Discussion: Is this where the Aussie orienteers hang out?

I've been doing orienteering off and on for a year or so - would love to do more but circumstances don't permit right now. I've been looking for an online Australian orienteering community so I can ask questions and keep up with what's going on. On another forum I saw a post suggesting that Australian orienteers mainly post here. Is that right? Or is there somewhere else?

I often have questions about types of events being run here and whether they'd be suitable for me so it'd be good to get in touch with some Australians.

There's quite a few Aussie orienteers using this site - just look at the training tab and sort by location and you'll find out who comes from where if you don't recognise any of the names

Thanks fletch - had a look - there's heaps of Aussie's and a small handful in my area. I don't recognise any of the names but I haven't really been often/regularly enough to build familiarity.

One question that comes to mind right now - there's been some "sprint orienteering' events in my area this year - wondering how that's different to something like park or urban orienteering? I can't sprint - have enough trouble jogging due to medical problems - is there any point for someone like me to turn up and slowly make my way through a sprint course? Is it frowned upon? (Might get in the way of serious sprinters?)

"Sprint" is more a reference to the course length than any required speed - they're generally quite short (2.5-3km) in very detailed terrain, often built-up areas like university campuses.

Our last sprint event had finish times ranging from 17 to 105 minutes, so you wouldn't be out of place pottering around at whatever speed is comfortable. :)

Sprint mainly defines the length and style of course. The park and urban series in Brisbane are normally a bit longer in distance than a typical sprint course. Don't worry about whether you can run or can't, all the events cater for runners or walkers, and you won't get in the way of anyone serious. Jump on www.oq.asn.au and have a look at the upcoming events. There is a new urban street series starting in May that you would probably enjoy. There are two sprint races on tomorrow which I think you can enter on the day. They are part of the national league series, go along to one of them if you're interested in seeing the elite side of competition

G'day Mindabout. The term sprint refers mostly to the course distance, short courses generally 2-3km long which are often held in city parks or on university/school campuses. Participants of any level are welcome at these events and if you come along you'll see people have widely varied abilities, e.g., the young, fit and competitive, the enthusiastic but navigationally challenged, and slower, more elderly participants.

Sprint orienteering is fun and if held on a uni campus, you get to see the looks of bewilderment on student's faces as you run (or walk) past looking confusedly at a map!

Thanks everyone for the explanations about sprint orienteering - now that I know what it is I'll be keen to go to those events in the future. I was unable to make it to yesterday's events. I am wondering though, why were there 2 sprint events on in the one day yesterday?

Olly - happy to hear about the urban street series - the more events there are the more I'm going to be able to make it to. :)

here's the webpage with all the info on it. http://oq.asn.au/urban-night-nav-running-series. Full details on each race will be updated on the www.oq.asn.au event calendar towards the end of this month.

One sprint in a day is never enough.

Among some people there's a perception that value is related to time on the course. Two in one day may be intended to counter that. Just as well these orienteers aren't into track and field.