OVERVIEW – EVENT POSTPONED – details to be announced.
Orienteering Cincinnati will host three National Championship races over three days around Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Each race will feature courses for all ages and abilities. Additionally, participants may join fellow orienteers at various outings scheduled throughout the weekend, including a tour of the American Sign Museum, a visit to the International Butterfly Show at Krohn Conservatory, and a night out at the Banks.
THE RACES
All races are Nationally Sanctioned by Orienteering USA. All races will have all usual “A” categories for people of all ages. Click here for detailed information about each race. The Flying Pig has been designated by Orienteering USA as the 2020 National Championship in each of the distances offered.
- Friday, April 3, 2020: Middle Distance, McFarlan Woods, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Saturday, April 4, 2020: Long Distance, Miami-Whitewater Forest, Harrison, Ohio
- Sunday, April 5, 2020: Sprint Distance, NKU, Highland Heights, Kentucky
COURSES AND CLASSES
Competitive: All standard OUSA competitive courses and classes will be offered. Pre-registration is required for competitive courses.
Recreational: Recreational courses will be offered at all events in beginner to intermediate categories only (white – orange). The cost is $15 per individual for each event. Recreational participants may register on-site the day of the event.
AWARDS
Orienteering USA National Championship medals will be awarded to the top three individual finishers in each competitive age class in each race. OCIN Pig medals will be given to the top 3 finishers in each class if they are not championship eligible. Friday and Saturday awards will be presented at the Saturday night banquet. Sunday awards will be presented one hour after the last scheduled start; we will start Sunday awards sooner if possible.
RACE TIMING – SPORTIDENT
All courses will be timed using SportIdent cards. The Flying Pig features touch-free SI Air+ e-punching. You may use either traditional or Air+ cards for all races. Entrants may rent an SI-5 card for $2 per race (on participant information page of registration) or an SI Air+ card (SIAC) for $3 per race (on the additional selections page of registration), and agree to pay for lost or damaged rental card ($45 for SI-5, $75 for SI Air+). If you are a first time user of SI or SI-Air+ , please see our SI information page (link coming).
EMBARGO INFORMATION
The following areas may not be used for orienteering or orienteering training prior to these events (see locator maps for additional details):
- McFarlan Woods / Mt. Airy Forest and Green Township Bicentennial Park (You may visit all areas of Mt Airy north and east of I-74, including the Arboretum and disc golf. All areas south and west of I-74 are off limits.)
- Miami-Whitewater Forest (You may use the campground, golf course, paved multi-use trail, and the public county roads through the park.)
- Northern Kentucky University (All areas of campus are off-limits. Be sure to follow directions to reach parking lots K and L without crossing embargoed areas.)
PREVIEW MAPS
Previously used maps of all venues will be available with registration for $5 each or $16 per set. Orders for preview and training maps received by March 12 will be mailed to you; late orders will be in your packet when you arrive.
McFarlan Woods (Bicentennial Park), Miami Whitewater West, Miami Whitewater East, Northern Kentucky University
TRAINING MAPS
Four training maps will be available with registration for $5 each or $16 per set. Orders for preview and training maps received by March 12 will be mailed to you; late orders will be in your packet when you arrive. There will not be controls on any of the training maps.
Mt Airy Forest, Miami Whitewater North (park entry fee), Pyramid Hill (park entry fee), Sawyer Point
PARK ADMISSION / PARKING FEES
A 2020 Motor Vehicle Permit is required to enter Miami-Whitewater Forest (Saturday), which is one of the Great Parks of Hamilton County. Cost for residents of Hamilton County: $10 annual / $5 daily; other visitors: $16 annual / $8 daily. This permit may be purchased at the park on arrival. There is no cost for entry or parking at McFarlan Woods. OCIN has paid parking fees for NKU, but you must park in the lots K and L that we have reserved.
SAFETY INFORMATION
All competitors must carry a whistle and dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Orienteering USA keychain whistles may be purchased with registration for $2.
CHILD SITTING
We will accommodate parents with split start times if requested. Please let us know as early as possible if you have children who will need tending during the events, and we will try to help you work out an appropriate arrangement.
