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6-time winner of the Swedish course setting competition
The picture on the left represents a typical shape for an orienteering course. Just based on the general shape of the course, is it likely that it is taking full advantage of the terrain offered? The course on the right has more variation in the length of the legs, more direction change, and it probably goes through some detailed terrain on the right hand side.
AN ORIENTEERING COURSE MUST BE:
·
FAIR
o Correct map
· Runability
· Details
o No hidden controls
·
FUN
·
DEMANDING (and decisive)
· VARIED PROBLEMS (The 3 T’s) - (difficult enough)
o Vary the Terrain
§
Flat/hilly/slopes/spur and valley…
§
Many/few details
§
Good/bad sight and runability
§
Rock/ gravel/ sand/ marsh
§
Forest/ open land
§
Wilderness/ roads and tracks
o Vary the Technique
§
Automatically by using varying terrain
§
Contours/ line features
§
Along/traverse contours/line features
§
Map reading/ compass
§
Different leg lengths, changing of directions
o Vary the Tempo
§ Long/short legs
§ Easy/difficult map reading
· ROUTE CHOICES
o Why ?
· More interesting (both during and afterwards)
· More thinking
· Spread the runners
· Test skill to judge what’s fastest.
o
How ?
·
Obstacles (green, hills/valleys,
marshes…)
·
Fast easy route around vs more difficult shorter route.
TO JUDGE A LEG LOOK AT:
· Length,
· Climb
· Runability
· Difficulty
· Tactics
·
Equal routes: OK
·
Better to test their skill at finding routes.
o
Easy to see routes – not so good.
o
Better to have difficult to discover routes.
He does calculations based on elite runner’s speed in different terrain, climbs, etc. to determine the winning time.
When he plans a course, he usually puts down some good looking legs first.
He said the Minnesota WMOC map was one of the best terrain he had ever been on.