buzz wrote:This quite nicely illustrates the different requirements of an event targeting novices learning the sport and one intended as a race to find the best orienteers. For the former you can give out the map before the start if you want and position the start kite near the start line, the latter should be as Graeme describes. The challenge is to explain the difference to novices as they progress.
And the best way to do that is for there not to be a difference. Always put a start kite out.
It doesn't necessarily have to be a taped route. So long as the kite is visible from the start box then the official can point to it and explain - that is where the triangle is on your map. Then everybody gets used to the idea that you start, you pick up your map, you run to the start kite and navigate from there.
Otherwise novices participate at local events, they don't realise start kites are a thing, then at their first big event they take a bearing from their map box and get badly lost on the first leg. Which I guess is how a lot of people first discover that start kites exist and why people think they are somehow confusing.
Also, novice planners starting on local events get used to just marking the triangle in the middle of a field don't get to practice choosing good start locations.