how many miles in an orienteering course

These run about 2 to 3.5 kilometers (1 to 2 mi) and usually follow trails. You'll then be given a map of the course, control descriptions, and might be given an electronic punch. More advanced courses run anywhere from 3.5 to 10 kilometers (2.2 to 6.2 mi) and are mainly off trail.

Full Answer

What are the general guidelines for orienteering courses?

General guidelines for orienteering courses are available from the International Orienteering Federation and national orienteering sport bodies. Both the British Orienteering Federation (BOF) and Orienteering USA (OUSA) have formal systems that define levels of technical difficulty. The BOF system has 5 levels whereas the OUSA system has 7.

What is a score orienteering map?

A score orienteering map. (a) Conducting a score event at the start is basically the same as the cross-country event. The competitor is given a map and an event card. The event card lists all the controls with their different point values.

What is an orienteering race?

The Basic Orienteering Courses Classic: A classic orienteering competition, otherwise called cross-country orienteering, is a race where runners must find a number of checkpoints in a specific order before reaching the finish line. The winner is the person or team who completes the course fastest.

Are orienteering maps difficult to use?

Orienteering maps can seem complicated to beginners, but don’t be put off. They are surveyed and drawn to an incredibly high standard to provide an orienteer’s view of the terrain. Once you tune in to orienteering maps you will find they provide all the information you need to choose a suitable route and then follow it reliably.

What is an orienteering course?

How many levels are there in the British Orienteering Federation?

What courses are available in the JROTC?

What is relay course?

Which course has the least technical challenge?

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What is middle distance orienteering?

The middle distance is a shorter cross-country race than the classic (or long), with a winning time in the region of 30 minutes and with an emphasis more on fine navigation than route-choice. When races of this distance were run in the mid-late 1990s, they were called "short" races, or "sprint-O".

What are the four basic orienteering skills?

SkillsNOTE: The content here is for those who are ready to build their skills and are seeking guidance. You do not need to know any of this in order to show up at and enjoy an orienteering event! ... Basic Skills. Orienting the Map. ... Basic Skills. ... Thumbing the Map. ... Line Features. ... Catching Features. ... Reading the Map. ... Contours.More items...

What is the difference between navigation and orienteering?

Shepherds or Stumpy Creek.) Land navigation is making your way across the land, using various tools (map, compass, sun). Orienteering is a cross-country race in which participants navigate between checkpoints along a specified course (unfamiliar course, generally) using map and compass.

What will indicate the starting point of a course in orienteering?

An orienteering course is composed of a start point, a series of control points, and a finish point.

How do I set up a simple orienteering course?

Set up a 100-foot course near your meeting place. As Scouts arrive, have them walk the course and calculate their pace (how far they travel every two steps). Draw a large chalk circle on the parking lot. Place an index card marked “North” at the northernmost point.

How do I get better at orienteering?

How to Improve Your OrienteeringBefore you start study the map and legend. ... Don't think of the competition as a race. ... Never run at absolute top speed. ... Try not to stop. ... Don't stand still if you're lost and can't work it out. ... Don't run on 'feel'.More items...

Why is orienteering not an Olympic sport?

In the 1980's we were told that the IOC was saying Orienteering lacked the required number of member countries on the required number of continents to be considered. Orienteering has long since passed those modest threshholds but it seems no closer to being on any Olympic program.

Who is the father of orienteering?

KillanderKillander is credited with coining the Swedish word orientering, from which the word orienteering is derived, in publicity materials for this meet. Killander continued to develop the rules and principles of the sport, and today is widely regarded throughout Scandinavia as the "Father of Orienteering".

What is the trickiest part in orienteering?

For some people, judging distance is the hardest part of orienteering. But you can make it easier with some preparation. One way of judging distance is by pace-counting or counting every time your right (or left) foot touches the ground over a given distance.

What are the 2 types of orienteering?

Cycle orienteering for adults is divided into two main categories: Mountain Bike Orienteering Score (MBO Score) and Multi-Terrain Bike Orienteering (MTBO).

What are the six types of orienteering course?

Types of orienteering eventIntroductory Events. Sometimes called Come and Try It events, these are very low-key and are put on regularly by clubs. ... Local (Level D) Events. ... Regional (Level C) Events. ... National (Level B) Events. ... British Championships (Level A) ... Multi-Day Events. ... Relays. ... Sprint Events.More items...

What should you always do while orienteering?

