O-Ringen Magazine, nr 1 2024
The worlds biggest orienteering adventure. Oskarshamn, Smålandskusten, July 21st to 27 th 2024.
The worlds biggest orienteering adventure. Oskarshamn, Smålandskusten, July 21st to 27 th 2024.
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» Arena ROSENFORS<br />
STAGE 1 LONG DISTANCE<br />
Monday July 22 nd <strong>2024</strong><br />
STAGE 2 MIDDLE DISTANCE<br />
Tuesday July 23 rd <strong>2024</strong><br />
» Arena ROSENFORS<br />
The arena for stages 1 and 2 is on the edge of the small industrial community<br />
of Rosenfors. The village formed when Rosenfors AB was founded<br />
in 1802 and today it is a modern foundry with proud roots. The arena is<br />
also on the edge of the large and fertile Abyslätten plain and is normally<br />
used to grow potatoes. The fine, sandy soil gives plentiful harvests and<br />
you might think it will mean fast running for this stage. On the other side<br />
of the road, however, awaits a completely different type of terrain.<br />
STAGE 1<br />
LONG DISTANCE<br />
STAGE 2<br />
MIDDLE DISTANCE<br />
On Stage 1, the hills come almost immediately. First<br />
gently, but the further into the map you run, the more<br />
challenging they become. You’ll need to cross both large<br />
and small marshes, with lush vegetation and there are<br />
some craggy and rocky areas. It will be a tough start to<br />
the week for many runners..<br />
The terrain varies between fast and more technical areas and, for<br />
elite runners, there will be a real sense of wilderness furthest out<br />
in the forest. A small John Bauer-style lake almost takes you into a<br />
fairytale when you look down at it from one of the hills.<br />
Beautiful, mature pine forest with good visibility, though thick<br />
bilberry and lingonberry undergrowth will take its toll. There is a<br />
very limited path and track network, giving a great orienteering<br />
experience in beautiful Småland nature.<br />
Interview with course setter Marie Svalbring<br />
What can competitors expect from Stage 1? What’s special?<br />
– Stage 1 uses a large area, with a variety of terrain and runnability.<br />
There is also lots of variation between steeper and flatter areas. The<br />
southern part, where the easier courses go, has some paths and<br />
tracks. The northern part of the map has more of a wilderness feel.<br />
Beautiful hilltops alternate with idyllic marshes and tough, craggy<br />
areas. All runners will will get to choose routes through these<br />
lovely forests and each course has its own character,” says Marie<br />
Svalbring, one of the course setters for Stage 1.<br />
What is the most challenging aspect of this terrain?<br />
– The terrain is varied, which means you have to adapt your orienteering<br />
technique as you go. There are many features to use but<br />
the courses are still technically challenging. Some areas are tough<br />
to run on as there is a lot of wonderful bilberry vegetation in the<br />
forest, continues Marie.<br />
What’s your advice for orienteering well<br />
here and what should competitors be practising?<br />
– The open terrain on Stage 1 means that you will be able to see<br />
other competitors a lot of the time. However, there’s not much<br />
chance that they’re going to the same control as you, as there are so<br />
many controls in the area. So, success here will come from being<br />
focused on your own orienteering, being able to change pace and<br />
checking your control codes. Stage 1 won’t be an easy start to your<br />
O-<strong>Ringen</strong> week, concludes Marie.<br />
Stage 2 uses the same arena as Stage 1 but offers more<br />
technical terrain, perfect for middle distance. Just about<br />
all of this stage will take place on a large hill, which is<br />
itself covered by smaller hills and steep in parts. There<br />
are many boulders and crags, with tricky, detailed areas.<br />
As with Stage 1, runnability varies from good to limited.<br />
You’ll have to take care and avoid losing contact with the map.<br />
Re-entrants, small ravines, marshes and crags come one after the<br />
other and there will be many controls close together. This stage also<br />
offers great views for anyone happy to pause for a few seconds. Some<br />
of the hilltops have fantastic views across Emådalen and the home<br />
stadium of the Dackarna speedway team, which is just a stone’s<br />
throw away.<br />
Interview with course setter Joakim Karmetun<br />
What can competitors expect from Stage 2? What’s special?<br />
– Stage 2 takes place on a large hill, which is mostly very runnable.<br />
The area has almost no felled or developed areas and is almost<br />
exclusively steep, forested terrain with many boulders and crags.<br />
There aren’t many paths in the area and most courses will actually<br />
be in terrain with no paths. This means that you can enjoy the<br />
beautiful, open forest, which mostly has great visibility, says Joakim<br />
Karmetun, course setter for Stage 2.<br />
What is the most challenging aspect of this terrain?<br />
– Apart from the physical challenges offered by a hilly area with<br />
bilberry undergrowth, there are many orienteering challenges. For<br />
example, this is a rocky and craggy area. This means there is always<br />
a feature to use but, on the other hand, it’s easy to make parallel<br />
errors,” says Joakim.<br />
What’s your advice for orienteering well<br />
here and what should competitors be practising?<br />
– The open terrain on Stage 1 means that you will be able to see<br />
other competitors for much of the time. However, there’s not much<br />
chance that they’re going to the same control as you, as there are so<br />
many controls in the area.<br />
So, success here will come from being focused on your own orienteering,”<br />
says Joakim. “If you want to come really well prepared, train<br />
to run up and down hills. If you do that and also train to orienteer<br />
in detailed hillside areas, you’ve given yourself the best chance of<br />
success on Stage 2, he finishes.<br />
18 O-RINGEN MAGAZINE NO. 1 • <strong>2024</strong> O-RINGEN MAGAZINE NO. 1 • <strong>2024</strong> 19