Orienteers hit the capital
Posted Oct 9, 2011 12:16:38 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
O-Fest continues throughout this holiday weekend. Orienteers from across the city, the province, the country and in fact the world are descending on our city to take part in the sport.
Jeff Teutsch is a member of the Ottawa Orienteering Club and a member of Canada’s High Performance Program for the sport.
He tells 1310News orienteering is like running cross-country, with a twist.
“At the start of your race, you are given a map and you have a compas with you. On the map, you’re given a bunch of checkpoints and it is up to you to choose how you get from one checkpoint to the next.”
Just as in cross country, the first to the end of the course wins. Teutsch says it is a small sport in North America, but much larger in Europe, particularly in Scandinavia, where it originated.
The races started yesterday. The long distance endurance race, with a staggered start, went this morning at the Carp Eco-Wellness Centre.
