Successful orienteering is not just about being able to read a map and compass - it's about decision making, both in planning a route and on the fly, when the weather turns sour and you need to adapt your plan. It's about having the stamina to push ahead to reach checkpoints within the allotted time. Most importantly, it's about enjoying it!
Orienteering events fit into one of two categories, whether they're in the mountains or a city centre:
Traditional orienteering
Sometimes known as cross-country orienteering, this is where competitors are given a series of checkpoints that they must reach in a specific order. The fastest team to collect all of them wins.
Score orienteering
In this format, there are a wide range of checkpoints worth different amount of points - the more difficult it is to reach, the more points it is worth. Competitors are given a time limit in which they must collect as many points as possible.
Events in the traditional orienteering format can then be further broken down into sprint, middle-distance, long-distance, cross-country and urban events. There are also mountain biking events for both traditional and score orienteering.
The kit that you will need for an orienteering event will vary depending on whether it's being held in the great outdoors or in a town or city. For remote outdoor events, as these often are, waterproof clothing, warm layers and survival gear are essential in case you miss a checkpoint and become lost. Clearly, a compass will be needed no matter where you are!
As well as the technical skills of navigating, many orienteering events will require a decent level of fitness to race through mountains and rugged terrain.
Get out there and explore!
