World of O News
– The competition area in the middle of the forest allowed for high technical orienteering from the beginning until the last control, Swiss star Matthias Kyburz explains about his choice for the Course of the Year 2015 – the middle distance at the first World Cup round in Tasmania.
Read on for a long interview with Matthias Kyburz. This interview is part of the “Course of the Year 2015″ contest organized by World of O. In the introduction article you can suggest YOUR favourite course for “Course of the Year 2015″ – there are prizes to be won worth more than 2500 Euro.
Q: What was the best course you run in 2015 – and why?
I really liked the middle distance [at the first World Cup round] in Coles Bay, Tasmania. The start and the finish were at the same place and there was even an arena passage without disturbing the quality of the course. The competition area in the middle of the forest allowed for high technical orienteering from the beginning until the last control.
If you look at the map, the course is nearly not touching any path. The last loop had different characteristics from the first part. The forest was much denser and the visibility was quite low. It was a good mixture between semi-long legs and really short legs. There were a lot of direction changes in the turning slopes which made the course difficult. [See map at the top of the page]
Q: What was the most interesting orienteering terrain you run in in 2015 – and why?
It`s a rather special choice, but I pick the CISM-World Games in South-Korea. I just think, it is so cool when you are at the starting line and have no clue about how the terrain, the course and even the vegetation will look like. Nowadays in 99,9% of the competitions I know the competition area quite well; I have looked at old maps, studied possible route choices and know the vegetation of the area. When I picked the map for the middle distance in South-Korea, I had no idea if my route to the first control would be good. But after two-three controls I started to understand the terrain. I realized quite fast, which route will be fast and which passages I should avoid. That`s real orienteering for me if you can adapt your running concept during a race and don`t know every detail in beforehand. Running between rice fields, over steep hills and fight through the Korean- jungle was a real adventure.
Q: Usually the courses in interesting terrains are the ones you remember. But can you remember a very good course you ran in “boring” terrain this year?
I pick the Swiss night champs. The terrain there was typical Swiss plateau (middleland) forest. The course setters have chosen to make a mass start event with different loops and butterflies in it. To run a “normal” race there would have been boring and not that fun – as you can see it is rather green and there are a lot of tracks. The format made it interesting. It split us runners really well, but from time to time you could get a guess at how your position was. One of the best thing as an elite runner is that you don’t run often in boring terrains anymore… It was difficult for me to find a boring terrain.
Swiss Night-Orienteering Championships - Men Elit
» See map in omaps.worldofo.com
Q: What is the worst course you ran in 2015?
It`s always an effort to organize a training, and I appreciate that. But the o-training in the Dentenberg near Bern was really not interesting. The problem was, that the topic of the training “route choice” was decided long ago and the forest was just not suitable for it. So it was a rather boring training. It wouldn’t have been a problem if I would have forgotten my o-shoes…
Q: What is the most interesting course you ran (or saw) in your own home country in 2015?
I liked the course from the Swiss long distance champs! Technical controls varied nicely with route choice legs. The terrain was really tough, so also from the physical side it was a demanding race.
Swiss Champs Long HE - Gurnigelwald
» See map in omaps.worldofo.com
But there was even a better course which I saw and would have liked to run. It is the men’s elite course from a regional competition in Graubünden. It was held in the famous “Fürstenwald” (JEC 2000, Swiss Junior Selection race 2008 and reserve area for this year’s long distance World Cup in Arosa). The course looks like fun! It gives nothing away for free. The course setter knows the terrain as his pocket, so it just has to be a good course. And the course setter promised me some beers if I would mention it ;-)
Q: Did you set any courses in 2015? If so, is it possible to share the best (in your opinion) with World of O’s readers?
I don’t set a lot of courses to train on. If I do o-training, normally the training is organised. Mostly I just set courses for the preparation of big races. An example is the course for this year’s long distance at WOC. The course is one of my last draws and a mixture from the ideas of my coach and my own.
Before WOC I set a course and did some o-intervals in Trin. (WOC Middle 2003 terrain).
Q: What is the most interesting routechoice leg you remember from 2015? Did you take the right choice?
I have to say the route to control number three at the long distance in Tasmania. It was a really long leg but not just the choice was decisive also the implementation of the route was very crucial. I picked “the right” choice and had a good flow all the way to the control flag.
Q: You did not run the individual Sprint at this year’s World Championships – previously one of your most successful disciplines. Are you going back to focusing on the individual Sprint, or is that a thing of the past?
I never planned to stop with the individual Sprint. This year I made a decision for the sprint-relay and not against the individual sprint. Of course, nothing is fixed yet but there is a big chance that I will be at the start line next year at the individual WOC sprint.
Q: What is the race you look most forward to in 2016?
I am aiming for the WOC long distance. But in the previous year the WOC-competitions were not the once I enjoyed the most, simply because it is too much stress. So probably a race at the Swiss O Week will be the highlight next year…
Q: What are your goals for next year – and do you plan to change your training and/or focus in order to reach your goals in 2016?
I want to be a part of the relay team at WOC and fight again for the victory! And finally I am still aiming for my first individual medal in a forest discipline at WOC and EOC. I am starting to do the so called “power block” (many intensive trainings within a short period of time) during winter. The other change is that I now really have to start being reliable when it comes to analysis. There is space to improve to be more professional…
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 2015″, and prizes drawn among the ones suggesting and voting. All prizes are transferable to other persons (you don’t have to travel yourself).
