CompassSport editorial

[Gnitworp]

*So what do we call more conventional orienteering - 'forest' (so what about open terrain?), -'terrain'? -''wild' ?

It may have to be 'non-urban'

How about ' original' orienteering (like the OMM) to give it the prestige it deserves. I've always thought orienteering is absolutely about finding your way with a map from point to point as fast as possible literally anywhere, but the real spirit of orienteering lies in wild often wooded terrain. Paul Johnson's article sums it up elegantly. How inclined would the Swedes be to change their magazine's name from Skog(forest)sport to Tarmacsport to reflect the emphasis BO show in their publicity video?

[Angry Haggis]

*So what do we call more conventional orienteering - 'forest' (so what about open terrain?), -'terrain'? -''wild' ?!

Orienteering

(It's the same as calling orienteering Foot-Orienteering to distinguish from Ski-O, etc - officially that's what it is but we just don't.) Terrain/forest orienteering remains the "default" form of the sport so doesn't need a label.

[awk]

It's the same as calling orienteering Foot-Orienteering to distinguish from Ski-O, etc - officially that's what it is but we just don't. Terrain/forest orienteering remains the "default" form of the sport so doesn't need a label.

Just doesn't work in practice. 'Orienteering' covers the whole of the sport in all its forms. The whole point is having a term that enables shorthand reference to orienteering in terrain (off-road?!) when excluding or comparing with urban. It just doesn't make sense to say 'urban orienteering is like this, but orienteering is like that.' Thus we do use foot-orienteering, however ugly, to distinguish from ski-O etc., even if we don't use it in most conversations when talking orienteering generally.

The problem with 'non-urban' is that it implies that urban is the main form, and it isn't. Don't like negative statements anyway in that context!

'Original' orienteering sounds viable - even if I don't agree with the statement 'the prestige it deserves'' as that is simply a subjective opinion. As for the 'Skogsport' example, that also excludes anything on, for instance, dunes or the fells, so doesn't really work as an argument.

[Kitch]

real orienteering

[RJ]

ultimate orienteering

[Gnitworp]

How much 'urban' orienteering takes place in Sweden, Norway and Finland where there is unlimited terrain for (to quote Kitch) 'real' orienteering?

[awk]

'real' orienteering? 'ultimate' orienteering? Subjective opinions. (And if anybody thinks that some terrain is either 'ultimate' or 'real', compared to urban/park, they need their heads examining.)

How much 'urban' orienteering takes place in Sweden, Norway and Finland where there is unlimited terrain for (to quote Kitch) 'real' orienteering?

But then, how much urban terrain do they have, and what's it like?

[eddie]

We should probably all move to Lidingo.

[mharky]

I don't want to live in this country anymore.

[Duncan]

I don't want to live in this country anymore.

I didn't think Scotland was that bad. But I'm sure you'll be allowed back into England if you ask nicely.

[Kitch]

Since it needs spelling out

I was taking the piss.

it is Orienteering, plain and simple.

Wikipedia say
Orienteering is a family of sports that requires navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain, and normally moving at speed.

which says it all

IOF says
Orienteering is a sport that combines both a physical and a mental element. The basic idea in orienteering is to proceed from course start to finish by visiting a number of control points in a predetermined order with the help of map and compass. In order to choose the best possible route, orienteers look at the characteristics of the terrain,

Its all flipping orienteering.

subjectively, however, park and urban orienteering are a pile of shiite
and anyone who thinks otherwise needs their head examining.
Unless of course we're allowed to hold differing opinions....

[awk]

it is Orienteering, plain and simple.....Its all flipping orienteering.

Of course it is.....

But even you feel the need to add labels to differentiate different forms:

subjectively, however, park and urban orienteering....

[Gnitworp]

subjectively, however, park and urban orienteering....

You like it, I like it, others don't - they're entitled to their 'subjective' opinions.
BTW, it's not doing my joints any good: joints evolved for ambulation on soft ground.

[awk]

You like, I like, others don't - they're entitled to their 'subjective' opinions.

Of course, I never said otherwise. My comment about needing one's head examing was simply drawing attention to the fact that not all terrain is exactly wonderful, and is certainly a long way removed from 'ultimate' or any other superlative (or even positive!) adjective.

Personally, my favourite orienteering is in terrain*, (top event so far this year - Day 3 of the JK), but the development of the urban scene has provided some really enjoyable variety, helping make the sport as a whole so much more exciting and interesting.

(*with the possible exception of Venice!)

[andypat]

cf Golf.

The US Open v's The Open championship. It doesnt need the "British" suffix becasue it was first!