Durban Orienteering - Starting Out

Orienteering is an outdoor adventure activity, which involves finding your way through unfamiliar terrain using a specially prepared map and your own common sense. It can be compared to a car rally - but on foot. In Orienteering, you are the navigator, driver and the vehicle. You learn to read the map, measure distances, use a compass and find your way in cross-country surroundings. Courses vary in length from 2kms to over 10kms, but there are normally five course levels to choose from at each "colour-coded" event.

 

Orienteering is a thinking activity, requiring both skill and physical ability. Participants leave the starting point at regular intervals and must find their way to various checkpoints (called CONTROLS), set-out at various features in the area and return to the finish, after visiting each control and "punching" a CONTROL CARD or using a "smart card" (called EMIT) to register your visit at each control. The competitor with the shortest elapsed time is declared the winner.

 

The EMIT electronic "punching" system has become more frequently used - where the competitor carries a small "smart card", which is used to electronically record check-in times at each control and at the start and finish. An electronic device receptacle is found at each control point. This discards the Control Card and makes for more accurate timing and the advantage of being able to see a competitor's "split" times on each leg of the course.
Detailed maps of the area are supplied by the organisers at each event. The courses may be pre-printed onto the map or you may need to copy the course onto your map from a Master Map using a pen provided at the Start.

 

How to Choose Your Course

Short Course events are events normally comprising two courses of between 2 and 4 kilometres.These events are ideally suited for beginners, children and family groups - as they require very basic navigational skill and are in very easy-going terrain. The experienced Orienteers also take part in these events - and treat them as sprint contests. Additionally Colour Coded events of longer distances are offered in "wilder" terrain (Description Below).

When choosing a course to compete on, please consider ALL the following items :

• Read the Planners comments on the various courses he has offered - he is the only person who knows how tough or easy they are.

• The terrain - look around you when you arrive - how well do you normally cope with this type of terrain ?

• How well do you know the area ? When last did you run here, if at all ?

• Weather conditions - is it conducive to easy running ?

• How well or fit are you on the day ?

• Is there sufficient time for you to easily complete the course before they close ?

• How good actually are your orienteering skills ?

• Take into account both the length and climb of the courses

• Do not move up a course, unless you are easily completing the colour course you normally enter AND you are positive about all of the above

• If you are in any doubt, ask for advice - the Planner and Controller are normally not far away from registration.

 

Colour Coded Events

Different courses available
Orienteering is not only meant for the very fit and fast runner. The idea is to open the past-time to as many people, with varying degrees of physical ability, from as many walks of life, as possible. To facilitate this, Orienteering events normally have several different courses, which range in suitability, catering for everybody. The courses are standardised and colour-coded for convenience :

 

YELLOW - elementary course, with very simple route-following skills necessary. The route can be navigated by following "line features" (eg. paths, fences) and very prominent land-marks. Distance is between 1,5 and 3km and is suitable for children over the age of 8, families and groups of beginners. The total amount of climb is limited to below 40 metres. There are normally between 7 and 10 control points on this course. No compass skills are necessary.

 

ORANGE - very similar to the Yellow course, with slightly more distance (2 - 4km) and a few control points that may be a bit further off a line feature. Suitable for groups, families and newcomer individuals, that are prepared for the extended distance. Expect around 10 to 12 control points.

 

RED - sometimes included specifically for runners, requiring the distance, but with limited navigational skills. This course would be between 5 and 8 km long with control features similar to those on the Yellow and Orange courses.

 

LIGHT GREEN - is a "bridging" course, intended to introduce the not-so-newcomer to a slightly more technical level. Some control features become more demanding - navigation away from line features may be included on some of the legs. Distance could be anything from 3 to 5 km, with total climb normally limited to around 70 metres. Expect around 10 - 12 control points. Compass reading skills are not compulsory, however, this is where learning the skill begins.

 

GREEN - courses are the step up to more technical Orienteering. Compass skills are generally required, as the control points are situated away from line and very prominent features. Expect distances of about 3,5 to 4,5 km, with total climb sometimes reaching 100 metres

 

BLUE - here the course is both technically and physically demanding. Compass skills are very necessary. Course lengths will vary between 6 and 8 km with anything up to 250 metres of total climb.

 

BROWN - is the course for experienced, fit orienteers. Compass skills and route planning are very necessary. Distances range from 7 to 10 km, with climb extending to 400 metres sometimes.

 

When to move up a course
Starting out in orienteering, you will be advised to compete at either the YELLOW or ORANGE course level (depending on the age and fitness level of the competitor). Once you have mastered the process, of locating yourself on the map, correlating where you are on the ground, navigating your way round the course and finding all the controls, punching your control card - all without too much confusion, then you are ready to move up to the next grade of course.

 

Before moving up to Light Green or Green, get a competent member to simply show you how.

 

Further promotion up the grades will depend upon your physical abilities and your progress with navigation on the lower courses.

 

Remember: You will have a much more enjoyable experience doing a course at a level suitable to your technical and physical ability. Don't be fooled by the "short" distances, average speed per km is much slower than in road running.