Oleksandr Kratov chooses a Portuguese course has his 2017 favourite

Ukrainian Oleksandr Kratov is known for spending a lot of time on orienteering technical training – good maps and courses being crucial for his preparations. Read on for an interview with Kratov on his favourite orienteering courses in 2017. 

This interview is part of the “Course of the Year 2017″ contest organized by World of O. In the introduction article you can suggest YOUR favourite course for “Course of the Year 2017″ – there are prizes to be won worth more than 4500 Euro.

ABOM 2017 is my number 1 course this year and one of the best orienteering experience of my life. Not so pleasant in some places, really challenging to navigate, a lot of route choices and very tough. Looking forward to run there again next year on a training camp.

ABOM2017 - Day 2 2017 Long: ME

» See map in omaps.worldofo.com

Q: What was the most interesting orienteering terrain you run in in 2017 – and why?

I would pick the one from Aguar da Beira even here but if I think about next best it is going to be the Finnish championship in middle distance.

Unfortunately I couldn’t start in the race because of injury but I could enjoy the terrain later in autumn. One can enjoy very nice orienteering in grown up, beautiful forest for biggest part of the course and in the end comes the tricky part in old burnt area. I think the course was affected by TV broadcast or the organizers didn’t want to make it extremely challenging, because it was actually possible.

Finnish Champs Middle 2017

» See map in omaps.worldofo.com

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?

The Middle at TWG in Poland this year. I would not call the terrain boring but average. I think the coursesetter has squeezed out all from this map and the course got much more challenging than I was expecting.

World Games Middle Men 2017

» See map in omaps.worldofo.com

Q: What is the worst course you ran in 2017?

A training from Israel was probably one of the least enjoyable I had this year. We have had very many good trainings over there last winter but I think it is just not possible to make a really good course on this map.

Q: What is the most interesting course you ran (or saw) in your own home country in 2017? 

Ukrainian championship in Long distance in Truskavets. The area was used for Long distance at EOC 2000. Great terrain in western part of Ukraine.

Q: Did you set any courses in 2017? If so, is it possible to share the best (in your opinion) with World of O’s readers?

I was very pleased with a sprint course I set for a TC in Odesa, at least how it looked like, never ran there. My own training where I had most fun was a long corridor I ran last winter near Jämjö.

Q: What is the most interesting routechoice leg you remember from 2017? Did you take the right choice?

5-6 on the last loop of Blodslitet is very good. I didnt run it but still I think it is one of the best long legs this year.

H 21 siste

» See map in omaps.worldofo.com

Q: You had an incredible success in 2017 – has that lead to any changes for you? A door-opener for new opportunities?

No, it did not change anything around me dramatically but it meant a lot for me personally. After being very close to give up this season in the end of May and focus on the health I decided to give it “the last” chance and it turned to be one of the best orienteering seasons for me. It gave me a lot of motivation, I think it is the most important.

Q: What is the race you look most forward to in 2018?

It should be the WOC middle distance in Latvia but, at least for now, I feel bigger excitement about 10mila.

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 2018?

EOC and WOC are the biggest individuals goals but there are also 10mila and Jukola which are almost as big. In case of training it will be slightly different, yes. Still much focus on orienteering technique, quite much alternative training, no sprint orienteering at all ;)

And PS! Yes, actually the Middle at WOC was really good this year, but there where better ones, as to me ;) The Norwegian ultralong looked awesome, as always, but I didnt have a chance to place it anywhere.

Norwegian Champs Ultralong M21

» See map in omaps.worldofo.com

Q: Thanks a lot for the interview – and good luck for next season!

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 2017″, 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: Latvia O-week 2018. August 3rd – 12th 2018

• Prize offered: Competition package for 2 persons – including entry to 6 races (two sprints in Riga, two middle distances in city Sigulda, a long distance in Sigulda and a long distance in Ādaži), 9 nights accommodation during World Orienteering Championships for 2 person in fully serviced apartment (from 4th to 11th of August, 2018). Value about 900 Euro. Transferable to other persons.
• We invite you to the World Orienteering Championships 2018 and Latvia O-week! Latvia O-Week is the WOC2018 Spectator race, a six days long orienteering adventure in Latvia. Discover Latvia for yourself: It is a small pearl of the Baltic countries where you will be able to enjoy a very special flavour of orienteering in the cultural, architectural and historical aura of Riga and Sigulda. 2018 is the year of Latvia’s 100th anniversary. Special preparations for this occasion are on-going in Latvia, and LATVIA O-Week will be among the centenary celebration events. The participants of LATVIA O-WEEK will be the lucky ones to explore orienteering areas similar to those anticipated at the WMOC. More information at http://www.woc2018.lv/o-week/.

