World of O News
– After a long time we finally ran an important competition in sand stones again, reigning Relay World Champion Jan Prochazka from Czech Republic says when asked about the best course he has run on in 2012.
– Sand stones are the best terrain you can find in the Czech Republic. They are always challenging technically, but also physically. You have to climb up really steep slopes and still carefully read the map with many details. It is a Czech Orienteering Paradise! Prochazka exclaims.
The course Prochazka names as the best course he has run this year is the Czech Long distance championships with Radek Novotny and Vaclav Zakouril as course setters.
– I have to promote Czech competitions, because this years Czech Long Distance Championship was clearly the best course of the year, Prochazka explains. – They managed to set out really nice course with many different leg variations and suitable for nice TV production (see map here and TV broadcast).
One of the long legs from the course. See Top 6 in the mens class in 3DRerun here. Note that the leg times are “GPS times” with an accuracy of around +/- 5 seconds.
More questions for Prochazka
As part of the preparations for “Course of the Year 2012″, Jan Prochazka answered some more questions related to 2012 and the future.
Q: In which race or training did you have most fun in 2012 – and why?
This is a personal question and I have to answer it personally. I have really enjoyed the last leg of relay WOC 2012. That was like a perfect day for me, I felt physically really strong and it was fun to compete against Olav and Anders. Even if the terrain was not special and the course was not really challenging, I enjoyed it really much!
Q: What is the race you look most forward to in 2013?
WOC 2013 middle. It will be extremely difficult to make a good result for continental runners in this terrain, but I will try to be ready for this challenge.
Q: What is the worst course you run in 2012?
Persevaara (translation: Asshill, official WOC 2013 training map), just because of the map name.
Q: What is your favourite map (from the top of your head)?
Tahkovaara, this year I finally had the possibility to explore it more, and it is beautiful. I guess that I will run there some more training during next spring and I am looking forward to it!
Q: Did you set any courses in 2012? If so, is it possible to share the best (in your opinion) with World of O’s readers?
Yep it was in early January, I have visited Hannu Airila in his Total Training Center in Portugal. One day I have prepared o-intervals. It was me, Hannu, Antti Nurmonen and Jan Sedivy running this training. We set out the controls on a “full map” ourselves and afterwards run o-intervals on a “reduced map”. We were always starting in couples into different courses, and it was a nice high speed training. You can see us from the names of courses – we had a nice time out there!
Q: What are your goals for next year – and how do you change your training and focus in order to reach your goals in 2013?
The goals are clear to finally be in the Top 6 in forest disciplines (middle) at WOC and win Jukola with Kalevan Rasti. I am not going to change my winter training. The training is good, and I have developed a good system with Antti Harju during last winter. The biggest change will come in the spring. I am planning to move back to Joensuu just after Tiomila (when the snow melts there). It is the only way I can reach my goals…
Prizes from our Sponsors
Prizes from our Sponsors always makes it more fun! There will be a prize for the first one suggesting the course which ends up becoming “The course of the Year 2012″, and prizes drawn among the ones suggesting and voting. All prizes are transferable to other persons (you don’t have to travel yourself).
MOC 2013
- Prize offered: Hotel + entry package for 2 persons (4 nights accommodation in Hotel Formula B&B + entry fee for MOC 2013+PWT in Matera, value about 600 Euro).
- LET’S ROCK in MOC- Matera 2013! The Mediterranean Open Championship Orienteering 2013 is organized March 15th – March 17th. Great events with world class runners!Read more
Orievents Training Camps
- Prize offered: Training package with accommodation for 2 persons (6 trainings + 3 days of accommodation in half board at Castelo de Vide Hotel)
- Orievents / GD4C’s Training Camps – Alto Alentejo – are an excellent training opportunity for Orienteering of good quality during the winter. The TC will have the technical support of Eva Jurenikova. Start the new season in training camps in Alto Alentejo, Portugal! Read more
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Bubo Cup 2013
- Prize offered: “Family” entry package (Entry for 4 persons for complete Bubo cup, transferable to other people)
- Bubo cup is a new 5 Day orienteering event in Slovenia – with the same quality you are used to from OOCup. The 5 day event taking place from 19th to 23rd of July 2013 will take you through some great orienteering areas in the western part of Slovenia – from Karst terrain above the world famous Postojna cave to the Trnovski gozd plateau (which was the venue of unforgetably tough OOCup 2011). The venue of the mid stage will be Vipava, an old little town in Vipava valley. Read more
Fjord-o Arctic Midnattsolgaloppen 2013
- Prize offered: Entry package for 2 persons (Entry for 2 persons for complete Fjord-O Arctic week)
- Fjord-o Arctic Midnattsolgaloppen is the biggest and most popular event which is regularly organized north of the polar circle. Fjord-o is known for its mix of interesting orienteering with spectacular nature between fjords and mountains. Fjord-o 2013 is organized from June 29th until July 3st 2013. This year it will take place in the Harstad-region. Read more
Nice Holidays 2013
- Prize offered: 2 packages – each consisting of entry fee + accommodation for 2 persons (Entry fee + accommodation in campsite for 2 persons)
- Nice holidays are traditional 2-days, 3-stages orienteering competition organised by TJ Turnov orienteering club in beautiful sandstone terrains of Bohemian Paradise since 1992. Come to the Czech Republic and enjoy challenging middle distance, tricky sprint and tough long distance in hilly sandstone terrain. We are looking forward to seeing you from 23rd to 25th August 2013 in Turnov, Czech Republic. The competition has a limit of competitors set by natural park management usually to max 1000 runners. This year it was sold out in two months. Read more
For the record: All sponsor gifts/income related to “The Best Course of 2012″ goes directly to the WorldofO.com readers.
