O-Ringen Magazine, nr 1 2024

Photo: Helena Sellgren.
See you at Gothenburg 2026
In 2026, O-Ringen is coming to Gothenburg. Karin Kullman
has now been announced as the Project Manager.
Karin has just turned 50 and lives with her husband and three
children in Mölnlycke, just outside Gothenburg. She represents OK
Alehof and has done so since she started orienteering.
– I grew up with orienteering and it’s still a lot of fun for me.
Unfortunately, I’ve had knee problems for many year now, which
mean that I can’t run much any more and have to walk/wander.
The advantage of being older is that the difference between running
and walking gets smaller every year…
Karin has competed in no less than 20 full O-Ringen weeks, as well
as seven more where she has competed on one or some of the days.
– Results-wise I started at the top by winning D10 in Blekinge in
1984. It’s all been downhill from there. The two of us who started
as 1 and 2 in that chasing start in 1984 also started next to each
other in the chasing start for D45K in Åre, although we were much
further back this time. It was even more fun because we hadn’t
seen each other since 1987!
What’s your best memory from O-Ringen?
– As with many others who compete at O-Ringen, the competitions
are a big part of it but it’s that combination of friends and
family that has meant Karin and her family have come back time
and again. When she was a junior it was the results but also spending
time with friends at O-Ringen Square and the afterparty that
were most fun.
– After a break from O-Ringen when I became a senior, the competition
combined with spending time with family and clubmates
was the best thing. Whoever invented open start times for short
classes needs a gold star – the best change since club start blocks!
Karin mentions other memories including decisive chasing
starts, the forest being clear felled before O-Ringen 1990, parties,
the cold in Östersund, the warmth in Örnsköldsvik, mispunches
and earwigs in Norrköping, enjoyable Lunsen in Uppsala. Last but
not least, she talks about the feeling seeing hers and other children’s
joy of taking part and making new friends.
Karin currently works as a regional manager and technical
consultant/project manager at Sweco. She is now on leave from
that role until after the Gothenburg O-Ringen in 2026. Being able
to combine her professional skills with her biggest leisure activity is
something she is very much looking forward to.
So, what can we expect in 2026?
– The exact arenas and competition areas haven’t been decided
yet and we’re working to establish the concept for 2026. O-Ringen
City will be in a rural location but close to the city centre, at
Stora Holm, Hisingen. Here, a training centre for drivers will be
transformed into a busy meeting place with 2,000 camping pitches,
O-Ringen Square and the exhibition area. There are also good
conditions for pitches with an electricity supply, another advantage
to using this type of area.
The competition areas we are considering are a fun combination
of old and new.
There will be flashbacks to 1990 and 2004 with tough marshes,
lovely bare rock areas, juniper bushes and runnable forest. What
makes the terrain special is the variety. From coastal juniper bushes
with lots of crevices and bare rock to mature forest with great
visibility and springy marshes. A mixture of strong physical and
technical skills will be the winning formula. Good compass work
isn’t as vital as in other parts of the country, however it’s important
to avoid parallel errors.
Why should people take part in O-Ringen 2026?
– This O-Ringen will offer challenging orienteering combined with
proximity to the city and the sea. There are many accommodation
options, with a large O-Ringen campsite as the hub. And then there’s
the terrain – a range of orienteering challenges in great forests
over the week, concludes Karin.
Thanks Sweco for letting us borrow her and a warm welcome to
the world’s biggest orienteering adventure, Karin!
KARIN KULLMAN
78 O-RINGEN MAGAZINE NO. 1 • 2024 O-RINGEN MAGAZINE NO. 1 • 2024 79