WOC Tour Sprint Kicks Off Orienteering Week
In just under four months, the streets of Nilsiä will come alive with dust and footsteps as WOC Tour competitors open the orienteering week with sprint races. According to Erkki Saarijärvi, leader of the four-person course planning team, the competition held in Nilsiä’s central area will provide a strong start to the lengthy competition week.
“The courses have been designed within a relatively small area with minimal elevation changes. Internationally, the area is considered fairly spacious for sprints. However, competitors must still make smart route choices in an area that seems fast and straightforward,” Saarijärvi comments on the opening race.
“The aim is to create challenging and appropriate courses for each category. Of course, the inclusion of the E-categories sharpens the focus and has encouraged planners to design diverse orienteering tasks between checkpoints,” Saarijärvi explains.
According to Saarijärvi, organizing the WOC Tour week, including its competitions, is a significant undertaking. The greatest challenge for course planners is the sheer volume of more than 50 different courses.
“During the sprint race, especially in the sprint, course supervisors are needed, so recruiting enough volunteers is a crucial part of the process. Additionally, traffic arrangements, particularly during the sprint, require effort, as Nilsiä’s town center won’t have many parking spaces available during the competition,” Saarijärvi emphasizes.
Saarijärvi believes that the World Championships (WOC) will attract more participants to the sprint and the entire week. The sprint is a well-placed component of the event as a whole.
“Personally, I prefer an orienteering week with minimal rest days, where the focus is entirely on the sport,” says Saarijärvi, who also competes in orienteering.
And don’t forget: during WOC Tour week, you’ll have a fantastic opportunity to watch the WOC orienteering races and traverse the same terrains in pursuit of checkpoints. Remember to register now!
Text and foto: Hannu Keränen
