orienteering in 20's and 30's

[Ernie_Wise]

It seems to me that a lot of our problems recruiting 20 to 30's come from a tainted image that stems back from a poor orienteering experience in school. Silly thought now: lets change the name from orienteering to 'Death Racing' or ‘Ultra Fast Super Racing’. Sorry serious head on now.

I don’t think that this image presented to youngsters in school is damaging the sport seriously but it’s not helping an awful lot either. Maybe we should think about changing the way it is taught in schools. Also I know lots of orienteers do some very good work in schools and scouts etc so I’m not bashing them.

[Guest]

It seems that I must be really weird, but the one thing that would make me give up orienteering faster than anything is a "must keep up with the latest fashion" attitude to kit. I was put off aerobics at university because of the length of time people seemed to spend discussing what they should wear (and putting on their make up before they exercised). I

[Guest]

Beards AND Lipstick - uuugghh

[Copepod]

Adventure racing is enjoying the novelty factor right now.. We were there in the 1970s...

Unfortunately its inaccessable to many due to the sheer cost. We are not, a strength that should be exploited.

Not all adventure racing is expensive eg Open 5, Yorkshire Dales, Sun 13th March, £15 per person. 5 hour score event, in pairs or solo, dividing time as competitors choose between running & mountain biking. A friend of mine competed in this event, having just got back into orienteering after a long break. She had a car & I didn't, so I persuaded her to come to to an event somewhere in County Durham in about 1993, when we were both living in Newcastle upon Tyne. Then she got leukaemia and decided to concentrate on sky diving until she had her bone marrow transplant. By then, I'd moved away and got a driving licence & car (and diabetes all within about a year!) I got into orienteering again about 1999, aided by internet access and partly because of meeting a boyfriend who had orienteered since childhood. I've combined orienteering with other mountain marathons etc. I'm not particularly competitive, but really enjoy getting away to the hills, so sometimes volunteer as a marshall instead. Also, it's knackering to drive 6 hrs home from the Cheviots, for example after competing, but not too bad after a marshalling day / weekend - boyfriend is now partner, but has never got a driving licence! And doesn't show any signs of trying.

[MarkC]

the forest isn't necessarily the easiest place to find someone. Easier down the pub, or clubbing with you friends.

On the contrary, I think the forest is a much better place to meet outdoor-minded partners than a dark, sweaty club with music so loud you can't talk

[the duncan]

also, AR isn't just orienteering with 'nobs on' as someone suggested. Navigation is a massive part of the sport, but this is often on bikes, canoes, big hills etc.. totally different to orienteering. as orienteering is just on a small scale only running (i'm ignoring mtbo and ski o) really.

one of the major things that attracted me to AR was the various different disciplines, i enjoy biking/canoeing/climbing etc.. and as a good navigator it was a bonus. i think the main attraction to AR is the different sports, orienteering can't offer this really, it needs to change its fashion a bit, but i think one of the best changes would be to have less red and white tape.

you look at any event and there is miles of the stuff, just looks not very professional, the use or banners other barrier devices would make it look cooler.

and brown o suits should be compulsary for everyone!

[MarkC]

Perhaps with more team/club focused racing some people would come out more often, and it would generate more atmosphere with all the post race banter?

I'm not sure that it's club focused racing that's needed (smaller relay events don't usually attract big numbers) but much greater social cohesion within clubs. This can be hard away from events (members spread over a wide area, no Scandinavian-type club huts) but I think clubs need to try to get together more at normal events - perhaps by setting up a club tent at colour codeds and making sure that the core members are there at roughly the same time?

[PorkyFatBoy]

On the contrary, I think the forest is a much better place to meet outdoor-minded partners than a dark, sweaty club with music so loud you can't talk

but from a non-orienteer's perspective, which one are they more likely to go for?

[MarkC]

but from a non-orienteer's perspective, which one are they more likely to go for?

I don't think you can divide the twentysomething population into "orienteers" and "non-orienteers" as if we are a breed apart! I'm sure some orienteers do go clubbing, and equally there are many other young adults who don't. It's never seemed logical to me to try to meet people in an environment where it's impossible to have a proper conversation.

[RJ]

MarkC wrote:

but much greater social cohesion within clubs.

Entering events via a club secretary, as a club team would greatly help club cohesion. Scandinavian clubs do this so well! I think that is something we missed out on when the sport evolved. Then club tent, O-top, flag, banter.... And I believe that there will be greater participation that way.

[redkite]

How to attract 20 and 30 year olds

-be positive about our sport when talking to non O friends - word of mouth is always the best type of advertising/Pr
-bring a friend along to local event - assuming we have friends
-Hold many more local events that are advertised well in advance. It is no good having info only on the club's website or in a plastic wallet at other events. Non orienteers will not see these.
-Persevere with the the PR down the local gym, in the libary, at local running events etc. The more times someone sees something about an O event the better
-Have some sexy PR/posters etc available
-Have long easy courses at local events
-Vary the time when you hold your local events. Not always sunday morning or tuesday evening during the summer
-Grab hold of any newcomers who do turn up and give them plenty of TLC. Get someone to keep in touch with them. As a minimum, get contact details and invite them to you next event etc..
-Go for a pint (or an orange juice) after a training run or local event.
-Assume a new comer knows nothing about the sport, other than he thought the poster looked 'cool'
-advertise your O event in the events listing of magazines such as Running & Fitness.

[gg]

i would have thought the best time and place for attracting 20+ year olds to the sport is at university where they are looking for things to try

hopefully at least a handful of the 30 odd regular orienteers at warwick will carry on after uni

i reckon that uni is where most people give up without parental support (ie cars going every weekend) so helping people at unis without clubs get to events probably quite a good idea as well as recruitment etc...

[Schnitzy]

And with the crazyly dear entry fees. That would put me off entering events.

[Ernie_Wise]

i reckon that uni is where most people give up without parental support (ie cars going every weekend) so helping people at unis without clubs get to events probably quite a good idea as well as recruitment etc...

Been there, done that.

[Lil' God'rs]

Rather than us (current orienteers) coming up with the ideas of how to attract more people to the sport how about going out there and asking some people who don't orienteer?

http://www.tritalk.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=4564