Event sponsor: Antalya Orienteering Festival 2016 – 29th October – 5th November
- Prize offered: One big Antalya O-Meeting package consisting of 2 complete Antalya Orienteering Festival packages: Accommodation + Entry for all 5 races + All Transfers + The program consisting of presentations held by Håkan Carlsson. Value about 495 Euro. Transferable to other persons.
- Antalya Orienteering Festival will be held for the 2nd time in Side by the Mediterranean coast of Antalya, Turkey. We provide 5 different terrains and challenging courses, good maps and good weather for orienteering holiday. Swedish National Team Head Coach Håkan Carlsson will join us for analysis and lectures about Sports psychology & Mental training. See more at www.antalyaofest.com
Event sponsor: Fjord-O 2016 – 13th – 17th July
- Prize offered: 3 packages – each for 2 persons – for the full Fjord-O 2016 consisting of entry for 4 races in beautiful terrain with fjord view. Value about 450 Euro. Transferable to other persons.
- The race courses are set among the most spectacular sceneries in «Fjord Norway», with the slogan «with a view to the fjord». Fjord-O Vest is 4 days of competitions allowing time for you to explore the beautiful nature in this area during your holiday. Stryn and Ålesund have many exciting attractions such as the Jugend town of Ålesund, the Geiranger Fjord, a hike up the longest uphill track in Norway to the Skåla summit at 1849 above the sea level or a visit to the famous Briksdal Glacier. See more at fjord-o.no.
Event sponsor: Portugal “O” Meeting 2016 – February 5th-9th 2016
- Prize offered: 4 packages – each for 2 persons – transferable to other person. Consisting of entry to complete 4 day Portugal “O” Meeting 2016 – 4 official races + 1 Urban Night (Middle, Urban Nigth, Middle, Long-WRE, Long). Value about 390 EUR.
- POM is the world’s biggest winter time orienteering event, and is considered by many as the official opening of the competition season for its high quality organization and for receiving the top runners of the world. We expect to have 2000+ runners – last year POM had 2300 runners! Besides new maps, challenging terrains and courses you’ll be able to experience the rich gastronomy, as the famous cheese, olive oil and honey (considered among the best in the world). Have a chance to enjoy the friendship of locals and explore the beautiful and untouched nature. The WRE day will be the long distance on 8th Feb.More at http://www.pom.pt.
Event sponsor: Slovak Karst Cup 2016. 21st-24th July 2016
- Prize offered: 3 packages for 2 people – each consisting of: entry for 4 competitions (2xmiddle, 2x shortened long), accommodation for 4 nights in camping, 3 training maps, Event T-shirts and headtube.
Value about 360 Euro, transferable to other person(s). - Slovak Karst Cup is the favorite multiday o-event in Slovakia. It is usually organized in karst terrains of Silická planina (plateau) or Plesivecka planina (plateau), which are located in National park Slovenský kras. You can find many depressions, mixed forest, semiopen or open areas there. And also lots of natural and historical attractions in surroundings after competition. For Karst Cup 2016 we have chosen one of the most attractive terrains, which where used partly for JWOC 2012 (open or semiopen areas of Silická planina) and fully for WUOC 2006 (forest area of Plešivecká planina). The competition can be a very good opportunity for training for WUOC 2016 participiants. More at http://www.tuke.sk/obeh/karst
Event sponsor: SIVEN MOC 2016 – March 4th – March 10th 2016
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Prize offered: Full package for 1 person consisting in package for SIVEN MOC camp + entry fee for SIVEN MOC Championship in Bulgaria – March 2016. The package includes 7 trainings as shown on the program, 3 competitions of MOC Championship, 8 nights accommodation. Value about 349 Euro. Transferable to other person.
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XIV edition of MOC, with main sponsor SIVEN, for the first time in Bulgaria. Event centre in Bansko. Find your Bulgaria! MOC stands for Mediteranian Orienteering Championship – MOC is an annual event organized at the beginning of spring season, in southern countries with softer climate. More info at www.sivenmoc.com and www.
orienteering.it
Event sponsor: Orievents / NAOM 2016. 13th – 14th February 2016
- Prize offered: Competition + training package for 2 persons, consisting of: Entry for NAOM 2016 (13February 2016 – Middle distance + Night Sprint ; 14 February – Middle Distance WRE) + training camp (6 trainings) + 3 days of accommodation in half board. Value about 320 Euro. Transferable to other persons.
- Orievents / GD4C’s Training Camps “Alto Alentejo” are an excellent training opportunity for Orienteering of good quality during the winter. Start the new season in training camps in Alto Alentejo, Portugal! More at www.naom.pt and about the training camp at Orievents.
Event sponsor: Lipica Open 2016. 12th – 16th March
- Prize offered: 2 packages – each for 2 people – consisting of: Entry to complete Lipica Open competition + hard floor accommodation in Postojna. Value about 320 euro. Transferable to other persons.
- In 2016 Lipica open will again be organized as a 5 day event. Again some great terrains! Training conditions in this part of Europe are now better than ever – both on forest maps and on sprint maps of nice little towns on the Adriatic coast! More at www.lipicaopen.com
