Discussion: Anyone feeling generous?

Here's the deal: I'm not really an orienteerer. I'm just interested in the sport, and am studying orienteering athletes as a niche group for a research project. If any of you guys are just killing time or procrastinating or whatever, i'd be so happy if you'd give me some insight.
I've talked to some people, but am still trying to get a broader understanding. A few questions to start off:

Are there athletes or any figures in general that you would consider influential to orienteers? Or to yourself specifically?

My Swedish friend tells me that she and her friends always have oatmeal on the morning of a competition? What do you consider the best breakfast to be?

Who makes the best orienteering gear?

thanks for helping out ;)

Oatmeal! Heard this stuff is good for you but I just can't do it! Can't. Absolutely can't... Too distant from my European heritage I guess.

yea i suppose it's an acquired taste... i used to hate it too. Maybe after the health magazines told me a million times that it's good for me, my taste buds decided that they better change their minds.

Just the smell of oatmeal makes me naseous. I prefer grits when I do a hot breakfast. But not before a race of any kind. Usually I'll do toast with peanut butter and/or a banana and/or yogurt, just like most other mornings. Maybe a granola bar if pressed for time.

so how about influential people? Cause i'm at a loss to think of any famous orienteers that athletes might look up to.
It's a hard question, i know. I used to run cross-country, and even then, i could hardly have named famous runners if someone had asked me. More than anyone famous, i probably just looked up to the fastest girl on the team...

Oatmeal is the best before competitions or you can consider pancakes.

Oatmeal or pancakes worked the best for me.

Influential (American) orienteers: Peter Gagarin and Sharon Crawford. Both were US Champs for a number of years in the 70's; both still are at the top of their age groups at 60+. Peter was once on the Wheaties box! Sharon is just awesome, and they both are inspiring.

Best O gear? Haven't found just one supplier.

Thank you, you guys are so helpful!

Here's 5 Influential North Americans in no particular order:

Peter Gagarin
Mike Waddington
Kenny Walker Jr.
Ted de St. Croix
Spike

All of those are either present or former national team members, but there are many others who are not. Alex Kerr, Adrian Zissos and Mike Minium are three organizers that spring to mind.

Those are all positive influences. Of course, there are some negative ones I'll keep to myself.

Thierry Gueorgiou and Jorgen Martensson.

I eat oatmeal every morning, but I still suck! Instant with brown sugar and walnuts.

Some names to add to the list are Annichen Kringstad (most dominant orienteer in her day, my lab is named after her), Pasi Ikonen (world champion, didn't use a compass), Bjornar Valstad (multiple world championships and cool website), Simone Luder (most dominant orienteer now), Pam James (Canada's most dominant female), and Mikell Platt (Mr. Swampfox, 12-time US Champion and meet director for the 1000-Days).

I like Kampela O-suits, Silva compasses, and Jala Cross-Controls (couldn't orienteer without the ankle support).

You should have a look at http://www.orienteeringtoday.com/ to learn more about the top international orienteers. A lot of the elite runners have their own websites; you can find links to them on Orienteering Today. One of my favourites is http://www.hottjohansen.com/ but Sandy's from NB so I'm rather partisan.

Lauren, what is this research project for?

To answer your questions, here's a list of my Orienteering role models:

Peter Gagarin (one of the best North Americans ever, and still kicking ass at 60+)
Mike Waddington (the most dominant man in North America for as long as I can remember)
Simone Luder (Sime! - the greatest female Orienteer ever and she's cute too)
Thierry Gueorgiou (the master of technique and a serious O-geek)

I love oatmeal, but I rarely eat it on the morning of a competition. It is definitely a good solid breakfast though.

As for best Orienteering geat, it completely depends on what you are looking for. Here are my favorite brands: Trimtex (clothing), Axis Gear (clothing), Mosco Compass (compass), Jalas (shoes).

