Orienteering

High levels of fitness and running speed are required to compete successfully in elite-level orienteering, but success is also heavily dependent on choosing the fastest route between controls (while controls are always the same for the competitors in a particular category, the route they choose to reach the points may be very different). Competitors are often required to cross rough undeveloped terrain; accurate map- and compass-reading can make the difference for good race results.

Indeed, most competitors would say the single key to orienteering success is balancing the fatigue of racing with the mental alertness required to read the map clearly and make proper course selections to keep ahead.

Controls are usually based around a visible feature, and explained on the map or on a special control description sheet. They are marked on the course by white and orange (or red) flags. A competitor marks their visit in some way; traditionally this was by using a punch placed at the flag, but events in the last few years have moved to an electronic chip carried by the competitor, which uses a device at the flag to record the visit time.

The lack of a marked course increases the flexibility of the competition area; many controls can be placed (each with a unique identifying number), with different sets of controls for different courses, allowing races of varying length and difficulty.