Orienting is a Physically Demanding Sport

Added: 09/18/2007

Human beings don't live on an island by themselves; they live in a society on which we all try to help each other survive and flourish. Our society has many parts to it. One of those parts involves culture and culture in our society involves sports of all kinds. In fact, many people do participate in sports in some way. We are familiar with baseball and football as sports; however, most people aren’t familiar with the sport called orienting.

Human beings live in a society that believes in both work and play. People work at least five days a week in society. When we aren’t working we enjoy engaging in some kind of relaxing play. The activity of play in society can and often does come in many different guises such as baking, writing, acting, reading, playing chess, and sports. Sports are a large part of our culture. Many people in society participate in sports in some way shape or form. Some people play baseball and football on the weekend. Other people spend some part of their weekend watching many sporting events such as baseball, football, basketball, gymnastics, ice skating, and bowling. In fact, at this time of year many children are involved in football or soccer. Some football and soccer practices can and do take place three nights a week. Most people all around the world are very familiar with the sports of baseball, football, basketball, ice skating, gymnastics, and soccer. However, there are many sports such as rounders and orienting that even sport lovers aren’t too familiar with at all. Let’s take a look into the sport called orienting.

Orienteering, at first might sound like it is related to the subjects of sex and sexual orientation. However, orienting is a running sport that includes using navigation with a map and a compass. The traditional view of this running sport involves cross country running. The competition is a timed race in which individuals use a special map and a magnetic compass in order to navigate through rough wooded terrain. They are also to visit in a particular sequence, control points that are marked on the special map. The control points are kept secret from the participants until the beginning of the race. When the race begins, and only when the race begins, are the runners in the race given a detailed topographic map on which the race course is laid out for them. Did you know that the English name orienteering comes from the Swedish word orienting? The word came into existence when it was used to describe the sport in 1918. However, orienting didn’t become popular until more reliable compasses were created in the 1930s. Here are some of the basics of orienteering.

An orienteering course is usually marked in the color red or the color purple on a map using a triangle in order to designate the start of the race. In addition, a double circle is marked in either red or purple on a map to designate the end of the race. Circles are also used on the map to illustrate the control points on the race course. The maps created for orienting are specially designed and created by orienteers and professional map makers. Orienting maps are of a larger scale and are much more detailed than general purpose topographic maps. In addition to these maps, there is basic equipment and clothing that is needed in order to participate in orienteering.

The basic equipment required for orienting includes a compass, correct outdoor clothing that is lightweight, shoes with cleats, and, in some countries such as the United Kingdom, a whistle. The whistle is used for emergency purposes. Nylon suits provide full body coverage for racing in areas that have much undergrowth and some people might use a visor in order to keep dirt, dust, rain, and sticks out of their eyes. It is also extremely important to be in excellent physical shape and have a good running speed in order to compete in the sport of orienteering. This is because whether the word orienteering or orienting is used when describing it, be aware that orienteering is a physically and mentally demanding sport.

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