Team DVOA Venla
Apr 15th, 2007 by speedy
Team DVOA Venla:
- Sandy Fillebrown
A sometimes US Champ and sometimes Ranking Champ in the old lady categories over the years. Best recent result: 2nd in the 2006 NAOC middle distance for F45+. Despite being the veteran on the team (I’ve been orienteering longer than all my Venla teammates put together), I’m the only one who has never orienteered outside North America, so it’s about time that changed!
- Sandy Ahlswede
My first orienteering event was the DVOA event in August 2001 at Warwick County Park . I finished second to my future stepson on the beginner white course. I was afraid of bugs, poison ivy, and all the mysterious rustlings heard in the leaves but I quickly became hooked on the competitiveness of the sport. Over the years, orienteering has allowed me to get into good physical shape and meet a great group of people.
The highlights of my orienteering include competing in the public events at the 2004 WOC in Sweden while on my honeymoon and being ranked first in the F-35 division of the USOF 2005 rankings.
I am excited to be going to Finland to participate in the Venla. My goals are to find all the controls, finish without a mispunch, and have a great time!
- Daria Babushok
By pure accident I started orienteering, when I met Clem. My first Orienteering meet was at Hibernia county park, where we walked the White course together. This is when I learned what a stone wall was, and also learned the value of handrail features (especially, powerlines). Hibernia is still one of my favorite parks, and handrails remain an important part of my orienteering.
Last year I went to WOC as the official media representative, a registered correspondent for Attackpoint.org. While in Denmark I ran in my first international orienteering races at the WOC-accompanying spectator events.
Venla this year will be my first international relay race, and I am excited to be a part of the first ever DVOA Venla team.
- Cristina Luis
I started orienteering out of necessity when, after a particularly nasty Arizona storm, I found myself abandoned and alone in the den of the nutria who had raised me. Fortunately, I wandered right into an orienteering meet. Unfortunately, none of the competitors would stop to help me (they were running blue), so I was forced to creatively appropriate a map from a runner - now nicknamed “stumpy” - and navigate to the finish for help. Over the years my orienteering has improved greatly; not to mention the huge strides I’ve made in bipedal locomotion and mastery of human vocalizations. Just as I find that I am almost able to function as a part of normal human society, I have learned that my identity as an orienteer will prevent me from ever reaching full inclusion.
[Editors’ note: We have been unable to fact-check any of the information reported above and do not take responsibility for any truthiness therein. Cristina claims to be a competent juggler and a member of the US Orienteering Team, but we haven’t been able to confirm those facts, either. Cristina’s agent indicates that she has readily chewed up all faxes sent to her for confirmation of the aforementioned “facts”. Societal integration my foot.]
