- I ran a good race without any major mistakes but I still could not believe that I was second, Michal Smola says after winning a very popular silver medal at home ground in Olomouc – actually the first by a Czech man since the gold medals of Petr Kozák in 1991. Below Smola is presented for the nomination “The Orienteering Achievement of 2008″ through an interview made by World of O and Ultimate Orienteering.

About: Two of the major sources for international orienteering news on the Internet – World of O and Ultimate Orienteering – are organizing a poll to name “The Orienteering Achievement of 2008″ and “The Ultimate Junior Orienteer of 2008″. The winner in each category is decided in a vote amongst all the readers of World of O and Ultimate Orienteering after all nominees have been presented. Starting November 12th we present all nominees on a day-by-day basis. The poll is sponsored by Trimtex. Voting will be possible after all nominees have been presented from the voting page. See also all nominees in the initial press release.

Interview with Michal Smola

Give a short presentation of yourself.
My name is Michal Smola. I am 27 years old and I have been doing orienteering since I was twelve. I live in the city of Zlin in the Czech Republic. I am a PhD student at Faculty of Applied Informatics at Tomas Bata University in Zlin. My hobbies are orienteering of course, XC-skiing, cycling, photographing, travelling.

What was the highlight of the 2008 season for you?
It was the middle distance in WOC for sure. I ran a good race without any major mistakes but I still could not believe that I was second. I was so happy. And the fans, they were great.

I ran a good race without any major mistakes but I still could not believe that I was second

What is your thought about being nominated for the orienteering achievement of 2008?
I am very pleased with the nomination. I was quite close to a medal from world championships in 2006 and 2007 too, so finally I won a medal this year. Good results and also the nomination are some kind of stimulation for continuing to train hard.

What are your main goals for the future?
My goals remains the same, to succeed in WOC. If I take it more generally I would like to improve my orienteering. I know I can run well and save in continental terrains but I have still a lot to learn about running in other types of terrains.

Where is your favourite place to orienteer – where you would advice our readers to travel?
I like very much Mediterranean terrains especially when it is a semi-open terrain with a lot of details, for example maps around Millau in France. I also like very much Spain.

Can you describe your toughest training week in 2008 (day-by-day)? Did that have any specific impact for your great achievements in 2008?
My toughest week was in winter. I trained almost 25hours but mostly on skies. I think more interesting would be a week with running. Here is an example of an almost 19 hours week just 5 weeks before WOC:

• Monday: Afternoon: Jogging 48min+running exercises 20min+full speed short sprints up-hill
• Tuesday: Morning: Warm-up+cool down 39min+10 times 3min fast/3min slow (asphalt) Afternoon: warm-up+cool down+jogging between intervals 33min+6times 5min steep up-hill in terrain fast+ down-hill orienteering 6times 4min
• Wednesday: morning: jogging 31min+strength 30min afternoon: long slow orienteering 164min
• Thursday: morning: warm-up + cool down + jogging between intervals 34min+4times orienteering interval 8min fast Afternoon: warm-up + cool down 20min + orientering middle dist. Fast 37min
• Friday: Morning: strength 20min Afternoon: morning: warm-up + cool down + jogging between intervals 33min + 10 times 1minute uphill fast
• Saturday: endurance training 257min in terrain in mountains- course with 1:50000 map, 2000m climbing
• Sunday: long slow orienteering 182min

I like very much Mediterranean terrains especially when it is a semi-open terrain with a lot of details

Are you a professional orienteer? How many percent is your work/study that you do besides orienteering compared to a full position – and how many hours do you train each year?
I am not a professional orienteer. I am a PhD student of electrical engineering and I should graduate in August 2009. The PhD studies includes not only studying but also work on research projects and teaching, and the work load varies considerably. It can be about 80% during a semester when I have to teach (October-December and February-May) and about 50% in the rest of the year. The best thing is that thanks to understanding of my boss I can be absent quite many weeks.

Last year I trained 576 hours.