SHIRTS
Flying Pig shirts are available through pre-registration. Shirts must be ordered by the regular registration deadline of March 12, in order to guarantee choice of size and color. Shirts are available in youth and adult sizes and a women-specific cut. All shirts are $16. Colors are described as “blue”, “coral”, “grey”, and “mint”. When you order, the default color selection is mint for youth, blue for unisex cut, and coral for women’s cut, but you have the option to select any of the 4 colors in any cut or size. Order your size, then also select the “different color” button at the end of the size list to opt for a non-default color.
- Click here for Unisex sizing chart
- Click here for Women’s sizing chart
- Click here for Youth sizing chart
LODGING
We have room blocks at the Courtyard by Marriott Cincinnati Covington, 500 W. 3rd Street, Covington, KY 41011 (ph 859-491-4000) and at the Best Western Plus Cincinnati Riverfront, 200 Crescent Avenue, Covington, KY 41011 (ph 859-581-7800). The hotels are both conveniently situated on the south side of the Ohio River, just off I-75, with easy access to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, each of the race venues, and the extracurricular activities planned around downtown Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Both hotels have free on-site parking, free wifi, and included breakfast. To make a reservation at the Best Western Plus ($119 per night plus tax), call the hotel before March 10 and mention the “orienteering group block”. The Best Western also has an online booking link, which they suggest works best from a desktop PC with Chrome or Firefox browser. The link defaults to arrival on April 1 for 4 nights. If you plan to arrive before April 1 or stay after April 5, you’ll need to contact the hotel by phone. To book from a mobile phone, it is best to visit https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/reservations/groups.html and enter Group ID I21P1J2. To make a reservation at the Courtyard by Marriott ($107 per night plus tax), call the hotel directly, or call Marriott reservations at 800-321-2211, before March 12, and identify yourself as being with “OCIN Flying Pig XXIV / Orienteering USA Nationals”. These are superb rates for downtown riverfront locations!
You’re also within a 15-minute walk of the famous Roebling Suspension Bridge. A short jaunt across the Ohio River on the suspension bridge brings you to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Moerlein Lager House, and loads of other restaurants and activities along Cincinnati’s shiny new riverfront, where spring flowers will be bursting into bloom and lighted fountains will color the night. You can rent a bike, take a segway tour, or hop on the streetcar to visit other areas of the city, including the famous “Over-the-Rhine” neighborhood, with its trendy shops and upscale dining opportunities. A short drive will get you to Cincinnati’s world-class zoo, the Newport Aquarium, Cincinnati Museum Center, Cincinnati Art Museum (free admission!), and so many other worthwhile venues. You might want to plan a little longer stay. Here’s a great guide to help with your trip planning.
AWARDS BANQUET
We’re excited to have “The Worldwalker” Steve Newman as our speaker at this year’s Awards Banquet! A native of Bethel, Ohio, Newman walked solo around the world from April 1983 to April 1987. He’s gone on to author several books and present to over 2,300 audiences about his experiences on that journey of discovery. Bonus: Newman is an OCIN member and has most recently ventured out on OCIN orienteering courses!
The banquet is Saturday night from 6 – 9 p.m. at The Farm, a local treasure serving up delicious food in a unique venue for over 50 years. We’ll enjoy access to their usual Saturday night buffet, featuring a huge variety of delicious, home-cooked meat and vegetarian entrees, as well as vegetables, salad, rolls, drinks, and dessert. The Farm is located 15 minutes from the host hotels, and you might even take the Anderson Ferry across the river to reach the restaurant, located in Delhi. As if this terrific dinner and speaker weren’t enough, we’ll also give away medals to Friday and Saturday’s champions!
Adult dinners are $20; there is a discount for teens and children.
SOCIAL SCENE
Check out these group activities where you can mix and mingle with other orienteers around Cincinnati:
Friday, 11 a.m. – Group tour of the American Sign Museum
The American Sign Museum is 20,000 square feet of more than a century of American signage, presented in an engaging and visually appealing way. Some of the larger-than-life vintage neon is really spectacular. $15 adults; $10 seniors, military & students; free for kids 12 and under. With 10 in our group, we’ll enjoy a group rate of $10 for everyone.