Event sponsor: MOC Training Camp + MOC Championships, Catalunya. February 18th – 25th 2018

• Prize offered: Package for 2 people consisting of accommodation and entry fee for MOC Training Camp and MOC Championship 18th-25th February 2018. Value 900 Euro. Transferrable to other persons.
• A great combination of the 6th MOC Sprint Camp (18th to 23rd February 2018) and XIV edition of MOC Mediterranean Open Championship Orienteering (23rd to 25th of February 2018). The camp inlcudes 8 organized set of trainings + seminars. Head coach: Emil Wingstedt. Lectures by Emil Wingstedt and Tim Robertson.  The Championship includes 3 races in Tarragona.

 Software sponsor: OCAD Orienteering 12

• Prize offered: One licence for the software “OCAD Orienteering 12″.  Value about 590 Euro. Transferable to other person (before activation).
• More information: OCAD 12 Orienteering – Perfect to Produce Orienteering Maps. This edition is dedicated for orienteering map making with a step-by-step wizard for analyzing of LiDAR data, mobile geodata capturing, smart editing and drawing tools, generalization tools, desktop publishing, course setting and much more. Read more at ocad.com.

Event sponsor: Andalucia O-Meeting 2018 + Training package. February 26th – March 4th

• Prize offered: AOM Competition Package – including entry to 5 events (night, prologue, middle, sprint, long), 5 nights accommodation in Apartamentos Leo and a 6-map package to train before or after the event. Value about 455 Euro. Transferable to other persons.
• 2 WRE’s in sweet terrains and maps, a friendly atmosphere and mild climate! More info at andaluciaomeeting.com

Event sponsor: Wawel Cup 2018. July 4th – 8th 2018

• Prize offered: 2 packages – each for 2 people – consisting of entry to full Wawel Cup 37th edition + accommodation in hotel + Wawel Cup T-shirt. Value about 400 euro. Transferable to other persons.
• After a couple of years, Wawel Cup is back in rocky terrains. Wawel Cup 37 comprises the biggest rocks in Jura (Poland), the possibility of seeing the medieval castles and beautiful surrounding nature! And foremost challenging terrains and orienteering… on the highest level. Together we will make it a real worldwide orienteering running feast!

Event sponsor: PIOM 2018. February 17th – 18th 2018

• Prize offered: 4 packages – each for 2 persons – transferable to other person. Consisting of complete entry to PIOM 2018 – 3 official races (Middle, night sprint and Long WRE) + 2 model events + lunches at the Arena during 2 competition days. Value about 340 EUR.
• PIOM 2018 will be organized the third Orienteering Weekend in Portugal during the winter time with one WRE Long Distance stage, just 3 days after POM 2018. February in Portugal 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 more than 1000 runners. Besides some new areas, updated cartography, 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 18th Feb. More at  http://eventos.coc.pt/piom2018/en/

Event sponsor: WOC 2019 spectator races. August 12th – 18th 2019

• Prize offered: ’Competition Package for 2 persons – including entry to all spectator events during WOC 2019 south of Oslo, Norway. Value estimated to at least 275 Euro. Transferable to other persons.
• Beautiful terrain and great maps with world championships atmosphere – follow the stars and run in the same beautiful area! Be among the first who are officially ready for WOC 2019. More info to come at woc2019.no

 Event sponsor: Easter4 2018. March 30th – April 2nd 2018

• Prize offered: One package for 2 people – consisting of: Entry for the Easter4 competition on the Cres island, Croatia + accommodation in pension (B&B). Value about 250 Euro. Transferable to other persons.
• In 2018 Easter4 moves to Cres island, Croatia. The race will again be organized by the same team and quality standard as you might be used from Lipica open, OOcup and Bubo cup. Beautiful terrain of ancient Tramuntana forest will satisfy even the pickiest among orienteering enthusiasts. More at easter4.com.

Event sponsor: Bubo Cup. July 10th – 14th 2018

• Prize offered: 2 packages, each for 2 people consisting of entries for all 4 days of Bubo Cup 2018, Bubo Cup event T-shirt and training map for each. Value about 250 Euro. Transferable to other persons.
• More information: After 3 years on Cres island, Bubo cup is coming back to Slovenia where it was originally started. The concept remains the same; high quality orienteering very close to the Adriatic coast & early morning starts to let the participants enjoy the sun and the sea after the competitions. Read more at bubocup.com.

Event sponsor: Bergen Sprint Camp 2018. March 16th – 18th 2018

• Prize offered: Package for 2 people consisting of free start for all 4 high quality sprint competitions March 16th – 18th 2017 + dinner + swimming.  Value about 210 Euro. Transferable to other persons.
• More information: For the 8th time, BSC is held in the city center of Bergen, Norway – established as one of the best sprint weekends organized, with several top WOC runners using it as part of their preparations. This time the camp is moved to March. We provide all participants with challenging courses, good maps and interesting analysis of the sessions – hoping to improve the sprint orienteering technique for everyone. See more at Sprint-Camp.blogspot.no – including all courses and analysis from previous editions of BSC.