Season standings tighten ahead of the penultimate City Legends round in Mežgarciems
This Saturday, September 7, the largest rogaining or team orientation series competition in the Baltic States will be held for the first time in Mežgarciem. It will be the fifth episode of the fifth season of the popular rogaining series and will be called “Mežgarciema militārās pilsētiņas rogainings”. Since the seasons are coming to an end, there is more intrigue about victory and also prize-winning places in the overall standings, even in different distances.
Original publication date: 04.09.2024
The participants of "Pilsētas leģendas” visited Mazsalac and in the fourth stage of the 2024 season “Skaņākalna rogainingā” collected points, enjoying the beautiful natural views on the banks of Salac and in the surroundings of Skani mountain. The next stage, which will have to wait for some time, will take place in Mežgarciem, where the popular rogaining series had not yet taken place either, thus providing the participants with another new competition area.
After a busy start to the season with the first three rounds in April and May, June was off and the season continued with the fourth round in July. There is also a one-month break between the fourth and fifth stages, this rogaining series does not take place in August, allowing several participants to enjoy their end-of-summer vacations. Fans of orienteering competitions will be welcome in Mežgarciem at the beginning of September, on the 7th.
Mežgarciems already by its name suggests that it could be close to Garciems, and it is, because it is located a little towards Carnikava on the other side of the railway. Although it is very close to the sea, you will have to go to the dune area only in Garciema itself along the central road that leads to the beach. The competition center will be located at the border crossing of Mežgarciems near the parking lot, where the competition center is usually also for the Latvian roller skating championship held there every year. It will be near the former army section.
The wide competition area will include several Rīga-Saulkrasti railway stops - Kalngali, Garciema, Garupi and Carnikava, stretching from Priežlej to Carnikava and perpendicularly from Garciema to Atari. The participants of the longer distances will have the opportunity to visit both the center of Carnikava and to refresh themselves with a swim at the other end of the competition area - in Ķīšezera near Priežlejām. The Mežgarciemas stage will also have some similarity with the first stage “Spilves pļavu rogainingu”, namely the airport. If on April 1 the Spilve airfield opened up to the rogainers, then this time there will be some checkpoints at the Ādaži airfield.
According to the participants' abilities and wishes, the organizers offer the usual team distances - 6h Garmin, 4h Kokmuižas and 2h Isostar rogaining distances, as well as individual 3h MTB and rogaining run 2h (O-Run) and rogaining walk for children. “Pilsētas leģendas” is organized by adventure competition agency “Xevents" with the support of Intervals.lv, Isostar, Garmin, Kokmuiža and “Magnesia”. You can register for membership and find out more information on the website rogainings.lv.
In Rogaining competitions with 2 to 4 participants, the team includes both athletes and orienteering enthusiasts who are already masters of these competitions, as well as lovers of an active and sporty lifestyle who like to spend their free time in the fresh air and be active. That's why several families also use this option, because rogaining is a very democratic activity in its essence, since the participants can choose the distance and the number of checkpoints suitable for their abilities. See you at the fifth stage on September 7 in Mežgarciem!