CONFIDENT ORIENTEERING A Systematic Approach to Minimising Errors This is a clear and simple navigational approach. And that is exactly why it works. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Let’s look at how much work we actually do during the course. Here are the main tasks: — We plan the route. — We execute technical actions — taking bearings, reading the map. — We check control descriptions. — We constantly monitor where we are. — We choose our running line — around trees, bushes, rocks. — We think about the whole course as a whole and manage our energy. — We get distracted by competitors — both in our class and in others. — Sometimes it becomes direct head-to-head racing to the finish. — We get physically tired. — We get mentally tired. — And all of this happens under pressure to perform . THIS IS A LOT. THIS IS WHY SIMPLICITY MATTERS. In heavy load, complex systems fail. It is like in aviation. Complex electronic systems may work well in normal conditions. But in bad we...
Route Choice Challenge #3 In Route Choice Challenge series I pick a leg, predict the most optimal route, and only then check it against the real athletes's tracks. Today I chose Leg 3 from Stage 7 of the Swedish League 2025. It was a long-distance race in the Women’s 20 Elite class. Right away, I would say that the fastest route is likely to stay as close as possible to the leg line, because the terrain is mostly runnable open forest, and there is no significant climb to justify a major detour. At first glance, this area in the middle of the leg, might look like something you want to avoid, but in reality, there is no substantial climb. Let’s take a closer look at the relief formation along this leg. I will mark the index contours in red. It is easy to see the relief formation. In general, it is a large downhill. But what about this formation in the middle of the leg? It consists of only two index contour lines, which represent the upper part of th...