People to look up to?
Ted de St. Croix and Pam James who have one Canadians a zillion times
Bjoernar Valstad-multiple world champion
Tero-World CHamp 3 consecutive times in middle distance

Influential people/role models:
Ted de st. Croix, Kitty Jones, Pam James, Sandy Hott Johansen (Canadians)
Simone Luder, Holger Hott Johansen, Jenny Johansen... and many, many more (europeans)

Compass = Silva (swedish) or Moscow (russian)
Clothing = Axis gear (canadian), Trimtex (Norwegian)

Ugh... oatmeal does not sit well in my stomach. I often eat a bagel with banana and peanut butter (not a very european food).

Oatmeal is great. I have it almost every morning. But I am Swedish of course...

Eat it the Swedish way, with lingonberries, (which you can get at IKEA!) Yummy!

Lingonberries! You are making me crave some good old Swedish meatballs. The hardest thing about a summer without Oringen is missing the meatballs they serve in the lunch tents.

I'm back :) After a long day, i finally have a chance to post again. So for anyone who's interested, i'm going to go into a little detail about my research:
Basically, i just think that orienteering is a really great sport that hasn't gotten enough attention in the states- but the key point is that it has a lot of potential. And where there's potential for a following, there's potential for marketers.
Are any of you familiar with the Nike tv ads that use shadow runners or free runners? Both of these are sports with very small followings- very few people even know of them- but when people are made aware of them, it becomes apparent that the ideas and sentiments surrounding them are quite appealing. I think orienteering has this same potential. It's sort of this fusion of instinct, alertness, team unity, and connecting with nature (all with the benefits of the runner's high, of course). But this is just my perception; i don't know all that much.
So this is where you guys can help me out, if you wish- by helping me to understand what it is about orienteering that makes it so appealing. Is my perception of the sport on target?
And don't worry- i'm not an evil marketer or anything like that- just a student!

It took me awhile to learn to enjoy orienteering. I was never involved in sports growing up, lived near a city, and rarely ever went hiking (and never off the trails!). I hate bugs and have a low pain tolerance.
So when my husband first took me out to try a white course, I was very skeptical.
4 years later, I am running advanced courses, and love the sport. It's helped me break out of my comfort zones and face my fears. I've been injured several times, but I keep going back! I also hate deep water, but now I love canoe-Os! I would have never gotten into a kayak unless I was an orienteerer.
I don't fret getting lost while driving anymore. I feel that if I can be completely lost in the middle of thick woods, surrounded by strange rustling noises, briars, and who knows what else, and still get back to the finish in time, I can handle getting lost in a car!
I got to go to Sweden for the World Orienteering Chamionships in 2004 for my honeymoon. It was great (and very humbling) to be surrounded by world class orienteerers and so many other people who love the sport. Lauren, I hope you can get out into the woods to try it someday.

Ok, here's another question for anyone who's interested:
Which figures, besides orienteerers, are of interest to you? (actors, environmentalists, musicians?)
and one more...
Do orienteers tend to be interested in environmental issues? health issues? I have a feeling that you guys tend to recycle and eat organics more than the average person. Am i right?

Well, not to put too fine a point on it, I figure anyone seriously interested in orienteering is just *smarter* than the average person...

I think you'll find our interests outside orienteering (to the extent we have them...) to be diverse.

Of the orienteers I know well, I'd say that most of them are more interested in environmental issues than the average population. (I'm writing this in our house, heated to 14 C during the Canadian winter - a couple of orienteers doing our bit to fight climate change.)

If I had to pick one...Musicians? I guess I prefer Greenday over Green Peace, and the whole Brad/Angelina thing has me sick. I don't recycle and I don't eat organics (unless they're on sale). I agree with Lisa, I think we're a diverse group.

Do you guys know of any orienteering magazines in the US? I've seen a few Swedish ones... can't read Swedish unfortunately! What other magazines are of interest?

Orienteering North America, aka ONA. Started by Larry and Sara Mae Berman many years ago.

Current Publisher and Editor is Donna Fluegel, DMB Publishing LLC, 5 Kingswood Dr, Bethel, CT 06801 donnabf (at) aol (dot) com.

Subscription to ONA is included with USOF membership - see http://www.us.orienteering.org/ and click on the "Join us" link. Any membership except the $5 student (under 18) includes ONA. Direct subscriptions are also available.

ONA is great for NA. Definitely check out Orienteering Today for the international scene.