Ski Orienteering Champs
- Map/Location:
- Snow Farm NZ
- Event Type:
- Cross Country Ski Orienteering
- Planner:
- Tim Sikma
- Controller:
- Chris Forne
- Co-ordinator:
- Emily Forne
We are very excited to announce a new date for the Ski Orienteering Champs 2025, Snow Farm NZ.
This iconic event will take place on the Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th August 2025. Due to pressure in the school holiday period, and also the earliness that in the season, we have decided to move the event from June into August when the Highland Events Snowgaine usually takes place (and is not running this year).
We will hold a middle distance ski orienteering event on Saturday and a 4 hour Snogaine on Sunday where you can use cross country skis, snowshoes or touring skis. You can enter both days, or just do one of the days. Our events will be family friendly and beginner friendly and are open to anyone wanting to try something a bit different. We guarantee you will have fun!
FAQ's
What is Ski Orienteering?
You must navigate your way around a course finding controls in a set order using cross country skis. You have a staggered start time and complete the course in as fast a time as you can. You can compete individually or as a team if you choose. We will have a range of courses to cater for children and beginner adults. The fun is in trying something new and we will set out a very short and technically easy course for beginners. We are also hoping to run a laser biathlon element in our longer, more advanced course.
This is the National Ski O Champs, so we would love to see some of NZ's great orienteers battling it out... even if they can't ski it makes good entertainment.
What is Snow Rogaining?
You will compete as a team of two or more to navigate and collect as many checkpoints as you can in 4 hours. You will follow the Snow Farm Ski trails, but may also travel cross country into some backcountry terrain. You may use snow shoes, cross country skis or ski touring skis. You will need to carry a backpack with spare warm clothes (see gear list) and enough food and drink for 4 hours excercise.
How do I enter?
Entry forms will be available here shortly.
What gear do I need?
All cross country ski gear, or snow shoes can be hired from the Snow Farm. Closer to the time we will put out a code for you to use to preorder your gear and trail passes. You will need a day pass to enter our events (the trail pass is not included in our price).
Warm, waterproof mountain clothing (jacket, puffer, overtrousers, hat, gloves, thermal top and bottoms, fleece top).
Sunglasses, sunscreen.
Food and water.
Compass
We will issue competitors with an electronic timing tag to register each checkpoint they visit and give an overall time/ and score.
How do I find out more?
Keep an eye on this website, and also tune into facebook.com /remarkablesorienteering
How do I get there?
Located high on the Pisa Range, the Snow Farm is accessed from the Cardrona Valley Road which connects Wanaka and Queenstown. The road up to Snow Farm is not sealed but is suitable for most vehicles including 2WD cars.
All vehicles travelling to Snow Farm must carry chains in their car in the event it has or is snowing and the road conditions are such that chains must be fitted. Signage on the road will indicate where you should fit chains. These signs are there for your protection and must be obeyed.
Do I get to do some biathlon?
Yes, we hope that the medium and long distance events will include a biathlon component again this year using the club's laser rifles. You will need to do a practice lesson in biathlon (10 mins) before you start your course. At some point during the course you will ski into our specially set up biathlon area and take your shots. If you miss you will need to ski a penalty loop for each missed shot. This will add to your total time on course.
Further Info Saturday 16th August Ski Orienteering Champs
Long distance (winning time approx 1 hour)
Medium distance (winning time approx 45 mins)
Short distance (childrens/ easy beginner) (winning time 20 minutes)
Registration from 10.30am
Starts between 11am and 1pm.
Map scale 1:10000. Contour interval: 10m
These courses are fixed courses, which means you need to ski them in the correct order (eg. controls 1 through 15) and also register the start and finish punches to get an overall time. You will start in staggered time intervals.
Further Info Sunday 17th August 4 Hour Snowgaine
You compete as a team of two or more and plan your own route! After collecting your map you will have some planning time to figure out which checkpoints you will aim to collect. You can go as far you want, or just aim to stick on the nearer trails. Controls are worth different amounts (with the tens number in the control indicating it's value ie - 86 = 80 points). You are trying to collect the largest total control points in 4 hours.
Map scale 1:15000. Contour interval: 10m
