By Rex Winterbottom (Regional Event Coordinator — Sierra Nevada)
In summary, thank you all for every bit you contributed, because this was an undertaking. Not a typical walk in the park event.
From the lengthy and cumbersome permit process endured by our behind-the-scenes wizard Gavin Wyatt-Mair, we were subjected to many difficult conditions to put this event on.
Aside from things like commuter traffic.
Many thanks to those of you who gave up time in your work day especially. As a teacher, I am fortunate to have the summer off, though I will say we earn those summers off. No "quiet quitting" in teaching!
The persistent fog and slight bluster made it a true San Francisco Summer event, more so than Presidio. I think if we had our choice, it was better to have the better weather the first day to ease people into these two weeks of adventures.
Although wearing the event-director hat the majority of the time, from when I arrived at 5:55 AM until departing after 4:00 PM, I was able to escape into the woods as the starts were closing and tremendously enjoyed the ping-pongy jaunt through a variety of Golden Gate Park habitats. Well done on the course planning, Andrejus!
Major kudos to Andrejus Masalkovas pulling off the impossible given probably only two weeks to get the planning job done. And Bill Cusworth for partnering on probably one of his strangest mapping projects ever, determining which of the many Golden Gate park maps to work with, then getting the essential work done quickly to ready it for a world-class event. Dan Greene supported the course planning with lots of visiting and vetting, and Andrejus remarked his gratitude for Dan's wisdom and feedback.
Vladimir Gusiatnikov was scheduled to do the courses, but an unfortunate injury incapacitated him, and he is still rehabbing. He still helped us very much on the event day, limping around to place 15 or so of the checkpoints, and then supporting the start crew for the entire event with his daughter Beatrice Schreibstein.
Andrejus had 92 checkpoints to place, because we weren't allowed to place any the day before according to the permit, and we were severely limited for placings. 80% of the checkpoints had to be cones or stands according to Parks & Rec. So major thanks to Vladimir, Steve Haas, Dan Greene, and another guy who happened to be there earlier than planned at 5:55 AM to get it done. It was a tight squeeze before the first scheduled starts, and our pre-runners Clinton Morse and Steve Gregg didn't have much time to verify the controls — none of which, fortunately, were disturbed, and all were easily recovered after the event.
Steve Gregg was also there almost the entire time, and I wouldn't have run off into the woods if I didn't know that Steve is a class act and can hold down the fort. He was the designated AD for this event and also helped with setup, takedown, and the Finish. He might be known for all-time Golden Goat points but he's probably in the top five for all-time volunteer points. He's not resting on his laurels from his recent 2022 BAOC Club Service Award.
Vicki Woolworth was not on our volunteer roster, but that didn't stop her from jumping in on control pickup, takedown, and she was there to the very end. Derek Maclean also did a variety of tasks besides his assigned starts slot. And Gavin Wyatt-Mair and Jay Hann are working pretty much round the clock, being at the event from dawn to dusk, and then prep in between the dog and pony shows.
A special mention to Kevin Mihata, down from Washington, who helped with some techno skills to get the start lists printed in the Western Race Services trailer.
An absolute thank you to all of our volunteers and participants for building a day in the park we could all enjoy. Thank you so much! A comprehensive volunteer list follows... if I missed anyone below please let me know!! We will update the BAOC website!
- Answering Emails: Bill Cusworth
- Starts: Scott Aster, Graham Brew, Jason Lee, Trish Damron, Ann Gessert, Cart Duncan, Mark Jones, Vladimir Gusiatnikov, Beatrice Schreibstein, Jim Kauffold, Tony Pinkham, Frank Markowitz, Steph Maclean, Derek Maclean, Deron van Hoff, Terry Farrah, Eric Bone, Louise Madrid, Jeff Goodwin
- Setup: Taylor Pospisil, Chris Buchner (and he early tested Orange, too), Sheila Cotter, Kevin Mihata, Ron Birks, Wayne Staats, Louise Madrid, Nik Weber, Steve Gregg
- Registration: Sarah Williams, Steve Haas
- Packets, Shirts, Jackets, ...: Olga & Gary Kraght
- Beginner Clinics: Chuck Spalding, Ron Birks
- Finishes: Rick McBee, Steve Gregg, Chris Buchner
- Assistant Director: Steve Gregg
- Jury: Peggy Dickison, Glen Tryson, Jon Campbell
- Photos: Clinton Morse
- Crossing Guards: Gretchen O'Hearn, Booker, John Beard, Marcy Beard
- Control Pickup: John Beard, Marcy Beard, Lubomir Sebo, Daniel Sebo, Amy Winston, Jonathan Campbell, Victoria Campbell, Anna Campbell + friend, Amy Winston, Sue Kuestner, Parag Gupta family, Vicki Woolworth, Tony Pinkham, Sharon Crawford, Robin Gardner
- E-punch & Results: Jay Hann of Western Race Services & Adam, Jeff Lanam, Rosemary Johnson
- Takedown: Lubomir Sebo, Daniel Sebo, Tapio Karras, John Harbuck, Gavin Wyatt-Mair, Andrejus Masalkovas, Jay Hann, Adam,
- First Aid: Marie-Josée Parayre, Terry Farrah, Jeff Lanam, Evan Custer, Rex Winterbottom
- Mapping: Bill Cusworth
- Vetting: Dan Greene
- Course Design: Andrejus Masalkovas
- Assistant Event Director: Steve Gregg
- Checkpoint Placement: Andrejus Masalkovas, Steve Haas, Dan Greene, Vladimir Gusiatnikov, Rex Winterbottom
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