World of O News
– The most fun competition I’ve [ever] run was the city orienteering in Venice. I had to be very concentrated to keep in contact with the map and all small alleys, Emil Wingstedt answers when asked about the best course he has ever run.
For “The Course of the Year 2010″ Wingstedt gives another vote to the Norwegian Champs Long distance – as suggested by Lundanes yesterday and first by Bjørn the first day the course of the year 2010 competition was made public – later repeated by Helen Palmer and Audun Weltzien. Read on to read all of the interview with Wingstedt.
“The Course of the Year 2010″
WorldofO.com has interviewed Emil Wingstedt 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 Emil Wingstedt
Thanks a lot to Emil Wingstedt 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?
The best course I ran was Norwegian champs long distance [Editors comment: Map is available here. This is also the same course as Olav Lundanes picked as his favourite in 2010 – more about that in this article). Non-typical Norwegian continental terrain with hilly, steep slopes interchanged with flat areas with detailed contours. The course challenged all of your technical abilities. Most of the legs had several different route or micro route choices. Course setter Tore Sandvik.
Q: What is the worst course you run in 2010?
The WOC relay first leg. You expect more from a world champs course than only two forked controls (both on the first half of the course) and long legs where the different routes were equal. And a large part of the course was run on tracks. There are so many extremely nice and challenging terrains around Trondheim. Just a pity that they are not surrounding Granåsen. [Editors comment: Again the same choice as Olav Lundanes. Map is available here.]
Q: What is the best course you have run ever – if you must pick one from the top of your head?
The most fun competition I’ve run was the city orienteering in Venice. I had to be very concentrated to keep in contact with the map and all small alleys. After the run I couldn’t remember my route choices.
[Editors comment: Map from Venezia city orienteering 2009 from Øystein Kvaal Østerbø available here].
Another good course was the Swedish long distance champs last year outside Strömstad. Only a few kilometres from Halden where my grandfather grew up. It’s seldom that you get a real long distance course with many long legs and few controls. Course setter Göran Olsson. [Editors comment: Map with course available here with route of Jan Troeng].
Q: Are the courses generally getting better, worse or staying on a level?
There are fewer competitions held in good orienteering terrain. Unfortunately terrains around cities and “good” arenas are usually not challenging, no matter how good course you plan. In that respect I guess the courses are getting worse.
Q: What is the most important ingredients in a course in order for it to be a good course – in your opinion?
That the course test your technical ability. That you never can relax but have to be fully concentrated. The terrain should also be nice.
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?
My goals for next year are the big relays. Individually I’ll run competitions I enjoy and I hope to be competitive at national level.
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.
