A Guide to OTR

Introduction

General Information

Facilities

Activities

Speleo-Olympics
	Divisions
	General Rules
	Vertical Contests
	· 30 Meter Mechanical
	· 30 Meter Knots
	· 10 Meter Youth Mechanical
	· Ladder Climb
	Speleo-Obstacle
	Cave Quiz
	Survey Contest
	Lamp Assembly
	Sleeping Bag Contest
	Fun Run

Policy

Speleo-Olympics

Senior Individual Contest:
You must be 15 years old or older. Prizes will be awarded to first and second place.

Junior Division Contest:

Participants must be 14 years old or younger. An adult for all events except the education information sessions must accompany participants. Their respective judges will determine individual contests. The judges may make rule changes. So please check at the earliest possible time. All junior events (especially the Education Information Sessions) will be posted on a schedule at registration and the pavilion. Grand prizes will be awarded to the top 5 overall finishers without gender distinction. Individual contest prizes will be awarded. The contestant with the most points wins. The contest coordinator will decide ties. Points will be awarded for proper participation in any OTR contest based on the following. First place (5 points), Second place (4 points), Third place (3 points), Fourth place (2 points) and Participation (1 point).

Full participation in each Education Information Session will add 1 point. Up to 3 extra points may be earned by answering 3 questions on the topic discussed. Attendance in the session is required for any points awarded. (NOTE: the 4 points possible is equal to the 2^nd place finish in a contest event!)

General Rules

For any timed event, a contestant may have (2) two tries. Sign up and compete as early as possible. All contest, times, and rules are subject to change without notice.
ALL PARTICIPANTS must preregister at contest registration (first campsite on the left across the bridge). Anyone under 18 years old MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian while participating.
A "foul" may be called if a judge feels that a contestant’s try has been affected by circumstances not under the contestant’s control. The contestant will then be allowed another try, without penalty, after a brief rest.
In all events, under any circumstances, the decision of the judge is final.
Any unauthorized use of Speleo-Olympic equipment before, during, or after daily competition or failure to follow the judge’s safety rules, could cause disqualification from all Speleo-Olympic contests.
Contests may differ from program description. See the judge for current description. Thus, records listed may not be applicable to this year’s contest.
Junior who turn 15 on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday will compete during the entire contest as adults.
If you don’t like something about the contest, tell the Contest Chair. If you like something about the contest, tell the Judges.
Five participants are required to constitute a contest and due to inadequate participation not all contests will be gender specific.

Vertical Contests

vertical.jpg (9999 bytes) All contestants must register with the contest administrator. Registration will begin at the race site approximately one half hour before racing is scheduled to begin. Registration will end at the time posted by the contest administrator. Exceptions may be made at the administrator’s discretion. Competitors must be prepared to show proof of OTR registration via a nametag. Competitors’ manes will be called in order, unless special consideration has been requested (i.e., sharing of rigs, juggling of other events, etc.).

The OTR vertical contests will follow the NSS contest rules. These rules will be given to each competitor when they register.

Due to time constraints, each competitor is permitted three attempts on rope. At the judge’s discretion, a climber may be awarded a scratch for safety or rule violations. A scratch indicates that the competitor has used one of his allotted attempts.

30 Meter Climb-Mechanical

Separate men and women’s contests will be held. The contestant will start with all devices below a mark, and will climb until the first device passes another mark 30 meters farther along the rope. The fastest time wins. Tension may be applied to the rope, but the contestant must furnish the person to apply the tension. Safety of the vertical rig must be approved by the judge prior to climbing. A separate sit-stand category will be held if participation warrants it.

30 Meter Climb-Knots

The contestant will start with all devices below a mark, and will climb until the first device passes another mark 30 meters farther along the rope. The fastest time wins. No carabiners, pulleys, or ascender boxes (i.e., no metal) may come in contact with the climbing rope or be an integral part of the climbing knot. Three knots, each capable of locking and holding the climber, attached to the climbing rope are required, as are "Chicken Loops". Use of a helmet is recommended. Due to declining interest, a women’s category will not be held unless there are at least five women contestants.

10 Meter Youth Climb-Mechanical Ages 4-8 ONLY

To encourage more youth to climb competitively, we are adding a climb at a more suitable distance for young people. Rules are the same for the other climbing contests, except the children may have help in putting on their gear. However, they MUST be ready to climb when their name is called. The contestant must have 3 points of contact on the rope. "Chicken Loops" are required. A helmet is recommended.

