Orienteering competitors could face tough challenges at State Games
The temperatures during the Cornhusker State Games are going to be high, but participants in orienteering will be dressed like it’s the middle of fall.
Orienteering was added to the games this year because of the success of the adventure race. The competition will be held July 26 at the Army National Guard camp near Ashland along the Platte River. Since the area has seen an abundance of rain, the terrain is thick and dense.
Orienteering participants will be navigating through that and adventure race director Jim Craig said he wouldn’t wear shorts.
“I told people, if you are going to do this event, you better wear a long-sleeve shirt, pants and gloves,” said Craig, who’ll compete in the event himself. “I’d rather wear long clothes and not get ticks, poison ivy and nettles.”
Beginners and experts can participate in the event and can compete individually or as part of a team. For beginners, the course will be approximately 1½ miles and the checkpoints they must reach are fairly close to trails. The beginners will use a map of the area to help them find checkpoints.
The advanced participants will race on a course that is approximately 10 miles. The checkpoints will be way off the trials in deep, wooded areas. They will get a satellite image map and topographic map. They’re also getting Universal Transverse Mercator coordinates. GPS devices are not allowed.
Beginners need good map-reading skills. Competitors on the advanced course need to know how to use a compass. Both will need to have good endurance, since water won’t be available on the course. Instead, all competitors will have 70-to-100-ounce hydration packs.
Orienteering/land navigation director Mike Schlemmer said the competition should be popular with Boy Scouts and people who are involved with the military since they are taught these skills.
Schlemmer, who has been in the military for more than 20 years, also thinks cross country runners would love competing on the beginner course since they can run.
As of now, 20 teams are expected, and Schlemmer said he’d still let people who are interested enter.
“There is a trend in sports today that adventure races are a popular activity because it’s new, different and not a typical 10k (kilometer) race,” Schlemmer said. “It offers a chance to get out in the environment and compete.”
Reach Tommy Dahlk at 473-7431 or tdahlk@journalstar.com.
Orienteering was added to the games this year because of the success of the adventure race. The competition will be held July 26 at the Army National Guard camp near Ashland along the Platte River. Since the area has seen an abundance of rain, the terrain is thick and dense.
Orienteering participants will be navigating through that and adventure race director Jim Craig said he wouldn’t wear shorts.
“I told people, if you are going to do this event, you better wear a long-sleeve shirt, pants and gloves,” said Craig, who’ll compete in the event himself. “I’d rather wear long clothes and not get ticks, poison ivy and nettles.”
Beginners and experts can participate in the event and can compete individually or as part of a team. For beginners, the course will be approximately 1½ miles and the checkpoints they must reach are fairly close to trails. The beginners will use a map of the area to help them find checkpoints.
The advanced participants will race on a course that is approximately 10 miles. The checkpoints will be way off the trials in deep, wooded areas. They will get a satellite image map and topographic map. They’re also getting Universal Transverse Mercator coordinates. GPS devices are not allowed.
Beginners need good map-reading skills. Competitors on the advanced course need to know how to use a compass. Both will need to have good endurance, since water won’t be available on the course. Instead, all competitors will have 70-to-100-ounce hydration packs.
Orienteering/land navigation director Mike Schlemmer said the competition should be popular with Boy Scouts and people who are involved with the military since they are taught these skills.
Schlemmer, who has been in the military for more than 20 years, also thinks cross country runners would love competing on the beginner course since they can run.
As of now, 20 teams are expected, and Schlemmer said he’d still let people who are interested enter.
“There is a trend in sports today that adventure races are a popular activity because it’s new, different and not a typical 10k (kilometer) race,” Schlemmer said. “It offers a chance to get out in the environment and compete.”
Reach Tommy Dahlk at 473-7431 or tdahlk@journalstar.com.
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