In your training: Do you put priority on running in the forest or on the road/track? What is your PB in 3000m/5000m?
I put priority on running in the forest. More than 40% of overall time of my running activities was orienteering in 2008. However, my training week comprises fast road running sessions too. I ran my best time in 5000 this year and it was 14:56.

Especially the womens class is open – with a tough voting fight between a few of the very best Juniors in 2008. In the mens class, there is a clearer lead, but still nothing is decided in the mens class either. More than 1500 votes have been given so far in the voting for the “The Ultimate Junior Orienteer of 2008″ – and with votes coming from 39 different countries, results should be very representative for all of the orienteering World. The poll will be open until November 25th 23.59 CET – so please vote now if you haven’t yet!

• Follow this link to go to the voting page
• 10 prizes from Trimtex will be drawn among all voting

Nominees “The Ultimate Junior Orienteer of 2008″

Rules and prizes

The winner in each category is decided in a vote amongst all the readers of World of O and Ultimate Orienteering. Prizes will be drawn among the voters:

1. A person can only vote once in each of the categories (if several people share one internet connection, only one can vote, as the IP address is used to identify the voter along with the email-address of the voter).
2. Among all people voting, 10 prizes (Trimtex Extreme shirts and Trimtex Extreme pants) will be drawn. We would like to thank Trimtex for making available the prizes.
3. The winners will be made public after the poll closes at World of O and Ultimate Orienteering.

Spread the news

Help making the poll as representative for the international orienteering community as possible! Spread the news about the poll, by publishing an article about the election on your website, and encourage people participating. Please use this link:

• http://poll.worldofo.com/poll2008.html (voting will be opened from here)

Of all websites with on average more than 50 visitors/day who link to the poll after it has been opened for voting, five websites will be drawn who will get a free “Sponsored Link” at either World of O or Ultimate Orienteering. Websites with on average more than 200 visitors/day will count triple when linking to the poll. Send an email to Jan@Kocbach.net with the sites address if you want to be part of this draw for free sponsored links. Sponsored links may be to any orienteering related page or product – must necessarily by the website drawn. Please use one of the following images when linking to the poll:

- I’m just a simple man. I have a family: a wife – Nadja, a son Sasha and a cat Masha. This is how Andrey Khramov – one of the best orienteers in the World in this century – presents himself. He is known as the orienteer who gets better the hotter the temperature – and also as one of the fastest orienteers on the track. Below Khramov is presented for the nomination “The Orienteering Achievement of 2008″ through an interview made by World of O and Ultimate Orienteering.

About: Two of the major sources for international orienteering news on the Internet – World of O and Ultimate Orienteering – are organizing a poll to name “The Orienteering Achievement of 2008″ and “The Ultimate Junior Orienteer of 2008″. The winner in each category is decided in a vote amongst all the readers of World of O and Ultimate Orienteering after all nominees have been presented. Starting November 12th we present all nominees on a day-by-day basis. The poll is sponsored by Trimtex. Voting will be possible after all nominees have been presented from the voting page. See also all nominees in the initial press release.

Interview with Andrey Khramov

Give a short presentation of yourself.
I’m just a simple man. I have a family: a wife – Nadja, a son – Sasha and a cat Masha.

[WoO - Some more Background info about Khramov: Strong russian runner who surprised everybody by winning JWOC in Bulgaria as a 18-year old in 1999. Lives at the foot of the Kaukasus mountains, not far away form the Black sea. Well used to hot and humid conditions and tough climbs. Married to Nadia and one son, Alexander, born 2002. Competes in track and field regularly. Finished his studies in communication (traffic) in 2004 and has since the been a professional sportsman. His gold medal in Japan 2005 was Russias first ever in senior foot-orienteering. Won the relay for Russia in 2006 and 2007. Started the WOC 2008 with a sprint gold. Will he be the first man with a gold in all four diciplins at WOC? ]

What was the highlight of the 2008 season for you?
There were two highlights in this season: gold medal at WOC, in Czech Republic, and a gold relay medal from SIZM 2008.

What are your main goals for the future?
My goal for the future is 1st place in World Games 2009, and top position in Tiomila and Jukola relays.

