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Why Orienteering is Hot!
Chuck Fitzgerald C2005. All Rights Reserved.
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!
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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 www.BackCountryToys.com to find great gear and to
receive the Fact & Tips e-newsletter, "FreshAir." (800)
316-9055.
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