O-Ringen Magazine, nr 1 2024

When there is
so much rock
detail, try to
see through it
and focus on the
contours
Lena – what would you say are the three
most important orienteering skills?
1. Taking a compass bearing out from the
control to your first collecting feature
2. Keep reading the map as you go
3. Using the contour features
Jakob – what would you say are the three
most important orienteering skills?
1. Choosing clear collecting features that
you’re confident of being able to see
2. Checking your compass frequently
between these features
3. The discipline to stop when you’re unsure
and make sure you relocate before you
continue. Parallel mistakes are easy to make!
Training and preparation
For those who don’t run WOC or the
Swedish Championships, O-Ringen is often
high on every orienteer’s list of events they
would like to run well at. It doesn’t need to
be about the podium – for many people,
success means five stable races that you’re
happy with afterwards. For some people, the
challenge is physical and a case of whether
your body will get round the five days and
for others it’s mainly the technical orienteering
that’s a challenge. Regardless of what
your goals are, it’s important to arrive well
prepared for the competitions. The better
your training and preparation, the better
your O-Ringen week.
What would you recommend as extra
training to prepare for O-Ringen 2024?
– Training to read the contours, to follow
the hill shapes and even run up on top of
the hills. When there is so much rock detail,
try to look through it and focus on the contours,
says Lena.
– You could train on areas with lots of
contour detail and small hill shapes, for
example. If you don’t have these near you,
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STAGE 2, DIFFICULT
(JAKOB LÖÖF)
A short leg with a lot of features
along the way. There are three
options, with two that avoid the
complex hill altogether. The red one
starts safely, running along the path
to the bend, after which the hill to the
left acts as a handrail, and the marsh, hill
and crag at the end let you orienteer safely
the whole way.
The blue is the other choice that avoids climbing
over the hill. This route is slightly more challenging, with
some rocky terrain and navigating by the re-entrants. The
hill to the right guides you after the marsh and if you see the
three crags (when going past the large boulders) they guide you
towards to control, making it a route worth considering. Take care to keep right after the
last crag, following the direction of the crag could lead you too far left.
The green route is more tempting than the blue one, with a good exit from the control
straight towards the next one. Passing the high point of the hill simplifies the leg without
needing to read any of the rock features. The route uses the two small hills to aid the
approach into the control. There is more climb on this option but it’s shorter.
STAGE 5, DIFFICULT (LENA ELIASSON-LÖÖF)
The red and blue alternatives are almost
the same, with the blue choice saving a bit
of climb. Both routes go over the distinct
hill, with an open ridge running down to
the ditch (which bends where I cross it).
There’s a large boulder at the start of the
light green and then I look for the white
hilltop, then aim for the white forest and
follow the re-entrant into the control.
The green option is good for avoiding as
much rock as possible in the denser forest.
There’s a nice exit towards the craggy
slope, allowing high speed all the way to
the ditch. Now it’s important to keep track
of the hill shapes and “turn with them” after
checking off the large boulder, and connect
the hilltops. The hill with two large boulders
leads into the control.
you can still focus on orienteering by using
the contours, adds Jakob.
– Why not do a corridor exercise, where
you have to keep contact and read the features,
using your compass at the same time?
– Physically, I think it would be good to
train maintaining an even pace over a longer
period, as the terrain isn’t all that varied.
Of course there will be a few short hills
and marshes, too, so a bit of extra strength
training would come in useful before the
summer, he continues.
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Finally, what’s your top
advice for this summer’s O-Ringen?
– Follow your plan and achieve your potential
for the week by making sure you do what you
know works for you. Accept that you’ll get
tired through the week, so arrive at O-Ringen
rested. Then you’ll reach whatever level you’ve
trained to reach this summer, finishes Lena
with a smile.
STAGE 5, MODERATE (LENA ELIASSON-LÖÖF)
The green option uses mostly paths and areas where it’s easier
to run. However, it’s important to keep track of distance and
features, since the path is small. It’s good to have a clear point to
leave the path, in this case the open area. From there, a careful
bearing is needed towards the field, then the open hill, then
you have to find the white forest with minimal running in denser
areas. Use the distinct hilltop as your attack point.
The red route is for those who feel confident in their contour
reading. It’s important to take a good bearing and check off the
larger collecting features like the hill formation on the other side
of the path, the greener, marshier forest and the smaller hills
in the more open forest. There, it’s important to notice the ride
crossing the stream, taking you up onto the hill. Now it’s sticking
to your bearing, then picking up the ditch bend going into the
denser area. The large boulders where the control is should come
into view when the forest opens up again.
The blue option involves less map-reading in the middle of the
leg, with path running until the large, distinctive boulder where
you turn off. The way to the track requires a clear direction to
optimise your lines near the corner of the open and the ditch
crossing. Leave the track at the bend and the distinct hilltops.
Look for the large boulders and from there, follow a careful
bearing to the edge of the green forest, down to the marshy area
with the ditch bend and then out into the open terrain to avoid
approaching the control through dense forest.
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34 O-RINGEN MAGAZINE NO. 1 • 2024 O-RINGEN MAGAZINE NO. 1 • 2024 35