WorldCup 2024 kick-off

2024 will be a season where the Sprint disciplines will have a special weight, because the WOC in Scotland will be in this same modality. It will be a good year for the sprinters and a “not so interesting year” for the “forest” orienteers, who will also play a leading role in the EOC in Hungary, and the World Cup in Finland as an appetizer for the WOC 2025.

Controversial opinions about “Split Sprint vs Forest years”

From the moment the IOF decided on the new model in which the Sprint and Forest disciplines alternate annually in the WOC/EOC, there has been an important debate in the orienteering community about the convenience of this model, and its consequences about the specialization of the orienteers, the organizational capacity of small nations,… There is no doubt that this model is not optimal, and that a year without international forest competitions is not a good sign for the health of our sport.

Many of the best athletes in the world have spoken out several times about this, what makes me wonder once again: how much do the opinions of athletes and coaches weigh in the decisions of the federations? In my experience, unfortunately, little.

As an example, Tove Alexandersson’s latest publication where she shows the problem, and the comments of other top athletes supporting it. Maybe the federations should listen…

Route to WorldCup Olten #1

If we focus on the international Sprint program, this World Cup in Olten will be the first thermometer to measure the shape of the orienteers, followed by Round-2 in Genoa, just 6 days later. Later, the WOC will undoubtedly be the highlight of the season.

Only 4 days before Round-1 of the World Orienteering Cup kicks off in Olten (Switzerland). We can expect fast and tricky orienteering with a very high-level organization, as always Matthias & Simone Niggli (and the Swiss Orienteering Federation) are leading the event.

To start getting into the mood, below we have a simulation leg on the old map of Olten (2014). Can you find the optimal route? Draw it by clicking the link below.

SPOILER ALERT!!!

If you haven’t drawn your route yet, do not keep scrolling down!!!

The length of all 5 different route choices is pretty equal, which means that the most important factors are:

• Minimizing sharp turns.
• Avoiding stairs and narrow passages.
• Deciding fast and executing precisely.