Went east then circled back; less climbing.
I think I came second but given equipment and punching issues I would have been about tied had I, you know, been able to punch stuff. Also could have taken some shorter routes, since the narrow trails were pretty fast and not too narrow/deep. Verdict: it's time for e-punching, guys.