19.07.2021 - The airy stage
The airy stage in luck with good weather
When the rising sun turned the remaining snowfields on the western Arosa horizon into a reddish light, the day was already saved. At least concerning the weather, which inspired the infrastructure crew when setting up the competition centre besides the Motta hug despite thin clouds on Piz Scarlottas.
As usual at a Swiss O Week, everything was ready at the stage for the start in the Lenzerheide Scharmoin area. Meanwhile on the Hörnliexpress, passengers were already speculating on today’s terrain, possible routes or running times. And in the Urdenbahn, orienteering parents warned their offspring about the pitfalls of the competition area. That on an alp without trees and few distinguished features, but with a partly sloping scree field, orienteering could be quite difficult and affect the running time considerably.
A little later, however, this did not prevent a few juniors from testing their own physical condition with a hard mountain sprint before their starts. A young female runner remarked sensibly that one is quickly out of air and oxygen than in the lower elevations. She would probably rather focus on accurate map reading. This realization was also true for everyone, if necessary, it even allowed a view from the magnificent mountain terrasse down to Lenzerheide or over to the Stätzer peak.
Orienteering events over long distances in such terrain often also lead to sports injuries. Thanks to the medical team, almost all injuries or incidents could be treated on site today. In two cases, however, the organizational effort was justified because the specialized staff could use a mountain-compatible transport vehicle as well as a quad even on 2000 meters altitude. An older runner with slight stomach aches did not want to know anything about the medical tent, he currently preferred the toilets!
He then noticed with a smile when waiting for a free cubicle, “the airy one today, would actually also be the smelly one”. Afterwards, relieved, he shouldered his backpack for the trip back up with the chairlift and over to the Urdenbahn. On that ride over to the Hörnliexpress the cabin attendant kindly pointed out the missing face mask to a passenger. Whereupon the humorous „Uuuäääh“ from all the other passengers showed that the Corona rules are strictly adhered to during the SOW 2021.
