Competition Instructions

Viestiliiga Final and National Mass Start Competition

Sunday, October 6, 2024, in Salo

Competition Director: Jarmo Reiman 040-3556 221 
Course setter:        Vesa Elovaara 
Course controller:    Risto Gustafsson, 0400-471363 
Results service:      Risto Kivinen, Result Fellows - Tuloshemmot

JURY

Petri Paukkunen, MS Parma, chairman
Jenny Patana, RaJu, member
Jani Lakanen, HS, member

RULES

The competition follows the rules of the Finnish Orienteering Federation (SSL) and the instructions provided by the organizers.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE NATIONAL MASS START COMPETITION

CLASSES AND DISTANCES

See the separate table

START TIMES

Mass start in all classes at 10:40 AM.

START

The start is located at the competition center, in the Viestiliiga's changeover area. The EMIT card must be checked in before the start. To avoid congestion, please arrive at the start gate in time. Access to the start area is only through the results service tent, which serves as the start gate. H/D14 classes are allowed to open the map one minute before the start time.

NUMBER BIBS AND BACKUP PATCHES

Number bibs are used in the competition. Number bibs and backup patches can be found next to the Info tent. No loose control descriptions are provided.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE RELAY LEAGUE

CLASSES AND DISTANCES

D21, legs 1-2: 5.3 km, leg 3: 5.4 km
H21, legs 1-2: 6.7 km, leg 3: 7.2 km

The distances include 350 meters of marked routes.

START

The Viestiliiga mass start for D21 is at 11:00 and for H21 at 12:30. The EMIT card must be checked in before the start. To avoid congestion, please be at the start gate on time. Access to the start area is only through the results service tent, which serves as the start gate. A competitor who does not pass through the start gate may be disqualified. After check-in, the EMIT cards will be zeroed under supervision (four flashes indicate that the card is functioning).

CHANGEOVERS

All legs require a finish punch. After the finish punch, the competition map must be handed over to an official. The competitor coming to the changeover takes the top map for the next leg, marked with their team number, from the map rack, proceeds to the changeover gate, and hands the map to the next runner. A team that takes the wrong map will be disqualified. A team whose map has been taken by another will receive a new map from the map rack supervisor, but no time compensation will be given.

VIESTILIIGA RUNNING ORDER

The running order must be submitted no later than Saturday, October 5, 2024, at 18:00 via the IRMA service. EMIT numbers do not need to be reported, as they will be registered at the start gate during the competition.

If there are last-minute changes in the running order, they must be recorded at INFO by 10:30. Team materials (number bibs, EMIT backup patches, running order forms, and any rented cards) will be distributed at INFO to teams that have submitted their running order. NOTE: The barcode sticker on the number bibs must not be removed! Teams must bring their own safety pins to attach number bibs. Rented EMIT cards must be returned to INFO by team after the competition. A lost rented EMIT card will incur a charge of 70 euros.

TELEVISION BROADCAST

The Viestiliiga competition will be broadcast via IS-TV and Ruutu. To ensure fair play and conserve mobile data, it is strictly forbidden for competitors, coaches, and spectators to follow the broadcast on personal mobile devices in the competition center.

The competition can also be followed on the screen in the competition center, which is available for viewing by competitors, coaches, and spectators.

GPS TRACKING

GPS tracking will be used on all legs of the H/D21 relays. A list of the teams selected for GPS tracking will be available at the competition center. Teams that refuse to carry the GPS device will be disqualified.

GPS vests can be found outside the check-in area. It is allowed to use your own GPS vest. The GPS device will be installed on the competitor with the assistance of the organizers at the GPS point after check-in. The GPS device and vest must be worn from the reset of the EMIT card (check-in) until the device and vest are collected after the finish punch at the GPS point.

GPS TEAMS

The teams selected for GPS tracking will be published on the event website by Saturday, October 5. Additional teams may be added during the competition.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT

TERRAIN

Easily accessible forest and open rocky terrain with relatively large height differences. The terrain is mostly different from the one used in the Halikko Relay the previous day.

MAP

In the Viestiliiga, the map scale is 1:10 000, and in the individual mass start competition, the scale is 1:10 000 for classes H/D18-40 and 1:7 500 for other classes. The contour interval is 5 meters. Mapped by Ari Salonen in 2024. Printed map, size A4.

FINISH

In the Viestiliiga relay and mass start classes, the competitors’ order is determined at the finish line. After crossing the finish line, a finish punch is performed, which determines the final time for the team/competitors. In close finishes, the finish judge will decide the order of competitors, and the times will be adjusted accordingly if necessary.

Competitors in the individual mass start competition will have same finish as the Viestiliiga.

Maps for the Viestiliiga will be collected at the finish and will be available after the mass restart. Maps for the individual mass start competition will not be collected, but they must not be shown to any competitor who has not yet started.

WITHDRAWALS AND DISQUALIFICATIONS

Competitors who drop out must proceed to the changeover / finish as usual and report their dropout at the results service tent.

In the Viestiliiga, a disqualified or dropout team is allowed to continue the relay to the finish. However, if the team is less than 30 minutes behind the leading team, the relay will be delayed, and the next team member will only be allowed to start when 30 minutes have passed since the leader’s changeover. Permission to start will be given at the changeover area when 30 minutes have passed.

MASS RESTART

If necessary, a mass restart will be organized. Normal changeovers will be stopped 10 minutes before the mass restart. Information about the mass restart will be announced via loudspeaker.

AWARDS CEREMONY

In the Viestiliiga, the top 6 teams in both categories will be awarded. The award ceremonies will take place at 13:30 for D21 and 15:00 for H21.

In the mass start competition, the top 3 competitors in the H/D14 categories will be awarded. In other categories, random prizes will be drawn among the participants. Prizes can be collected from the Info tent once the results are confirmed.

USE OF PERSONAL GPS DEVICES

It is permitted to use a recording GPS device without map display. The recorded GPS data may not be used to assist in the competition performance. GPS route data from the Viestiliiga can be uploaded to Internet services after the GPS tracking links have been made public, but no later than after the mass start for the final legs. There are no restrictions on the use of GPS data after the competition for the mass start races.

PARKING

Parking is available at the driving practice track, located 500-800 meters from the competition center. There is no parking fee.

SERVICES

At the competition center, there are washing facilities, toilets, and first aid. Their locations can be seen on the guide map and information post. There are no water points in the terrain.

RETURN OF MAPS

Maps will be returned after the mass restart. Please listen for announcements.

LOST AND FOUND

Lost items can be inquired about at the Info tent during the competition and after the competition by calling 0440-220765 (Anu Reiman).

Good luck!