Orienteering is a competitive sport which requires sharp navigational skills. The participants are required to use a detailed map along with a compass so that they can find various hints or points in the unfamiliar landscapes while moving with speed.
The map provided to all the participants is a topographical map which consists of triangles (start points), circles (checkpoints) and double circles (finish points) which enhance their navigating skills.
Orienteering can be done in various styles such as sprint style, middle classic or long-distance.
The objective of the orienteer is to use various start points and continue navigating the terrain using the map and compass to complete the route and reach the finish point within a specific time-limit.
The flag site isn’t specified, and all the participants have to navigate thoroughly to complete their route and reach the finish point. For verification of the route, the orienteer uses a specific punch hanger next to their flag and mark it as the control card.
Different types of punches such as patterns, holes in the paper are used.
The sport of orienteering emerged in the late 19th century in Sweden. The term was first used in the year of 1886 in the Swedish Military Academy in Karlberg.
The roots of orienteering hold from military training by using land navigation. In 1897, the first civilian orienteering competition was held in Norway.
During the 1930s the sport gained lots of popularity as inexpensive, reliable compasses were available in the market.
In 1934, millions of participants volunteered actively in this sport, and the sport started spreading its wings in Finland, Switzerland and the Soviet Union. After World War II; Europe, Asia, North America and Oceania also became the places where orienteering became popular.
In 1959, an international orienteering conference was organized in 12 countries. In 2010, 71 different countries became a member of the International Orienteering Federation.
It’s the major traditional orienteering variant which combines hiking along with running. This doesn’t include any navigation to complete the course.
This kind of variant includes sharp and precise map reading along with terrain riding. The trail orienteers are required to detect the decoys and appropriate controls. There is no time limit between the trail points or any route choices provided to the participants.,
In this variant, the
cross-country skiing is combined with the navigating skills to focus on the route choices. In this variant, the ski orienteer uses a topographic map which demonstrates trails in a snowy region. The map is fitted with a map holding strap attached to the chest of the orienteers.,
Mountain Bike Orienteering (MTBO) is a variant of orienteering in which orienteers uses mountain bikes to complete their navigation and primarily focus on completing their route with speed. In this, the map is carried inside a holder fitted on the bike. ,
The radio orienteering (Radio-O) is also widely regarded as the
Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) or
Foxhunting. The radio orienteers complete their course by using a directional radio receiver along with the magnetic compass and map in which only a starting and finishing point is marked. To determine the path and location, the orienteers use various transmitters (foxes).,
The night orienteering is only organized in the nights. All the competitors have a headlamp which helps them to see during their course of navigation. ,
This orienteering variant involves a small boat or a canoe or kayak. It is a time-based race where one or two participants start their race where they are only allowed to perform the navigation on their own.
It is a motor racing based orienteering event where the participant uses a map to navigate and complete the unfamiliar route. It is widely popular in the Nordic countries.,
It is a big orienteering event which is conducted for two days where the orienteers have to manage their food and shelter. ,
In this variant of orienteering, the participants navigate by riding an animal such as a horse. ,
It is an orienteering sport which involves navigation through cross country long distance. This variant involves route planning as well as self-navigation through a variety of maps.