Friday, 7 p.m. – Group dinner at The Gruff, Covington
After dinner, we’ll walk across the Roebling Suspension Bridge and along “The Banks,” Cincinnati’s world-class greenspace along the Ohio River, where trails meander through lush gardens and play areas dotted with fountains, sculptures and more!
Sunday, 3:00 p.m. – Butterfly Show at Krohn Conservatory
This internationally renowned show is in its 25th year and will feature butterflies from Bali flying freely throughout the themed showroom. The conservatory, built in 1933 and located within scenic Eden Park, is worth a visit in and of itself. It houses over 3,500 plant species and includes a 45’ high palm house. $10 adults; $7 youth ages 5 – 17. Free for children 4 & under. We’ll have coupons for $1 off admission.
If you plan to join us for any of these group activities, please RSVP to Stephanie Ross at flyingsquirreladventures@gmail.com with your name and the number of adults and youth in your group, so we can make appropriate reservations at each venue. You do not need to pre-register for these activities, but can simply pay on-site. Please direct any questions about these activities to Stephanie, as well.
JOEL RAUSCHENBACH MEMORIAL JUNIOR FUND
The Joel Rauschenbach Memorial Junior Fund provides grants to help develop youth orienteering in the Greater Cincinnati area and to assist area youth in traveling to national and international competitions. As you register for these events, you will have the opportunity to make a voluntary contribution to this fund. OCIN Junior pages
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
| Activity | Date | Time |
| Last day to register without late fee | Thu, 3/12 | 11:59 pm |
| Deadline to register and pay fees | Mon, 3/23 | 11:59 pm |
| Practice/training areas | Thur, 4/2 | All day |
| Practice/training areas | Fri, 4/3 | All day |
| Group activity: American Sign Museum | Fri, 4/3 | 11 am |
| Check-in open at McFarlan Woods (Green Twp Bicentennial Park) | Fri, 4/3 | 1 – 4 pm |
| Middle Distance starts at McFarlan Woods (Bicentennial Park) | Fri, 4/3 | 2 – 4 pm |
| Group activity: Dinner at The Gruff & Walk at The Banks | Fri, 4/3 | 7 pm |
| Check-in open at Miami-Whitewater | Sat, 4/4 | 9 – 11 am |
| Long Distance starts at Miami-Whitewater | Sat, 4/4 | 10 am – Noon |
| Awards Banquet at The Farm Guest speaker: Steve Newman “Worldwalker” | Sat, 4/4 | 6 – 9 pm |
| Check-in open at NKU | Sun, 4/5 | 8 – 10 am |
| Sprint Distance starts at NKU | Sun, 4/5 | 9 – 11 am |
| Awards | Sun, 4/5 | by Noon |
| Group activity: International Butterfly Show Krohn Conservatory | Sun, 4/5 | 3 – 5 pm |
ENTRY FEES
Regular registration has been extended and ends March 23 at 11:59 pm; Late registration closes on March 23 at 11:59 pm.
Refund policy: We will give full refunds for any reason if cancelled by 11:59 pm on March 23, EXCEPT that there will be no refunds for t-shirts already ordered from the printer, or any training or preview maps which have already been mailed. Refund requests after March 23 should be sent to Event Director and Registrar, and extenuating circumstances will be considered.
| Competitive entry fees (on or before March 23) | Entry per race | Discount entry all three races |
| Adult age 21+ non-member | $49 | $132 |
| Adult age 21+ member OUSA, COF, IOF | $45 | $120 |
| Junior age < 21 non-member | $23 | $60 |
| Junior age < 21 member OUSA, COF, IOF | $21 | $54 |
| Junior age < 21 with TROL season pass | $10 | $25 |
REGISTRAR
The Registrar for this meet is Guy Olsen, and he may be contacted by e-mail at flyingpigregistrar@gmail.com. If paying for registration by check, please make the check payable to “OCIN” and send to Guy Olsen, 17 Gladding Rd, Caldwell, NJ 07006-5804. Postal mail after March 12 must be directed to Mike Minium, 6797 Stillwell Beckett Rd, Oxford, OH 45056-8870.