MAP AND COURSE READING

By Christian Peter MacLassen

Orienteering experiance: 16 years

Have been running in 15 different contries, mainly Europe

Orienteering coach for kids in the age 12 – 18 years.

Nordic Orienteering Champion in Biathlon Orienteering 2007 Finland

Have been running for:• Danish National Biathlon team (5 years)

• Danish National Military Biathlon team (1½ years)

• Danish National Military Orienteering team (1½ years)

This slide show contains parts of orienteering courses in a mix of short and long distances between two controls (also called legs or lengths)

In these categories there are different sub categories.

It also contains basic knowledge about difference in techniques.

And finally where a control can be situated.

1

2

3

12

11

10 9

8

765

4

13

14

15

1618

17

19 20

21

2224

23 27

26

25

29

28 30

31

32

33

37

36

35 34

Acceptable

Possible but not a good idea

Not possible

Short Lengths

Short lengths can be sub categorized into:

• Bingo legs

• Fast orienteering legs

• Slow orienteering legs

• Transport legs

Here are a few examples…

Are there any obvious route choices along a guide line or trail?

Is there a possibility to orienteer within range of sight?

Are there more than one realistic choice of route?

If yes, Which one is faster?

What kind of leg is this?

Are there any obvious route choices along a guide line or trail?

Is there a possibility to orienteer within range of sight?

Are there more than one realistic choice of route?

If yes, Which one is faster?

What kind of leg is this?

Slow orienteering although it can be simplified well enough to almost be a fast orienteering leg

Are there any obvious route choices along a guide line or trail?

Is there a possibility to orienteer within range of sight?

Are there more than one realistic choice of route?

If yes, Which one is faster?

What kind of leg is this?

Long lenghts

Long lengths can be sub categorized into:• Long legs

• Transport legs

• Fast orienteering legs

• Choice of route legs

Here are a few examples:

Are there any fast obvious route choices along a guide line or trail?

Are there more than one realistic choice of route?

If yes, Which one is faster?

What kind of leg is this?

3 – 4:

Left?

3 – 4:

Straight?

3 – 4:

Right?

3 – 4:

Alternative right?

3 – 4:

Extreme right?

3 – 4:

Extreme left?

3-4:

All the realistic route choices:

The extreme left and the two far on the right are probably not considerable unless the season of the year makes the forest extremely difficult to run through.

There are therefore 3 considerable choices which makes this to a classical long leg.

Are there any fast obvious route choices along a guide line or trail?

Are there more than one realistic choice of route?

If yes, Which one is faster?

What kind of leg is this?

10 – 11:

Left?

10 – 11:

Straight?

10 – 11:

Right?

Other choices?

10 – 11:

Extreme left?

Here are all the choices we had.

This concludes it as a route choice leg

Here are a few more examples with an obvious simplifying possibility.

Try not to read all details if you can prevent it.

These kinds of lengths are what we will be doing July 1st

Called Umferðaljósarathlaup.

The length can be parted up in colours which indicates the running speed combined with the level of orienteering difficulty.

Is there a difference from control 8 to 9 in technique usage?

Is there a difference from control 8 to 9 in technique usage?

It is important to be aware of which orienteering technique you need to use in the specific situation.

If you use a wrong technique you will waste time trying to get to the control, but most often by being misguided and need to find your way back on track.

Orienteering skills are tools in a toolbox.Use the right tools and you will solve the problem best!