Elena Roos: – I think it was a really good long distance course

The course Elena Roos chooses as her absolute favourite this year is one of the toughest races this year – a course which featured hard battles with the forest nearly from start to finish: The World Orienteering Championships Long distance.

Read on for a long interview with the new rising Swiss star Elena Roos – a runner who has really impressed the orienteering world with fantastic results this year with a silver medal at the World Games in Poland as one of the highlights! 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 4000 Euro.

Q: What was the best course you run in 2017 – and why?

I choose the WOC Long distance in Estonia. I think it was a really good long distance course, as should be expected at the world orienteering champs. Three very long route choice legs with different options taken by the best runners,  a forking system with technically demanding controls in the green part of the terrain and a fast finish (the last was not really necessary, but is part of WOC due to spectators and TV production, and I also quite like it).

Before the competitions I was speaking very negatively about the terrain, because it was so green, there was bad visibility and the terrain was confusing. In the end the competition was very interesting, and I enjoyed it… It was not so green as some of the trainings. But maybe I’m also influenced by my result… ;-) [Editors comment: Elena Roos finished 5th at the WOC Long distance in Estonia]

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

The WOC relay (and middle) terrain. It was very challenging orienteering, with a combination of Estonian terrain with a Scandinavian touch. It was very demanding with a lot of contours, and when I was watching the middle on TV I was also quite scared because of the many mistakes that were done. Luckily I could enjoy the terrain by myself at the relay, and it was a real challenge!

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?

Yes, actually our swiss middle testrace for WC Latvia in “Bireggwald”. From the old map it looked like a normal, green and boring “Mittelland” forest. After the summer competitions I was not really motivated to compete again, and especially not in such boring terrain. But the course was very nice, with some routechoices, many control and many change of directions. In the end I had a lot of fun!

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

A sprint training in Estonia during our Swiss team training camp. Boring course (I don’t want to publish the course, it’s not fair for the course setter… ;-)

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

For me it was clearly the World Cup middle distance in Grindelwald. It was a tricky course with a lot of controls, change of directions, one long routechoice and all that in a wonderful terrain.

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?

No, actually I didn’t set any courses this year. I’m quite spoiled, because I have a lot of people setting courses for me for my personal trainings. And I was not a course setter for any competition this year. I set only one course for a mental exercise as preparation for EOC 2018, and of course a lot of courses as preparation for the World Orienteering Championships, World Cups and so on.

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

WOC long, routechoice to control 1.

There were 3 main routechoices when looking from the start (right, straight or left) but after halfway (at the road) again there were many different routechoices on how to come to the control. I think it was an interesting leg because right from the start I had to make such a long routechoice without much time for considerations, and I didn’t see a clear routechoice, because in every routechoice there were many micro-routechoices to take. So I was still evaluating the different options during the whole leg, and that’s why I changed halfway through from straight to right. Tove (Alexandersson), Anastasia (Rudnaya) and Sabine (Hauswirth) were the fastest on the right routechoice, so I didn’t take the best routechoice, but it was not that bad either.

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

Yes, my season 2017 was just incredible! It was really great to achieve these results, especially in the forest disciplines! I feel that during 2017 I improved in many factors, like physically but also technically and mentally. So I hope that I can continue on this level or even improve further. It was a relief to get the victory at the last World Cup of the year, because now I know that at the European Championships in Switzerland, if every things goes well, I can fight for medals. But on the other hand I got also a lot of pressure, from myself and from my fans… ;-)

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

For sure the European Championships in my home region in Switzerland! I’m really looking forward to this big event, and the unique opportunity to run a championships really at home! I’m mostly looking forward to the sprint and the long distance.

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?

My main goal is the European Championships on home ground. My goal is to win an individual medal, or at least to be able to fight for it!  To achieve this goal I want to get faster and to get stronger uphill. I’m doing some new trainings, more into the athletics, in order to improve my running style. And most importantly, I moved back home to train as much as possible in relevant terrain!

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.