Andreas Johansson, member at Northeast Ohio Orienteering Club (NEOOC), introduces orienteering with some of the basic stuff you might encounter at your first event.
I was "forced" in orienteering back in the 70's as part of Army officer training. Best I remember, it was a 10K course with 10-points, each with a unique card punch. You had to run the entire course since you were also timed. We used a Silva compass with map to plot direction, but an Army issued "marching" compass to follow the routes. Growing up in Alvin York country I never needed a compass---no one did, and we never got lost. But, the mechanical compass game to places you've never been before is as different beast. The Army didn't care squat for orienteering, except that it was a great boon to map reading skills, the #1 reason for flunking out of officer training. So, with orienteering I was a "mid-pack" performer. That is UNTIL we ran the course for score on "record day". Pass/fail; make or break day! And, by the luck of the universe I finished the course first! One mistake everyone makes with the Silva compass is to shoot off the back of the thing and take off 180-degrees the wrong way. Some people do it a lot, but the Army made sure you only did it once ---- if you shot a backwards azimuth, you had to climb "Mt. Everest". I only did that wrong once! Pushing 70 now, and still have my maps, protractor, and compasses. Took them all out a few months ago and found I was just as sharp as when I was in my 20's! Some things are so ingrained they can't be forgotten.
I think this a fantastic sport. I feel bad that anyone would look on it negatively. I am a older person and definitely not going to run through a course. when I'm in the woods I take pictures look at the wildlife, flowers lakes , waterfalls. Personally I think it should be taught in schools, not as a sport but as a way not to get lost. In my lifetime if everyone knew more about this they may not have lost their lives. I'm quite serious about this. Ted S
Hi! In the Swedish school system knowing how to use a map is obligatory if you wanna pass the P.E class. We do learn it as a sport but the most important part is to know how to navigate.
Well done intro to orienteering. I first heard of orienteering around 1980, and have since then wished I lived where there is an active club because it seems like a great sport. Every club I've located is four to 6 hour drive from where I live. I think you're in the Cleveland area, about five hour drive for me. So I've had to entertain myself with just learning compass land navigation, hunting Bench Marks or just interesting things seen on Topo maps. A pity orienteering isn't done in more communities. It could get kids away from their video games and out in the woods (a cure for the "last child in the woods" phanomonon written about today) and get older folks out too. Making a walk in the woods exercise for both body and mind. Or a walk in the city too I guess. I've seen European orienteering event videos where the course is in urban environments.
Our park replaced bicycle rentals with orienteering. It’s nice to have the option, but most of us aren’t regular runners and wouldn’t do so well running in the woods, especially on a family day with our youngsters. We didn’t really need bikes, but it was nice to be able to throw down a deposit if we brought the small car. We can still bike and now we can do orienteering too. I think it’s better now. I agree with u, it would be nice for more places to have orienteering hubs for the scouts and runners to utilize. Just cause I’d never doesn’t mean I wouldn’t support it for others. I hope u get ur wish
Thanks for all the explanation. Hmm I thought the night games 14km+ I'm taking part in are for newbies. Glad to hear there are shorter versions. I came to the video to search for hints about the fast navigation.thanks
I have a quick question, is orienteering the same as the military land navigation. I am trying to get hand on experience for that but I don’t know where to get those skills.
Hi, I live in Los Angeles and would love to try this out for the first time. What is the best place to start? Is there a group near I could meet up with?
Hi Eric, I'm sure someone can give you a better answer... but I stumbled upon orienteering recently and thought it was something my kids would enjoy. I watched a couple youtube videos and then was able to find some local permanent orienteering parks where i would take the guys and their friends out to practice... It's very easy to pick up and they started running the meets and are loving it. They learn more each time and are eager to get out each time and tackle a new skill. You should be able to find a local club at < us dot orienteering dot org > My local club's website had tons of great info and maps for the local courses... Good luck & have fun!
I have never heard of orienteering and u did a great job explaining it in this video. Seems like geocaching, but timed, so it’s more strenuous. Couldn’t u have a map on ur phone to find ur clickers and save paper or would that mess up the game?
The whole purpose of this is to complete the route with the map and compass without help from GPS. Using the map on the phone would present a challenge when trying to use with a compass, not just in the size, but the phone might mess with the compass needle. Also, since the phone has GPS built in, it would be considered cheating if it helped to get you there.
Siete sicuri di aver fatto i giusti calcoli? Un meteorite molto grande, nel 98 credo, passò nello spazio molto vicino alla terra, perché io lo vidi grande quanto un'anguria, arrivò in direzione dell'Adriatico verso il Tirreno, io lo vidi in una notte estiva dal centro Italia, il giorno prima avevano passato la notizia che, la notte successiva , in direzione sud Italia si sarebbe potuta vedere la stazione spaziale Mirr, io invece vidi il grosso sasso dalla parte opposta, cioè verso il nord Italia, sfrecciando senza alcuna scia nello spazio stellato lato Mar Adriatico verso Mar Tirreno, sparì prima dell'orizzonte a causa dell'atmosfera terrestre essendo nello spazio, la particolarità che vidi, era la colorazione del masso, un verde scintillante, era come una roccia spezzata, non era rotondo, ed era pieno di crateri, in me e mia moglie ci fu ammirazione e allo stesso tempo paura per le possibili cause di un impatto, possibile che voi non abbiate visto nulla quella notte???? Non ricordo esattamente che anno era, ricordo solo che la sera prima i TG divulgarono la notizia della stazione spaziale Mirr (forse un depistaggio per gli appassionati del settore per far volgere loro lo sguardo all'opposto del cielo?)
After watching this, I'm much less interested in orienteering. I'm sure not going to be zooming over rocks, splashing through streams, and zipping up and down hill and dale. Maybe 30 years ago but no way now.
Hi Jennifer! Sorry you feel that way. Orienteering is great, I think, because you can take it at any speed. As fast as you want, or as slow as you want. We have plenty of folks at our meets that just walk at a strolling pace on the WHITE course, which won't include stream crossings, etc. And at the other end, full out sprints through thick forest and plenty of water...
I can't say in all my years doing this I never splash through streams,you can fast walk a course and still beat people that are running so fast they miss the points. Got to say even for a newbie waterproof socks are a good investment.Also bramble bashers or a bit of card/plastic down a long sock can save your shins.And ladies def carry your phones and have a safety buddie.This vid is abit long winded,I can see how it would be abit off putting but the sport is lot of fun and way cheaper than a gym.
@@eajohansson I agree with that. I run green courses on the national level and I watch plenty of 70+ year olds walk courses with ease. It's just a mindset if you want to do it or not.