Things to rememberOrienteering involves running or walking while navigating by compass through challenging environments such as bushland.If you are a beginner, participate in orienteering events held in smaller parks and stick to the 'easy' or 'very easy' courses.More items...

How to orienteer wiki?

How to Orienteer. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 35 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 73,076 times.

How far should I run a golf course?

You'll be asked to specify a skill level. As a beginner, you should start with a white or yellow course. These run about 2 to 3.5 kilometers (1 to 2 mi) and usually follow trails. You'll then be given a map of the course, control descriptions, and might be given an electronic punch.

How to start a race in a race?

When you start your race, take a moment to look at the topographical map which will consist of a start, a series of control sites connected by lines and numbered in the order they are to be visited, and a finish. Your start will be a red or pink triangle. Control sites are circles connected by lines.

Is orienteering competitive?

Top Answerer. Orienteering can be very competitive, so having an attack point will save you time and potentially energy. It is a 'treasure hunt', but it is mixed in with cross-country racing as well. Not all events are very competitive, you can probably find one that is more relaxed.

What is the challenge of course setting?

The challenge for the course setter is to keep the course interesting, but never beyond the individual's or group's ability. General guidance is to select locations that are easily identifiable on the map and terrain, and accessible from several routes.

Is time a factor in a master map?

When they finish, the maps are analyzed and compared. During training, time is not a factor. Another variation is when a course is laid out on the ground with markers for the competitor to follow. There is no master map, as the course is traced for the competitor by flags or markers.

How long is a classic orienteering race?

This is called a "cross-country" course as distinct from a score course (see below). Courses are normally designed so that the fastest route is not straightforward to find on the map, or to follow on the ground. The classic race has a typical winning time of 75–90 minutes. As of 2007, the IOF have dictated that the "classic" course should be redesignated the "long".

What is the color of the orienteering course?

The orienteering course is marked in purple or red on a map. A triangle is used to indicate the start and a double circle indicates the finish. Circles are used to show the control points.

What is orienteering in scouting?

For the way it is practiced in Scouting, see Orienteering (scouting). For the combination with radio communication, see Radio orienteering. Group of sports that requires navigational skills. The international orienteering flag. Orienteering pictogram. Orienteering is a group of sports that require navigational skills using a map ...

What is the national governing body for orienteering?

There are governing bodies for most of the individual nations that are represented in the sport of orienteering. These national bodies are the rule-making body for that nation. For example, the British Orienteering Federation is the national governing body for the United Kingdom. The federation was founded in 1967 and it is made up of 13 constituent associations. For the United States, the national governing body is Orienteering USA .

When was the first orienteering meet held?

There, the two oldest recurring orienteering meets have been held since the 1940s ( Jukola relay and Tiomila ), and the single largest orienteering meet has been held every year since 1965 and attracts around 15,000 competitors ( O-Ringen ). Typically, orienteering is run in wild terrain.

What equipment do you need to be an orienteer?

Competitive orienteers usually use specialized equipment: A thumb compass, or protractor compass on a short wrist cord.

What is a permanent marker in orienteering?

Some orienteering clubs have set up permanent courses, which can be used for personal, or club, training. Non-standard permanent markers are used as control kites, and maps of the courses are usually available publicly for a fee. The courses are usually set up in public areas and there may be some restrictions on access, e.g., daylight hours only. Clubs also organise informal events for practice and training.

What are the features of an orienteering map?

They're topographic maps that include not only the land's natural features, but also detailed rock and water features and objects like fences, power lines and picnic tables.

What is orienteering outdoors?

Conservation. Most people tend to avoid wandering into the woods or unfamiliar terrain, but that's part of the fun of orienteering. Orienteering is a collection of sports that requires navigational skills and tools, such as a map and compass, to navigate from point to point.

Why is orienteering done at a leisurely pace?

Sometimes orienteering is done quickly as part of large competitions, but it can also be done at a more leisurely pace to explore a new area and hone one's navigational skills.

How to keep track of where you are on a map?

One simple way to keep track of where you are on the map is to keep your thumb on your current location. As you move through terrain, move your thumb as well so that you can always pinpoint precisely where you are.

Does a compass always point north?

Your compass will naturally always point north, but make sure your map does as well. For example, if you're in the woods looking north, hold your map so it too faces north. If you turn around and face south, flip your map around so that north on the map still points north.

What is orienteering skills?

The Orienteering Skills Program is a sequential, four-step program for improving navigation from beginner to advanced orienteer. Each level features concepts, learning, and demonstration of skills that build on each other, as well as a completion patch. This is intended for use by coaches and beginner orienteers to ensure a proper progression of skills and may be integrated with the three programs above.

