January 9, 2023

Grizzly Orienteering started off the new year in style - with a free event on a brand-new map of the University of Montana Golf Course produced by our visiting Swiss orienteer Jan Lauenstein. The event was a night ski orienteering race under challenging, yet beautiful, conditions, as heavy snow started falling during the event.

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We had a great turnout, including many first-timers who heard about GrizO from our friends at MTCX and the Missoula Nordic Ski Club. On the Long course, Jan took first place ahead of local ski racing star Henry Reich, who pulled his daughter Mara around the course in a chariot! Hannah Specht took third, just ahead of the duo of speedy first-timers Meredith Ruland and Abby Wiggin. Carly Swisher was quickest on the Medium course, while Kerri Mueller and Patrick Treacy won the Short course. The trio of GrizO Youth Program alums Branden, Lauris, and Beata just beat out parents Ali and Brandon Reintjes for second place. A special shout-out goes to another GrizO Youth Program alum, Mox Anderson, who completed the short course despite having never had previously been on skis.

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As always, we had great help from our phenomenal volunteers to make this event happen. Jan Lauenstein drew the map, helped design courses, and collected controls. Tom Facey stepped in to help with setup, registration, and everything else that needed doing. Allison Brown took on registration, greeting, and beginner instruction duties. 

 

Our ski orienteering season continues with upcoming events at Lubrecht on January 29 and at Seeley Lake on February 12. 

 

Full results are below. Splits are at https://attackpoint.org/eventdetail.jsp/event_55159

You can see other competitors' routes and post your own at https://www.livelox.com/Viewer/GrizO-Night-Ski-O-U-of-M-Golf-Course-01-09-2023/Long?classId=554365

Some photos from the event by Boris Granovskiy are at https://photos.app.goo.gl/5D6742djPWgdeSR4A. Feel free to share and add your own!