Attributes needed to be the complete orienteer

[madmike]

So what do nopers think are the key attributes that are required to make the complete orienteer?

Obviously a mixture of physical ability, technical skill and mental skill/ability but what are the key sub-categories within these 3 broad headings and are there more categories?

[mappingmum]

The hunger and drive to succeed and to reach your full potential.
Mental focus and toughness in a Sports Psychology area ie the sort of stuff which British cycling worked on.

Also a never ending supply of mesh clothing

[DaveK]

So what do nopers think are the key attributes that are required to make the complete orienteer?

Obviously a mixture of physical ability, technical skill and mental skill/ability; but what are the key sub-categories within these 3 broad headings and are there more categories?

Mike - what do you mean to imply by the 'complete orienteer'? Personally I would agree with your list, though would add 'determination and a will to be the best'. I would add also 'ability to enjoy oneself' - but I fear you are talking about the elites of our sport, not the likes of myself (and yourself? )

[graeme]

5000+ hours of practice. Or 10000 if you count travelling to relevant places to train.

[Anne]

Facial hair.

[frog]

The stuff above plus
A flexible job without a long hours culture that brings in enough money to cover travel costs for going abroad to compete etc, not having kids at a young age or a partner who resents you spending time away from them, living somewhere with good O areas to practise on locally, other good orienteers to compete against locally so not living too remotely.

[Copepod]

My partner is a better orienteer than me and discovered the sport as a child, but obviously has a good eye for finding girlfriends who also enjoy orienteering, but, more significantly for his transport requirements, have a car and driving licence

[Mrs H]

A certain degree of insecurity

[IanD]

A lot of these things could apply to any sport.

What makes someone a success in orienteering rather than another sport? An affinity for maps and the outdoors must be one element. Another must be a certain mental independence and toughness - very few sports require the competitor to make crucial decisions and see them through remotely from team-mates and/or coaches.

[229]

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[Kitch]

not reading this drivel

[Gnitworp]

Like the last post?

[Wayward-O]

Stamina ... built-in GPS ... bomb-proof ankles ... perfect vision ... ability to run at speed whilst reading a map - or two pairs of eyes?