THOMASS
Sunday, March 16th, 10:00am
Canmore Nordic Centre
Course Planner
Adrian Zissos
Start times
10:00am: Kids race
10:30am: THOMASS mass start
Start & Finish arena
The start and finish will be in the arena beside the Day Lodge.
Race Notes
This race uses The Handicap Orienteering Method And Scoring System (aka THOMASS handicap system) that allows male and female skiers of wide range of ages and abilities to race each other in one category in the same race!
KIDS race (Ultra-juniors, Super-juniors, Juniors)
Kids aged 14 and under will not compete in the THOMASS. Instead there will be a special mass start orienteering event for them, taking place prior to the THOMASS race.
HANDICAP SYSTEM
This race uses The Handicap Orienteering Method And Scoring System (aka THOMASS handicap system) that allows male and female participants of all ages and abilities to race each other in one category in the same race! Each race includes a group of at least six checkpoints in what we call the 'THOMASS BOX' and depending on a participant's handicap they are permitted to skip anywhere from 0 to 7 of the checkpoints in the THOMASS BOX. This means not all participants will ski the same distance (participants who skip more checkpoints will ski a shorter distance). The handicapping system makes for an exciting head to head race!
Base Handicap:
Look up your base handicap in the following table:
6 - Women 12 or younger, Men 12 or younger, Women 65 or older
5 - Women 14 or younger, Men 14 or younger, Women 55 or older, Men 75 or older
4 - Women 16 or younger, Men 16 or younger, Women 45 or older, Men 65 or older
3 - Women 19 or younger, Women 35 or older, Men 55 or older
2 - Women 20 to 34, Women in the top 10 of Canadian orienteering rankings, Men 45 or older
1 - Men 19 or younger, Men 35 or older
0 - Men 20 to 34, Men ranked in the top 10 of Canadian orienteering rankings
Adjustment:
Adjust your base handicap by subtracting the following numbers based on you skiing speed/experience:
2 - expect to ski a 30km Loppet in under 2 hours
1 - expect to ski a 30km Loppet in under 2.5 hours
Example:
Brian May & Alaric Fish - both have a base handicap of 2 (Men 45 or older), but are both excellent skiers, so have an adjustment of 2, for a final handicap of 0. They must visit all eight controls in the THOMASS box.
Jean MacNaughton - has a base handicap of 6 (Women 65 or older) and is a slow skier so has an adjustment of 0, for a final handicap of 6. Jean must visit only two controls in the THOMASS box (8 (total) - 6 (handicap) = 2)
Course planner's comments
Directions & Parking
Park at the Canmore Nordic Centre . Registration / washrooms are in the Day Lodge in the Cafe North. You can leave clothing by Registration, but we don't guarantee that there will always be someone watching over the gear. There are lockers inside that you can rent.
Safety
There are many, many other users of the Nordic Centre. Please be extremely careful and watchful. Be especially so when you are crossing other trails. Please visit the SAFETY page (under the MORE menu).
Canmore Nordic Centre
Course Planner
Adrian Zissos
Start times
10:00am: Kids race
10:30am: THOMASS mass start
Start & Finish arena
The start and finish will be in the arena beside the Day Lodge.
Race Notes
This race uses The Handicap Orienteering Method And Scoring System (aka THOMASS handicap system) that allows male and female skiers of wide range of ages and abilities to race each other in one category in the same race!
KIDS race (Ultra-juniors, Super-juniors, Juniors)
Kids aged 14 and under will not compete in the THOMASS. Instead there will be a special mass start orienteering event for them, taking place prior to the THOMASS race.
HANDICAP SYSTEM
This race uses The Handicap Orienteering Method And Scoring System (aka THOMASS handicap system) that allows male and female participants of all ages and abilities to race each other in one category in the same race! Each race includes a group of at least six checkpoints in what we call the 'THOMASS BOX' and depending on a participant's handicap they are permitted to skip anywhere from 0 to 7 of the checkpoints in the THOMASS BOX. This means not all participants will ski the same distance (participants who skip more checkpoints will ski a shorter distance). The handicapping system makes for an exciting head to head race!
Base Handicap:
Look up your base handicap in the following table:
6 - Women 12 or younger, Men 12 or younger, Women 65 or older
5 - Women 14 or younger, Men 14 or younger, Women 55 or older, Men 75 or older
4 - Women 16 or younger, Men 16 or younger, Women 45 or older, Men 65 or older
3 - Women 19 or younger, Women 35 or older, Men 55 or older
2 - Women 20 to 34, Women in the top 10 of Canadian orienteering rankings, Men 45 or older
1 - Men 19 or younger, Men 35 or older
0 - Men 20 to 34, Men ranked in the top 10 of Canadian orienteering rankings
Adjustment:
Adjust your base handicap by subtracting the following numbers based on you skiing speed/experience:
2 - expect to ski a 30km Loppet in under 2 hours
1 - expect to ski a 30km Loppet in under 2.5 hours
Example:
Brian May & Alaric Fish - both have a base handicap of 2 (Men 45 or older), but are both excellent skiers, so have an adjustment of 2, for a final handicap of 0. They must visit all eight controls in the THOMASS box.
Jean MacNaughton - has a base handicap of 6 (Women 65 or older) and is a slow skier so has an adjustment of 0, for a final handicap of 6. Jean must visit only two controls in the THOMASS box (8 (total) - 6 (handicap) = 2)
Course planner's comments
- Maps will be printed two-sided. On one side is the THOMASS box with eight controls marked on the map. You first visit the required number of these controls in any order. The then go to the finish circle marked on the map. Then you will turn over the map. On the other side you will the THOMASS point-to-point course. You ski this course, which finishes at the day lodge. First one back to the Day Lodge is the THOMASS champ!
Directions & Parking
Park at the Canmore Nordic Centre . Registration / washrooms are in the Day Lodge in the Cafe North. You can leave clothing by Registration, but we don't guarantee that there will always be someone watching over the gear. There are lockers inside that you can rent.
Safety
There are many, many other users of the Nordic Centre. Please be extremely careful and watchful. Be especially so when you are crossing other trails. Please visit the SAFETY page (under the MORE menu).
