World of O News
– It was such a cool place and really fun and demanding orienteering, Helena Jansson explains about her favourite course in 2010 – the NAOM WRE-competition in Crato, Portugal at the 20th of Febuary. Helena Jansson – who won silver in the sprint at the World Champs in Norway this year and gold at the sprint in the World Champs in Hungary last year – must be counted as a sprint specialist, but still the Swedish star chooses a long distance course has her favourite in 2010.
When asked what makes a course good, Jansson has an interesting description: – The courses that are really good makes you feel worried and unsecure while in the forest, makes you have to use all your experience to make the right decisions, and has you sitting afterwards still not being able to always figure out what was the right thing to do.
WorldofO.com has interviewed Helena Jansson for “The Course of the Year 2010″ – you can read more about “The Course of the Year 2010″ here, including all the suggestions by WorldofO.com readers – and also suggest your own courses and win great prizes by Trimtex and sun-o.com (more info about prizes and sponsors below the interview).
Interview with Helena Jansson
Thanks a lot to Helena Jansson who took the time to answer a few questions for “The Course of the Year 2010″.
Q: What was the best course you run in 2010 – and why?
– My best course this year was the NAOM WRE-competition in Crato, Portugal, 20th of Febuary. It was such a cool place and really fun and demanding orienteering.
- Map Women 21E from NAOM 2010, 20th of February (Lucka Weissová) – see also route of Eva Jurenikova and mens course (Olle Kärner).
- Results Women 21E from NAOM 2010, 20th of February
Q: What is the worst course you run in 2010?
I have no idea. I’m not very good at telling if the course is good or bad, or if it is my own performance that is good or bad. I did have some even higher expectations for the WOC middle distance, but to go as far as to say that it was the worst course, I don’t know. The worst ever orienteering I did was on a beach-map in Italy (Gargano) where the forest was like a huge web full of thorns that you got stuck in. But then again, that was bad terrain, not a bad course.
What is the best course you have run ever – if you must pick one from the top of your head?
– The long distance at WOC in Hungary was on of the most beautiful and fun long distances I have ever run.
Q: Are the courses generally getting better, worse or staying on a level?
– In international events such as WOC, WC and EOC they are surely having to adapt to the concept with spectator controls and such, but I don’t think the courses have to get worse because of that. I think there is a development towards faster and tighter competitions overall, and that is something you can see in the courses.
Q: What is the most important ingredients in a course in order for it to be a good course – in your opinion?
– That it is a challenge! That can mean a lot, but the courses that are really good makes you feel worried and unsecure while in the forest, makes you have to use all your experience to make the right decisions, and has you sitting afterwards still not being able to always figure out what was the right thing to do.
Q: What are your goals for next year – and how do you change your training and focus in order to reach your goals in 2011?
– I still haven’t run a really good race in the long- or middle distance in a World Champs, and so the struggle towards that continues. I will need to spend a large amount of time in the forests of France if I’m gonna be able to pull that off, and so that is what I will do. I will also continue on my way towards getting even better physichally and mentally (still a wreck when the race is important).
Prizes from our Sponsors
Prizes from our Sponsors always makes it more fun! There will be a prize for the course setter in “The course of the Year 2010″, a price for the first one suggesting the course which ends up becoming “The course of the Year 2010″, and finally prizes drawn among all suggesting and voting.
Sponsors for “The course of the Year 2010″:
Trimtex sponsors “The course of the year 2010″ with 10 prizes. More information about the prizes to come. Trimtex Sport make technical team wear for athletes in clubs and companies. Trimtex’s products are world-leading within function, design and quality, whether it’s for cycling, running, skiing or orienteering.
- sun-o.com sponsors “The course of the year 2010″ with a voucher for a 2011 Sun-O Camp, value of 150 Euro. Sun-o offers orienteering travel-packages in Spain and Portugal, combining high quality terrains and varied O-maps, in regions with rich culture and sunny climate – organizing your O-holidays from from start to finish.
- For the record: All sponsor gifts/income related to “The Best Course of 2010″ goes directly to the WorldofO.com readers.
