MOF 2010

SKI ORIENTEERING MAKES ITS DEBUT

The 7th Asian Winter Games proved to be a highly successful launching pad for the emerging sport of ski orienteering. The final relay was staged in front of a full stadium of cheering fans rallying their national teams.

Ski orienteering is one of four official disciplines governed by the International Orienteering Federation (IOF): foot, mountain bike, ski and trail orienteering. The IOF has 72 member countries worldwide and is experiencing a growth spurt thanks to new GPS technology.

Originally a military sport, orienteering combines physical and mental skills, as athletes proceed from start to finish by visiting a number of control points in a predetermined order with the help of map and compass. Orienteers must navigate the course from start to finish making quick decisions while moving at high speed.

An electronic card verifies that the athlete has visited all control points in the right order. The longest distance will be 75-90 min for women and 95-100 min for men, medium distance will be 40-45 min for men and women, sprint will be 10-15 min and relay from 6 to 35 min in one stage.