Orienteering is a sport that combines map and compass skills with running. Participants navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, racing against the clock to reach all of the control points.
To begin, participants typically copy a pre-printed orienteering “control description” (CD) course onto an orienteering map. Different colored pins or “flags” at the control points tell competitors where to go and what to do, depending on which race they’re competing in. Orienteers also need to decide how fast to run between each control point, so as not to be thrown off by the terrain and distance traveled. It’s a sport of strategy and speed.
Orienteering has five recognized disciplines: foot orienteering, mountain bike orienteering, ski orienteering, trail orienteering and electronic orienteering. The first three are self explanatory; the latter two involve running with a map (either on foot or on skis) but using an electronic device to determine one’s position.
Those that do orienteering competitively will find themselves running through all types of terrain. Each discipline requires its own type of orienteer. For example, foot orienteering requires quick runners who can navigate accurately and quickly on the map. Ski Orienteers need to be strong skiers able to ski fast up hills and down hills while still maintaining control of their map and compass.
Orienteering can be done by anyone young or old, male or female. Many people get involved in orienteering because it is a way to explore the outdoors and exercise at the same time. That said, some of the best orienteers are teenagers who devote most of their free time to training for competition.
At its heart, orienteering is a sport of exploration and adventure.
Table of Contents
How do you explain orienteering?
Orienteering is a combination of map reading and running. It can be as simple as you want or as complicated as you want to make it.
Orienteering teaches people navigation by using a detailed topographic map and compass. The goal is to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, racing against the clock.
Orienteering can be done by anyone young or old, male or female. Many people get involved in orienteering because it is a way to explore the outdoors and exercise at the same time.
What do you do in orienteering?
In orienteering, you run from point-to-point in the woods using a map and compass. In competitive orienteering, you need to be fast because you’re racing against others who are also running using a map and compass.
What is the purpose of orienteering?
Orienteering is a sport that combines map and compass skills with running. Participants navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, racing against the clock to reach all of the control points.
What type of sport is orienteering?
Orienteering is a sport that combines map and compass skills with running. Participants navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, racing against the clock to reach all of the control points.
Why orienteering is a sport?
Orienteering is a sport that combines map and compass skills with running. Participants navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, racing against the clock to reach all of the control points.
What country orienteering originated from?
Orienteering as we know it was developed as a navigational training exercise for Swedish soldiers around 200 years ago. It wasn’t until the late 1940s and ’50s, however, that orienteering as we know it today began to take shape.
Is orienteering an Olympic sport?
Not yet. Although orienteering is an official sport of the International Olympic Committee, it has not been accepted as a full-medal event at the Olympics.
Is orienteering indoor or outdoor?
Orienteering can be done either indoors or outdoors.
Does orienteering involve climbing?
Some of the disciplines of orienteering require hiking, but there are no competitive events that include rock climbing or anything similar.
What are the four basic orienteering skills?
The four basic orienteering skills are: reading maps, using a compass, running and route planning.
What is the most popular type of orienteering?
The most popular types of orienteering are foot, mountain bike and ski orienteering.
What is the difference between Orienteering and Geocaching?
Geocaching is more of a treasure hunting game, whereas orienteering entails actually navigating with a map and compass to specific points or control markers in an unknown area.
