Comments on: World Cup Opening 2026 Locarno Ascona: Maps and Results

By: Chao

Chao — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:55:13 +0000

All I want to say is that there are also quite a few people who prefer urban/sprint orienteering over forest orienteering.

Of course, there are differences between the two. But based on the people around me who enjoy this sport, at least two-thirds of them actually like both. And you cannot deny that urban/sprint O is faster-paced and easier to understand, which gives it a bit more spectator appeal than forest O (especially for people who are not familiar with the sport). That also makes it easier for it to grow and become more popular.
At the same time, running in forests can be dangerous as well. You might encounter animals or insects, and the risk of injury is generally higher.

So for me, I like both. With good organization and good course design, both formats can be very enjoyable.
(And I have to say, last year’s OWC in Uster was really impressive. Best KO I’ve seen.)

By: David

David — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:35:09 +0000

Am I the only one to wonder if CITY orienteering is really the sport we enjoy? For me, orienteering is a sport in nature and often off trail, so in wild nature. City orienteering might be fun, for some, from time to time, but should it really represent 50% of the international season? Even tough the competitions in Locarno were really well organized, such orienteering has its limits (running at 20km/h in tight street corners and dangerously punching cars, people and other athletes, as we saw on TV, following others and making smart tactical but no technical decisions in KO sprint, …). The IOF seems to have the same tactic as ski mountaineering at the Olympics: spectacular but not the sport we love. I respect athletes who chose to compete in trail running or forest orienteering instead. Anyway, speaking about the media, I think it’s more fun to broadcast an interesting long distance (or even sprint) forest competition than a city sprint. Why do millions of people watch Tour de France stages live on TV for 5 hours?

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 05:53:23 +0000

Kasper Fossers win in the KO-sprint just doesn’t sit right with me. His violation of the rules was caught on live camera for everybody to see. He could have backed off from wall he jumped on to, and could have run around, like Heikkila, to save the situation. But he fulfilled the sequence with breaching 2 rules in one go – passing dark green and a broad black wall marking…and winning time on that action.
How is that not a disqualification?