Comments on: Mixed relay at Ski WOC: Showed potential for good TV!

By: Per Frost

Per Frost — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 20:47:45 +0000

The headcam transmitting equipment that is used during this championship is the same that was used during U10 and also by swedish TV during Vasaloppet, but the technique is still very new and will develop a lot in the next years/ Per Frost, Ski-Woc Broadcast manager

By: Jan Kocbach

Jan Kocbach — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:10:50 +0000

Thanks again for nice entertainment! I’ve sent some further comments to Henning – we’ll see if I can see any of it tomorrow:)

Regarding the forkings, I’ve got to see them before I can comment in detail. However, in general I think the most important thing is that the viewer knows what the actual standing is, so that you can see how and why the decisions are made. If the forkings are very uneven, you can’t really know. 40 seconds might actually be too much in such a tight relay. That means that Russia might have been in the “virtual” lead out on the last leg, even if they actually were 40 seconds behind (I don’t recall if it was 40 seconds, but you get the idea). As it was now, I was sure that Norway/Sweden must have done some big mistake (which they again might have for what I know).

Anyway – it was exciting to watch – and I’m looking forward to further development of the concept!

By: Markku Vauhkonen

Markku Vauhkonen — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 23:57:10 +0000

We are pleased with all your comments and feedback to improve both the format and the production.
Given the circumstances and miniscule (no)budget Carl Magnusson, Per Frost, Henning Spjelkevik et al. did a fantastic job.

The forkings were very close – all of them within 50 meters in lenght and 40 seconds in time. It is rather difficult for the course planners to make it even better, but we’ll definitely review the feedback and format.

I may be biased, but I think that the entire forking issue is more a problem to die-hard orienteers than for the general public. Less experienced spectators preferred the drama. What if in all relays we had always forking into the last control, and all the teams and competitors knew this and that the only tactic was to go flat out on every leg…

Please share your views.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:15:53 +0000

The athletes might not like it, but very short interviews between legs would be something to test. I think it would make the event more interesting for a TV-spectator.

The live headcam was great.