Articles
Why Orienteering Is Hot!
by Chuck Fitzgerald
So, you didn’t know it was hot did you? Do you even know what
Orienteering is? It is one of the most thrilling activities
available for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and here’s the
good news – it’s inexpensive. If you enjoy spending time out
of doors and you are looking to break out of your regular
routine, Orienteering may be the challenge you’ve been hoping
for. Thousands of men, women and children around the country
are addicted to the mental and physical rush of Orienteering.
Let’s find out why.
First off, what is Orienteering? Orienteering is an outdoor
sport where you use a map and a compass to find your way
through a cross-country style course either leisurely or
competitively. Here’s basically how it works: By using only a
compass and a map, participants will move from one control point
to another until reaching the end of the course. Each
participant – an orienteer – uses a special device, a unique
one is located at each control point, to mark their scorecard
thus proving they have actually visited the required control
points. The orienteer who reaches the finish line first, with
all control points visited, is the winner. Sounds easy doesn’t
it? So what’s the catch?
There are two main challenges to the sport. First, the route
is not marked. Therefore the orienteer must personally
navigate from control point to control point using only a
compass and a map. To successfully do this, you will always
need to know how far you have traveled and in what direction.
Their map, provided at the event, gives detailed information on
the terrain such as hills, landmarks, bodies of water and other
obstacles. Secondly, to be successful in orienteering, the
orienteer needs excellent map reading skills, the ability to
focus mentally and the ability to make decisions. If the event
is competitive, all of this is done as fast as possible.
The most popular type of Orienteering is Foot Orienteering –
abbreviated as Foot-O – and it is an Olympic sport.
World-class Foot-O athletes typically have endurance and
strength characteristics similar to marathon runners. Other
Orienteering types include Mountain Bike, Skiing, Trail, and
Night Orienteering. To find out more information on
Orienteering in your city, contact the United States
Orienteering Federation or visit our online Education Center.
Competitive orienteering has been called the “thinking sport”
and has been likened to “running while playing chess.”
With Orienteering, you’ll improve your problem solving skills,
your decision making skills and you will push yourself to new
levels of accomplishment. All while having a great time.
While leisure Orienteering is not nearly as fast paced or as
pressure-packed as competitive Orienteering, you’ll still get
an adrenaline rush when you’ve successfully found your way
through the course – and that’s why Orienteering is Hot! Use
this information and you’ll Get It Right The First Time. Get
Outdoors!
About The Author: Chuck Fitzgerald is the owner of Arizona
based BackCountry Toys, an online specialty store with the
“Best Gear Out There” and dedicated to helping outdoor
enthusiasts to “Get It Right The First Time” with timely
educational information. Please visit
http://www.BackCountryToys.com to find great gear and to
receive the Fact & Tips e-newsletter, "FreshAir.” (800)
316-9055.
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