Confident Orienteering

  Case Study #4 Case: You ran onto a narrow ride slightly below its end and are unsure which of several similar rides you are on.   Solution: In this situation, the relief profile can assist us. Even if the rides themselves appear similar, the relief profile along each ride differs , providing valuable clues for accurate positioning. This approach is discussed in Chapter 3 ( Using All the Indicators for Confident Positioning ) of the book Planning Reliable Routes . It demonstrates that relief can be used not only when we are uncertain about our current location , but also proactively during route planning . By analysing the map in advance, we can identify segments where linear features intersect with relief forms , creating distinct and easily recognisable points. These can serve as reliable positioning features . Additionally, flat areas and transitions between slopes and level terrain can also support effective location verification. (Example taken from my book Plann...

O-Puzzle Series – November 26, 2025 Today’s task is based on the map used in my book Planning Reliable Routes , the second book in the Confident Orienteering series. This same map is featured in one of the examples and on the cover of the book. Task: Find 5 errors in the index contours. Note: When completing the task, keep in mind that index contour “A” is correct.   Explanation and Answers: An index contour is shown for every fifth contour line. Its function is very important — index contours (thicker lines) help us better understand the overall shape of the terrain and the height of slopes.  1. The contour of the hill is at the same level as contour "A" . 2. The contour of the depression is two intervals higher than the contours at level "B" . 3. The contour of the depression is at the same level as the contours at level "B" . 4. Same as case 3. 5. The contour of the hill is only two intervals above the contours at level "B" . *** Make the...

  Left, Right, or Straight: Leg Analysis #20 Part 2. We're back today with more analysis of Leg 9–10  from the M18 long course at the Baltic Junior Cup, held on October 25, 2025, in Estonia. Running Perpendicular to the Leg Line = Standing Still When planning a route, segments that involve running perpendicular (or nearly so) to the leg line — instead of toward the next control point — should generally be avoided, unless absolutely required by the terrain or by navigational necessity to establish an exact position . But if there are no such obstacles, we should always aim to move in the direction of the next control . Let’s look at a real-world example. Below is a comparison of GPS tracks from three participants of similar running speed ( Pärtel Külvik, Joel Börjesson Eriksson and  Villem Piirimäe) .  One of them chose a left-hand route that looped around to reach a road. It took this runner 2 minutes and 10 seconds just to reach the road. On the image bellow, yo...

 An Overview of Confident Orienteering  Book 2 : Planning Reliable Routes This overview was written by Clive Allen , an experienced British orienteer and map-maker living in Denmark. He was editor of the IOF magazine Orienteering World from 1993 to 1998 and again from 2012 to 2014, and for many years has been an arena and online commentator for the IOF in footO, skiO and trailO. ‘Confident Orienteering’ – Book 2 now published! Book 1 in the 3-book series ‘Confident Orienteering’ was published 2 years ago to critical acclaim: “The best orienteering book I’ve ever read” is just one of many positive comments on this ground-breaking coaching manual, more analytical and more systematic in approach than anything ever published before. It covers in depth the fundamentals of navigation technique, the nature of mistakes and the strategies for reducing them. Now we have Book 2, Planning Reliable Routes , as with Book 1 written for orienteers from intermediate to elite level and ...

Left, Right, or Straight: Leg Analysis #20 Part 1. Today we’ll take a closer look at leg 9–10 from the M18 long course at the Baltic Junior Cup, held on October 25, 2025, in Estonia. https://www.livelox.com/Viewer/Baltic-Junior-Cup-2025-long-M/M18?classId=1074541&live=false&tab=duel&leg=10  I believe the right-hand route was the winning one.  In the M18 category, the course leaders didn’t take it. The map shows the route of the leg leader and the overall course leader Simon Hector. The second route belongs to an Estonian athlete Villem Piirimäe who was consistently slower throughout the course. By Control 9, he was already near 15 minutes behind. However, on this leg, he lost only 17 seconds. Up to the trail-contour crossing, the difference was just 7 seconds. Another 6 seconds were lost on the common uphill section. Now take a look at a duel between two athletes with roughly equal speed on this course. The right-hand route is again taken by Villem Piirimäe (over...

Terrain Analysis: Complex Relief and Night Orienteering at Antalya O-Fest 2025. Event:  Antalya O-Fest, Night-O, Lara ( 10/29/2025). Turkey. Organising clubs Eon Tours  Extremely complex terrain with no clearly defined relief-based navigational lines. As a result, navigation relied heavily on numerous bearing sections. However, the terrain was filled with many similar-looking features — depressions and hill tops — making it very easy to confuse one with another. Night conditions added an extra level of challenge. The already difficult navigation was further complicated by a tricky course layout and the presence of many visible headlamps from other runners moving chaotically in all directions. To better highlight the complex terrain structure, I marked one of the index (thicker) contours in blue on the map. This makes the subtle relief forms more visible and helps better understand the challenge. Altogether, this made the competition a very technically demanding event. Ev...