Corn Maze Orienteering Race

AN O-MAIZING TIME AWAITS

Join us in Canton on Saturday, September 16, 2023 for WNC’s first-ever Corn Maze Orienteering Race!

Our venue will be the venerable Cold Mountain Corn Maize, now in its 19th year.

Each year’s Cold Mountain Corn Maize is a fundraiser for a chosen charity, and in 2023 a portion of all proceeds will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Foundation. Your ticket to the orienteering race includes the day-long entry fee and thus contributes to the cause.

DATE AND TIME

• Saturday, September 16, 2023
• 9:00am – check-in opens
• 9:45am – pre-race briefing and group photo
• 10:00am – start window opens
• 11:00am – start window closes
• 12:30pm – courses close
• 12:45pm – results, debrief, controls pickup
• Make-up date in case it’s rained out – Saturday, September 23, at the same times (pending)

HOW IT WORKS

• “All U Can Eat.” Three courses of increasing *complexity*, named and spec’d as follows. Everyone will do these in sequence, starting with the first course, in irregular waves from around the corner to not give anything away. Nobody sees the next course until they complete the previous course, and the clock starts before you even get the map. The second and third courses are OPTIONAL because most people may have “had enough” after the first one. Maybe.
  1. “No Pain, No Grain” (0.8 km, 21 CPs) – A nice tour of all four corners of the maze with minimal doubling-back and little passing of off-course controls. I lollygagged and took pictures and tied flagging tape today and did the course in 60 minutes. As Josef used to say, a “PERFECT FUNNY TIME.”
  2. “Gluten-Free Punishment” (0.9 km, 15 CPs) – Introduces more passing by off-course controls, more doubling back, and more opportunities for your fatigued brain to fritz out and cause a (another Josefism) CATASTROPHE. The “stairs to stairs leg” on this course should be a fun post-race argument going forward.
  3. “Shucks To Be You” (1.3 km, 21 CPs) – Anyone completing this course (after the first two, and before the 12pm event cutoff) should be feared, revered, and probably both.
• A magnetic compass may come in handy. It may not.
• There are two wooden bridges between rows, for an elevated view (and multi-level control placement.)
• Alcohol – Cold Mountain Corn Maize has a no-alcohol policy, but Skipper (our host) says we’re welcome to have some cold ones down by the creek if we like, a short walk from the main festival area. BYOB, keep ’em down by the river, discreetly in a koozie, and hopefully it’s a nice and hot, late-summer day for a cold beer.

FEES

• NEW – Soloists and Teams permitted!
• Racers – Tickets are $25 per person and purchased here, on the WNCOC website. Racer ticket includes one Rite-in-the-Rain course map (up to 3 courses,) one finger stick rental, and individual admission to the corn maze for the whole day (hay ride not included – bring an extra $2 per hay rider if you like)
• Guests (tagalong teammates, including children) – Tickets are $10 per person and purchased here, on the WNCOC website. Hay ride not included.
• If you own your own finger stick, you can use a discount code at checkout during ticket purchase to take $5 off your entry. If you have one finger stick, enter the coupon code HAVESTICK after clicking the ‘Apply Coupon’ button at checkout. If you are registering for more than one person, who each have their own finger stick, use HAVE2STICKS or HAVE3STICKS or HAVE4STICKS respectively to receive the appropriate discount. Contact us directly about larger groups.
• Refunds – sorry, no refunds. Transfers to another person are ok, but please let us know in advance.

Waiver of Liability (initials required at registration)

Waiver — In consideration of you accepting this entry, I, the participant, intending to be legally bound and hereby waive or release any and all right and claims for damages or injuries that I may have against the Meet Director, WNC Orienteering Club, Northline Navigation LLC, and Cold Mountain Corn Maize and all of their agents assisting with the activity, sponsors and their representatives and employees for any and all injuries to me or my personal property. This release includes all injuries and/or damages suffered by me before, during, or after the activity. I recognize, intend, and understand that this release is binding on my heirs, executors, administrators, or assignees. I also authorize the use of photographs or videos that include my image for promotional, informational, or other reasons deemed to be in the best interest of the activity. I certify as a material condition to my being permitted to enter this race that I am physically fit and sufficiently trained for the completion of this event and that my physical condition has been verified by a licensed Medical Doctor. By submitting this entry, I acknowledge (or a parent or adult guardian for all children under 18 years) having read and agreed to the above waiver. [YOU MUST INITIAL THE REGISTRATION FORM TO CONFIRM ACCEPTANCE OF THESE CONDITIONS.]