Discussion: Streamer-O?

Does anyone have any experience with setting a streamer-O course? The idea is that you can run fast and follow the streamers (not necessarily the best route) or you can read the map and potentially find shortcuts by leaving the streamer trail. It is the next step up from String-O. I did it once in Sweden or Finland when I was a kid and want to try and do it again.

Some analysis and considerations (in Finnish):
https://www.suunnistusliitto.fi/system/wp-content/...

I really like this idea, I think it would be a great way to get runners into orienteering (eg adventure race/mud run type people). Have never done it though so no help!

I have done Streamer-O when teaching in schools. I have a bag of streamers, all tied to clothespins, which I would be able to quickly attach to things as needed, even to a bushel of grass. Great thing is that one can then even let a gaggle of eager kids go retrieve them ;)
When still doing String-O for our club, I actually replaced it with Streamer-O because it was faster to lay and pack up again than String-O. To simulate a String-O, one can start with the pins very close to one another and then increase spacing a bit, or more, as one progresses. Streamers are also packed away more quickly as one can have more people retrieve them at the same time.

This format was how the DontGetLost adventure running series started. It was a 10km marked route course or 6km point to point between controls. We marketed it as the trail run where short cuts were not only allowed but encouraged. the aim was that a top orienteer and top trail runner would finish at same time. it was a lot of fun.

over the years we had attracted so many newbies to the sport they requested we just get rid of the marked route

In a very young setting (children 5yr of age) at a school, I started with a String course and animal pictures on a control card.
Week 2, I "forgot" the String and replaced it with chalk arrows on ground and actually used same course as Week 1, but didn't tell the kids. 3 told me upon return.
Week 3 different course, but arrows only at decision points.
Week 4 same course again, but not with animal pics but the start of symbols (OK not standard Sprint symbols). No chalk etc
Week 5 - longer symbol course., and used playing fields.

Used in my favour: #1 -school grounds were distinctly paved and only fields were grass, so chalk markings easy to do and no collection afterwards. I was told some kids reran the course over the next couple of days and brought along some friends.
Went straight to symbols as literacy levels in this age group were pretty low so don't bother confusing them. Give them the "clues" in code - like spies!

What Hammer is describing sounds similar to the famous Dipsea trail race. I guess a streamer-o can be designed as anything from a gentle children's activity to an grueling physical challenge.

We often used streamer O at Junior Training Camps when they were part of the then annual USOF Convention. Juniors often ran the courses multiple times to try and improve their times. In Finland where Lindsay participated it was a regular part of the Finnish Five Days competition. Hundreds of 8 and 10year olds in their club suits completed the courses and ran through the regular Fin 5 finish chute.

It teaches kids from an early age that orienteering is a running sport. They felt no pressure and ran as fast as they could for the entire course. As they got more experience they were able to take advantage of the short cuts in the course and improve their times. The maps were on 3x5 or 4x6 cards so they were easy for the kids to handle. The kids didn't bother with a compass.

When the kids were ready for regular competitive courses it was an easy transition as they were familiar with all the start and finish procedures.

I think I still have a picture of Lindsay running across the pontoon bridge to the finish in Finland. I will avoid the embarrassment of posting it here.

A couple of other good things about streamer O is that it lets the course setter use regular orienteering features instead of just trails. Kids are naturally more interested in things like bolders and small ponds rather than trails. It is also gives them confidence to be in the woods alone as it doesn't require an adult shadowing them.

Jagge-Thank you. That is exactly what I was looking for, well better if it was in English but the example maps are very helpful.

Ah, it translates pretty easily.
Here is part of slide 1.
How the different orienteering tasks work
 What route choices were made
 Where to correct, where to go fishing
 Background information to help track masters

The remainging task is to translate THAT English into orienteering speak. 'Fishing'?

try https://translate.google.com/?sl=fi&tl=en&...

That phrase 'mennään siimaria' was new to me.

But I think that 'where to correct, where to go fishing' probably translates better as 'where we cut straight, where we follow the line'.