O-ringen 2013

[Mrs H]

Okay so I know this is a long way off but I was just suffering O-ringen withdrawal symptoms and thought I'd start planning ahead for next year when i noticed that the location of the 2013 event had been annpounced as Boden in the very, very far north.

Now some years ago someone came on to nopesport and asked what the feeling would be about holding the event in the Arctic Circle and we were all fairly robust about the idea - i remember suggesting laying on a Hogwarts Express train from stockholm to get us all up there - but by then we'll have probably retired anyway and will just drive out.

anyone know anything about the area, getting there etc. The maps look fairly awesome and I certainly wasn't put off by last year's mountain experience.

Out of interest - does anyone know where the S6D is likely to be held in 2013?

[mikey]

Moray 2013

[andy]

Moray 2013

more than 'likely' too

[Gross]

Have you seen the size of Artic Circle mossies???

And going back to the 1999 WOC thread... I told Totte the Finnish coach to take some mossie net or middge stuff to sit at the start... he said 'no worries, nothings as bad as Artic mossies' .... a statement he regretting when he got back... bitten alive by Scottish midges

[Kitch]

and did Jenny Peel not tell the Swedes that Brits really weren't bothered by midges, since if you grow up with them then you develop an "immunity" and they don't bite.
This they believed and were thouroughly psyched out.

[Duncan]

My brother lived in Boden for a couple of years. The couple of times I visited were only in winter, and all I remember is that it was cold, it was dark most of the time, and it was too icy underfoot to go out running. Did some good skiing though. By contrast I'd expect the O-Ringen in summer will be glorious. (My brother since saw the light, literally, and moved to the complete oppposite end of the country to Skane.) I did O-ringen 1997 in Umea which is quite far north and I don't have any last memory of biting insects.

Whenever I went out there I took internal flights up from Stockholm with SAS. Even from Stockholm it is still about 1000km so a pretty big drive if you take a car. There is also a scenic railway that goes up the middle of Sweden http://www.inlandsbanan.se/ which might be nice in one direction if you are making a long holiday of it.

[Domhnull Mor]

Wondered when someone would pick up on this.

Boden may be far north but it is not as far north as you may think. Connections by air are very good (via Luleå) and, although it may take 15 hours by train from Stockholm, it is still not a bad journey. I've driven up a couple of times and it's a drag. Like driving from London to Wick I would guess.

Mrs H., it was me who raised the question a few years back. At that time, all the clubs in Norrbotten (the far north region of Sweden) were being asked to vote on whether or not to submit an application to host the O-Ringen in 2011. The suggestion was voted down, principally because of lack of support from the four clubs in Luleå. The clubs in Boden then decided to "go it alone" and put in their own application for 2013. The Swedish Federation were very keen to get the event up there so they have helped push it forward. To make things that wee bit different, they are planning, amongst other things, a "midnight sun" stage with late evening start times..... You get the idea

The original decision by the Norrbotten clubs was based on the low numbers of orienteers in the region, the short season in the north (it starts, at best, in late May and finishes in September!) and the corresponding effect that the involvement with the O-Ringen of the main core of planners etc would have on the "normal" season. It was stated at the time that it would be better to set our sights on hosting either a smaller event, the Swedish Champs or an "Elitserie" weekend.
As things have turned out, the last of these is being brought to fruition next summer, the weekend before the Jukola http://www.luletrippeln.se/. Three races on some of the best terrain around Luleå. I have run on all three areas and can recommend them strongly. Anyone needing more information, just drop me a line

As for the areas for the O-Ringen in 2013, I have run on all of them bar one. The three stages around Boden will be tough, rocky under foot (under blaeberry bushes) and physically demanding. Not my favourite terrain and probably not a favourite of a lot of other people too. The other two stages are based at the downhill ski centre to the west of town. This area is very nice, technically challenging, fast in places and with a fair amount of climb possible (as would be expected).

As far as the region is concerned, I lived there for over 6 years and warmly recommend it to everyone.

[EddieH]

I certainly remember the mosies at Umea, but it was still well worth it - fabulous orienteering and far more scenic than further south.

[Mrs H]

After the Mohed O ringen in 2006 we carried on up north in the H van for a few weeks. We went as far as Are where they were preparing for the Ski World champs the following year. it was a great trip we visited The High Coast and the Dead Falls and loads of other stuff and took in the Copper mine at Fellun on the way back - the only day it rained.

Are is not so very far south of Boden - I don't recall mosquitoes being more of a problem than usual

[Domhnull Mor]

The area around Boden is so sandy that mossies don't tend to be such a great problem. Can't say I ever had a problem with them even if I got all sorts of horror stories (although mainly about black clouds of the beggers in Siberia). Mind you, I think there could be an unexploited market for Skin So Soft....

[helgep]

hi,
If you want to compete in the arctic why dont you go all the way to the top of Europe?! My O-club is located in Alta (just some 140 km from the North Cape) in Norway. We do arrange several small scale competitions. The main one is the Alta two-days arranged the first weekend of June. You then have the chance to compete in the midnight sun and with patches of snow still in the terrain.

Northern Gooner

[Tatty]

We were in Northern Norway then. What a shame we missed it

[helgep]

Well you are welcome to participate next year or an other year! Our two days event is arranged first weekend of June every year. We also have a long distant competition the last saturady of September each year called Blodsmaken or something like "taste of blood" or "blood taste"in English. Alta is easy to access from Europe. It is two hours flight from Oslo and tickets doesnt have to cost more than £80 for a return ticket. Oslo is only 1 hours 50 min from London.

[IanD]

My O-club is located in Alta (just some 140 km from the North Cape) in Norway. We do arrange several small scale competitions. The main one is the Alta two-days arranged the first weekend of June.

Do you have a web site? I'm sure you must, but the first three links I've tried from Google search haven't worked.

[Scott]

This?