Catching features for (JWOC) training?

[Marco Polo]

The attached link at World of O, now a couple of months old, describes how a group of orienteers are using catching features for part of their training for JWOC later this year.

I posted this partly because I thought it may be specifically of interest to juniors, but also to ask what experience people have had using catching features as part of their training? Do you think it improves technique or is it a just a bit of fun? If you do use it have you considered specifically converting maps of areas where you will be running, specially now that OCAD conversion for catching features has become easier?

http://news.worldofo.com/2006/11/10/to- ... res-video/

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[Tom R]

I play regularly and think its especially good for fast decision making, as people have gotton so good that to get a top 10 you need to make perfect route choices without stopping running or pausing. And its great fun since maps have got really realistic.

[gg]

I agree that it's a really good training tool, and I play fairly frequently (although I need a bit more practise I think.... I keep running into trees while looking at the map)

[EddieH]

I play frequently and love it. However I am hopeless at In real life you can un and look around at the same time. In Catching Features you can only look right ahead therefore have to change direction to look to the side. I have never mastered this. Also there is clearly a computer games technique in climbing, and particularly running downhill which I have not mastered and is not relevant to real life O.

[Tom R]

Yeah if you zig zag you go faster uphill as your essencially running longer but on a less steep path. Sadly It doesnt work in real life