Orienteering, is a sport for all.
Orienteering, also named 'Cunning Running'.
Then, what is orienteering??
You can find a comprehension introduction in Heather Williams Homepage
Orienteering ?? !!
Orienteering, is a sport similar with 'treasure hunt', which was founded by a Swedish scout leader, Major Evnat Killander in 1918.
The
rules of orienteering are as follows: First of all, the participants should use a map
which is provided by the organiser and find out every pre-set Control Point. At the
same time, the participants should bring a provided Control Card in the course of
event. When they reach a control point, they will find a Marker, a flag in orange
and white colour, and a Punch under it. The participants can use the punch to make
a record on their control card and the punch pattern can prove that they have already
visited this point.
After
they have finished the course, they must return the control card to the organiser. The
organiser will calculate their time and check the punch patterns are correct or not.
The winner will be the one who spend the shortest time and find out all required control points sequently.
The Bible of Orienteering - Map
Orienteering map, is the most important component of orienteering.
Participants will solely use the information provided by the
map to find out the control points,
therefore,
detail and accurate maps are essential.
In this sense, orienteering maps are quite different with maps we used in hiking or mountaineering in the following aspects:
The International Orienteering Federation (IOF) established a guideline on the symbols on orienteering maps. All orienteering maps in the world should follow this guideline and Hong Kong is not exceptional. Under this guideline, symbols in orienteering maps are grouped into 5 categories and use different colour to distinguish them:
Black: represent rocks, boulders and manmade features
Brown: represent terrain features and contour line
Blue: represent water features
Yellow: represent vegetation, which is open and highly passable
Green: represent vegetation, which is dense and difficult to pass
White: represent vegetation: forest
Purple: represent the location of start, finish and control points
Please refer to other orienteering maps and literatures for more details.
What equipments should I need?
Somebody may think orienteering is a 'harsh' sport and last for days, climbing up high mountains and..., so you need to carry food, tent, sleeping bag and other accessories with you in the competition.
In
fact, you may just need 1 to 2 hours to complete an orienteering course. Therefore, you
just need a compass and a whistle (use in emergency only!) with you during the
competition. And the map and control card are provided by the organiser.
Of course, you should wear appropriate clothes to protect yourself. Generally speaking, you should wear trousers to protect your legs, and a pair of sport shoes to avoid slipping on sandy ground.
You see, orienteering is really a 'cheap' sport, you may spend less than HK$100 to buy few equipments, and then you can enjoy the fun of orienteering!
Orienteering -- Full of Challenge and Fun!
Orienteering is called 'sport for all'. It is because even you are younger than
8 age or older than 80 age, you can join orienteering. Course setting set different
courses in competition for people in different experience and age. If you are just an
novice, you can join an easier and shorter course, and if you think yourself are strong
and fit, you can run courses in more advanced class.
On the other hands, orienteering is also full of challenge. Each orienteering course is different with others. Each time you run, you may read different map and face different terrain. You won't feel boring as there are many challenge ahead!
Are these really attractive to you??