Proper Sprint Races

[mharky]

I think that the ISSOM sprint maps are pretty easy for anyone to understand. I've shown one to a complete non-orienteer, and they were able to pick out where they live and lecture halls etc. straight away. They are pretty obvious, roads, buildings, grass, trees. Admittedly, some of the smaller symbols will be confusing. But half of the time I have no idea what to expect when i see a black X on a sprint map, but can work it out when I get there.

The problem with OS maps is that they aint very accurate, and that will just annoy people

[EddieH]

mharky is so right. Basically ISSOM maps are simple to read and are (should be) accurate. OS maps are inaccurate and contain little detail. It is the alleyways and underground car parks and bits of detailed flower beds etc that make Sprint O challenging. Simply running round square blocks would never have interested me when I discoverd and was hooked by this great sport.

And surely the people we really want to get coming are those that will be hooked. The occasional come and try it people are not going to get involved with organisation, planning etc.

[jondub]

I agree with EddieH. The street-O in Zermatt was definitely the highlight of the week for me. I can't wait to do another event of that standard. This was in complete contrast to my expectations.

I also appreciated the extra length vs a sprint (winning time roughly 30 mins), as I was having so much fun. Clearly a Street-O doesn't necessarily have to be a Sprint-O. I think that the really short distances put off some people as they don't feel that they are getting 'value for money'.