What is the goal of the Orienteering Program?

The program’s goal is to have athletes train so that they keep their bodies healthy, learn to be self-aware, and develop skills that will help them become strong orienteers and to be successful in life.

What is Discovering Orienteering?

An excellent resource for physical educators, recreation and youth leaders, orienteering coaches as well as individuals, Discovering Orienteering distills the sport into teachable components relating to various academic disciplines , provides an array of learning activities, and includes an introduction to physical training and activities for coaching beginning to intermediate orienteers. Guidelines take eager beginners beyond the basics and prepare them to participate in orienteering events. More than 60 ready-to-use activities assist educators in applying the benefits of orienteering across the curriculum.#N#Developed in conjunction with Orienteering USA (OUSA), Discovering Orienteering addresses the methods, techniques, and types of orienteering commonly found throughout the United States and Canada.#N#Available at Amazon & Google Play

How to become a navigator?

Becoming a proficient navigator involves learning a number of basic concepts and techniques and practicing these skills on a regular basis. Realize that as a beginner you will make mistakes and some will likely cost you a lot of time on the course. Learn to recognize what leads to these mistakes and be able to correct yourself before they become big errors. Even elite orienteers make mistakes, the difference is that they can more quickly catch themselves, adjust accordingly and minimize their time lost to errors. Practice, practice, practice…

How to build endurance and speed?

Intensity: If you want to improve your speed, you need to train harder. Consider intervals, hill repeats, and tempo runs to push you outside of your comfort zone.

How long does it take to complete an orange course?

As a general guideline, a competitive beginner has mastered the basics when they can complete an Orange (Intermediate) Course at a rate of 10 minutes per kilometer for men or 12 minutes per kilometer for women. For example, a male runner who completes a 3.5km Orange course in 35:00 minutes has met the 10 min/km standard.

What does yellow mean in orienteering?

Yellow: slow down, cautious movement and orienteering. Green: full speed, rough direction. Contouring: practice staying at the same elevation along a hillside (imagine following a contour); a useful skill to use when faced with a leg that crosses a very steep hill or valley.

How do orienteers record their visit?

Back in the day, orienteers would record their visit to each “control”—control points on the map to which you must navigate—using a simple paper punch. Nowadays, most events use an electronic “e-punch” that records your visit when you insert an electronic timing stick.

When was orienteering invented?

First developed in the 19th century to test the navigational competence of the Swedish military, these days orienteering is a worldwide affair. It not only has its own international governing body, but also hundreds of thousands of meet participants who compete at local, regional, and national levels.

What is Empire Orienteering Club?

Empire Orienteering Club: A club organizing meets in the New York area. Bay Area Orienteering Club: A San Francisco-based club that organizes meets in up and down the state of California. Quantico Orienteering Club: A Virginia-based club that organizes meets and more serious races in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Is orienteering good for you?

If fun isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other reasons why taking up orienteering is a good idea for the outdoor adventurer. Whether you consider yourself primarily a hiker, backpacker, trail-runner, or navigation geek, orienteering adds another element to your regular schtick.

What is a classic orienteering course?

Classic: A classic orienteering competition, otherwise called cross-country orienteering, is a race where runners must find a number of checkpoints in a specific order before reaching the finish line. The winner is the person or team who completes the course fastest.

What are the different types of orienteering?

The Best Types of Orienteering for Beginners 1 Line: In line orienteering, a route that participants must follow is drawn through multiple checkpoints on each individual’s map. Runners begin a line orienteering course one team at a time and must orient themselves to adhere to the specified route as closely as possible. Checkpoints serve as confirmation that they’re on the right track. 2 Route: Route orienteering is a lot like a line competition. However, instead of having the route drawn on a runner’s map, the line is drawn on the ground. Participants must mark checkpoint locations on their maps. The winner is the team that manages to spot the most checkpoints. 3 String: In string orienteering, competitors follow a string stretched around a course, recording certain items or landmarks along the way. This type of competition is usually reserved for children and beginners. String orienteering is more about being observant and working with a team than direction finding.

What is the difference between relay and cross country orienteering?

Relay: Relay orienteering is, like cross-country orienteering, a race through a set of checkpoints that orienteers must reach in a particular order. The difference is that each member of a relay team runs one leg of the race alone with their own map.

What is the challenge of orienteering?

