FOOT ORIENTEERING

ORIENTEERING is similar to a cross-country race but you
navigate using a map instead of following a set course. It is an
outdoor sport where competitors navigate their own way, you
can run, jog or walk, you decide your own pace, looking for
control points marked on a special map.

You can click on the link below to find the necessary vocab to be more at your ease:

orienteering vocabulary

combes des bourguignons features

The control points are marked on an orienteering map. The
points on the course are marked with orange and white flags
and punches, so you can prove you’ve been there.

The challenge is to use the map to decide the best route to
complete the course in the quickest time.

Foot orienteering is an endurance sport which involves a huge mental element. There is no marked route – the orienteer must navigate with map and compass while running.

The map gives detailed information on the terrain such as hills, ground surface, obstacles etc. To be successful in foot orienteering, the athlete needs excellent map reading skills, absolute concentration and the ability to make quick decisions on the best route while running at high speed.

Orienteers run over rough ground, completely unprepared forest terrain or rough open hills – cross country in the true sense of the word. Therefore, considerable body strength and agility is needed. Fitness similar to that of a 3000m steeplechase or marathon runner is required.

There is a wide variety of orienteering events: individual competitions and relays, ultra-short park races and mountain marathon events. Night orienteering with the aid of a head lamp is also a popular form of orienteering.

Every year, the best foot orienteers in the world fight for the World Champion titles and the World Cup victory.

Foot orienteering became a recognised Olympic sport in 1977.

ORIENTEERING EQUIPMENT:

RACING SUIT: A lightweight, stretchy suit protects from undergrowth whilst allowing maximum freedom of movement even if it gets soaking wet.

SHOES: Light, strong shoes with non-slip soles allow sure grip on all types of ground – including mud and bare rock.

MAP: The map provided by the organiser shows the course with the control points which must be visited.

The map is designed to give detailed information on the terrain – hills, ground surface, and features such as boulders or cliffs: you can refer to the legend of the map to check what is around you. See the article named « orienteering legend of the map ».

COMPASS: There is a wide variety of sophisticated compasses to choose from. Basically they can be divided into two main categories: base plate and thumb compasses.

CONTROL CARD: To prove that they have visited all control points in the right order, the orienteers have to punch their control card at each control (sometimes using an electronic device)