Ladder Climb

The contestant must wear helmet, gloves, and footgear that covers and supports the ankle. Open lace hooks must be covered with duct tape. A qualified belayer must be furnished. The contestant must first tie a proper bowline backed with an overhand knot, without help or coaching. In place of this, a seat harness with rope attachment may be used. Timing begins when the contestant touches the ladder with either hand or foot. The contestant climbs the ladder, slaps the top rung, and climbs back down touching every rung. No rungs may be missed while climbing up or down. Tension may NOT be applied to the bottom of the ladder.

Speleo-Obstacle

The object of this contest is to run the obstacle course as quickly (but safely) as possible. Best times are usually the result of finesse and perfection of basic caving skills rather than raw speed or brute strength. The contestant must wear a hardhat, long sleeve shirt and long pants (or coveralls). This is to more closely simulate East Coast caving attire. Any obstacle not completed in the prescribed manner must be re-started and satisfactorily completed before the contestant proceeds to the next obstacle. If your name is called and you are not ready to run you loose your chance and must sign up again.

Juniors may compete both days, but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Safety rules will be enforced. Times are approximate and may vary on participation and the mood of the judges.

Cave Quiz

Approximately 20 questions will reflect the history of the NSS, the Old Timer’s Reunion and general cave-related trivia. Some answers might be found in the books on Vendor’s Row. However, no tutoring is allowed. You must own the books you use for reference. Answers will be posted Sunday afternoon at the pavilion. Cave quiz will have an adult and junior classification.

Survey Contest

The Survey Contest is designed to test the entrant’s ability to use survey instruments to accurately survey a closed loop of several stations. The course will be set up downstream of the vertical contests and will not demand participants to get excessively dirty. Entrants will not be required to measure the distances, only the azimuths and inclinations. These will be recorded on a pre-printed form, combined with the already-measured distances, and entered into a computer. The contestant with the smallest closure error is the contest winner. It will require a half-hour to complete the course, and contestants are expected to supply the survey instruments. (Bring insect repellant, mosquitoes may be waiting)

Lamp Assembly

lampassembly.jpg (7349 bytes) The contestants will start with a completely disassembled standard carbide lamp in a bucket or other container containing the lamp parts. The contestant is blindfolded, and then must assemble the lamp, charge it with carbide and water, and light it. Timing starts when the container with the lamp is touched and stops when the lamp is lit. Juniors must only rub the striker with their cupped hand, simulating lighting. Contestants must furnish their own lamp, carbide, and water. They may optionally furnish their own container. The judges will provide a standard container and blindfold.

Other Events

Sleeping Bag Contest

Sleeping Bag2.jpg (7244 bytes) The Sleeping Bag contest was inspired by the practice of some cavers modestly changing clothes while in a sleeping bag. The contestant gets into a bag with certain minimum clothing. Gets completely undressed, and gets redressed; all while staying (mostly) in the sleeping bag. There are men’s, women’s, and doubles categories.

Minimum Clothing: Shirts must have sleeves. The front and outside must be identifiable. The shirt must extend down to the navel. Pants must be long and have fasteners at the waist. No elastic waist bands. Socks must cover ankle joints. Underpants are required.

Start with bag pulled up to the base of the neck, with hands on outside of bag.
Undress and place clothing outside bag. All clothing must be outside and separated before redressing can start. In doubles, both contestants’ clothing must be outside before either can start redressing.
After redressing, pull bag up and place hands on the outside of the bag.
No part of the body below the waist may touch the mat. Knees may not come out of the bag.
Clothing must be properly fastened and oriented at start and finish. (Orientation of underpants will not be checked.)
The judge reserves the right to ban unusual clothing or techniques.

Fun Run

The OTR fun run will feature a 5K run, 1 mile run, ½ mile boot run and a 1 mile boot run. The 5K mile and 1 mile runs will be on the road and the boot runs through the campground. Starting location is the registration table. Points for grottos will be given in all age groups (1^st-5pts, 2^nd-2pts, 3^rd-1pt and overall winners 10pts).

Awards will be certificates for age group winners and a trophy for the overall male and female in all four categories plus "OTR BUCKS". All finishers get an OTR ribbon.