Orienteering is essentially a race where the biggest challenge is finding waypoints in woods or urban parks. Competitors, called “runners,” venture into unfamiliar and disorienting terrain. Using only a map and a compass, they must locate a pre-set route through a series of checkpoints before they can cross the finish line.

Why is orienteering important?

It began as a Swedish military exercise that helped troops build their pathfinding skills, their stamina, and their ability to cooperate with fellow soldiers in unfamiliar situations. Today, orienteering is accessible to everyone from young children to elderly people.

What is the point of a sprint event?

Runners must reach checkpoints in a pre-set order, but the point of a sprint event is speed and quick decision-making. Motala: Motala orienteering, named for a town in Sweden, is a longer race wherein participants navigate three different courses as part of a single contest.

How long does a checkpoint last?

Some score competitions can last for 24 hours. Sprint: Sprint orienteering events are shorter races held in urban or park environments where running is easier.

What are the steps to successful orienteering?

Plan, Picture, Direction – 3 steps to successful orienteering. To help you put these ideas into practice, Better Orienteering uses a simple model of 3 steps to think about when navigating – Plan, Picture, Direction. To get round an orienteering course successfully, for each leg of the course you should:

What are the different types of orienteering?

Orienteering competitions are divided into the following types: Foot orienteering There are races at different distances – Sprint, Middle, Long and Ultra-long – and on different types of terrain – urban, forest, moorland.

What is Trail O?

Trail Orienteering (Trail-O Trail-O is for all physical ability levels, even those with significant physical mobility impairments and focuses on accurate map reading rather than running speed. This summary Trail O by David Jukes of BKO gives more detail

What scale is a race in Orienteering?

Orienteering races take place in many types of terrain including woodland, moorland and urban areas. Urban maps are usually at 1:4000 scale (every centimetre on the map is 40 metres on the ground), or sometimes 1:5000, showing lots of detail around buildings. Woodland and moorland maps are usually at 1:10,000 (1 cm on map = 100 metres on the ground) or 1:15,000 scale (1 cm om map = 150 m on ground), giving a slightly less detailed view of a bigger area of terrain.

What is the most popular compasse for orienteering?

Thumb compasses are the most popular compasses for orienteering. Most of the time you won’t need to do more than use the red compass needle to keep the map lined up to north, however, this explanation from Silva shows how you can get more from it if you need to, by taking a bearing between points on the map.

How to get around a course?

To get round an orienteering course successfully, for each leg of the course you should: 1 Plan – Make a Plan before you set off. Try to follow hand rails such as paths. 2 Picture – identify what you will see on the way.

What does it mean when you register for a course?

When you register for a course they will help you pick a course that is suitable for your fitness, experience and age group. The major competitions are split into age classes instead where you will be competing against people of similar age to ensure a fair race.

What color are the orienteering maps?

• Brown lines represent elevation and other land features. • White, yellows and greens show vegetation density. • Blue represents water.

Why is the map important in orienteering?

The Map. In orienteering, the map is more important than the compass. Taking a compass bearing and traveling in a straight line isn’t always the best choice. The map gives you information about the terrain that can help you find trails, streams and vegetative edges, which can be easier to cross.

What is the best way to get from point A to point B?

Orienteering is a fun outdoor activity that tests your ability not only to read a compass and map but also to relate features on the map to features on the ground to determine the fastest way to get from point A to point B.

What is an orienteering course?

Course (orienteering) An orienteering course is compose d of a start point, a series of control points, and a finish point. Controls are marked with a white and orange flag in the terrain, and corresponding purple symbols on an orienteering map.

How many levels are there in the British Orienteering Federation?

Both the British Orienteering Federation (BOF) and Orienteering USA (OUSA) have formal systems that define levels of technical difficulty. The BOF system has 5 levels whereas the OUSA system has 7. In both systems, novices start on a course with a technical and physical difficulty of 1 and progress according to their age, experience, ...

What courses are available in the JROTC?

There is also a Green course, Brown, Red, and Blue in the U.S. Yellow, Orange and Green are the only ones available to the JROTC branches, and are the usual choices for most civilians.

What is relay course?

In a relay, all teams run the same overall course, with each team member running a part of the overall course. Different teams will run the course in a different order e.g. if the overall course consists of parts A, B, and C, teams may run ABC, BCA, or CAB.

Which course has the least technical challenge?

In both systems, White courses have the least technical challenge, followed by Yellow and Orange. In both systems, all other courses (Red, Blue, Green, Brown, Black) are for advanced competitors and vary only in their degree and kind of physical challenge.