Where is your favourite place to orienteer – where you would advice our readers to travel?
There is no favorites, I like to run in all continental terrain. And my advice to our readers to have good orienteering in Japan.

Can you describe your toughest training week in 2008 (day-by-day)? Did that have any specific impact for your great achievements in 2008?

• mon. 8km fast(3:30m/km)
• tues morn 15km-easy run(4:15m/km) even 15km(3:55min/km)
• wedn morn 25km. even warm up+some special exercises, 8×100m
• thur morn fartlek-14km(inside 14×200-300m) even rest run 10km
• frid morn 3km warm up+2km(t. 6:30)+500m rest run+2km(t. 6:25)+500m, rest run+2km(t. 6:20)+500m rest run+1km(t. 3:05)+500m rest run+1km(t. 3:05) all by forest path
• sat morn 12km rest run, even 10 km rest run
• sun 23km

This week, from february training camp, in Caucasus mountains

My goal for the future is 1st place in World Games 2009

Are you a professional orienteer? How many percent is your work/study that you do besides orienteering compared to a full position – and how many hours do you train each year?
Yes, I think that I’m a professional orienteer. I work only between seasons. There is no time to work in season. I don’t now how many hours, I calculate it in kilometers, and it knows only my coach.

In your training: Do you put priority on running in the forest or on the road/track? What is your PB in 3000m/5000m?
It’s about 80/20% road/forest. My PB 3000m- 8:12, 5000m-14:05. And I also ran marathon, then I was about 18-19 years old, and the time was about 2h 31m.

- I would love to say, that I was a professional orienteer – but reality is, that I have a full time study at the University besides the training, Signe Søes says in this interview. Nevertheless, Søes has managed to make several big steps this year – going from a 13th place in the overall World Cup in 2007 to a 5th place in the overall World Cup in 2008. Signe Søes is one of the runners we at World of O have had high expectations for, but her results in 2008 were even better than we expected. Below Signe Søes is presented for the nomination “The Orienteering Achievement of 2008″ through an interview made by World of O and Ultimate Orienteering.

About: Two of the major sources for international orienteering news on the Internet – World of O and Ultimate Orienteering – are organizing a poll to name “The Orienteering Achievement of 2008″ and “The Ultimate Junior Orienteer of 2008″. The winner in each category is decided in a vote amongst all the readers of World of O and Ultimate Orienteering after all nominees have been presented. Starting November 12th we present all nominees on a day-by-day basis. The poll is sponsored by Trimtex. Voting will be possible after all nominees have been presented from the voting page. See also all nominees in the initial press release.

Interview with Signe Søes

Give a short presentation of yourself.
I’m one of those runners, that have practiced orienteering since I could walk (and hold a map and a compass). As a child most weekends and holidays were spent orienteering in Denmark and around Europe. Back then I lived in Copenhagen and represented Farum OK. In the fall of 2007 I moved to Stockholm to improve my technical skills, and since then I have represented IFK Lidingö internationally. Now I live together with my boyfriend in Århus where I study Molecular Biology at the University. I represent OK Pan Århus nationally, this is the club where my parents started orienteering some 30 years ago!

What was the highlight of the 2008 season for you?
Of course my 5th place at WOC long was a great highlight although I didn’t actually run that well. –But the 2nd and 3rd place at the World Cup final races meant a lot to me – cool to end the season with a World Cup 5th place overall!

Cool to end the season with a World Cup 5th place overall

What is your thought about being nominated for the orienteering achievement of 2008?
I feels great to be nominated, I must say, that I was a bit flattered

It is nice when people notice the progress that I’ve had this season.

What are your main goals for the future?
One of my primary goals for the future will be to win an individual WOC medal. But also winning one of the big relays such as Venla, Tiomila or 25-manna with my club IFK Lidingö is a dream for me waiting to be fulfilled.

Where is your favourite place to orienteer – where you would advice our readers to travel?
The terrains just south of Stockholm are superb – very detailed and challenging. They are worth a visit, and you may even swing by Stockholm C’s cafés when you’re in the area.

Can you describe your toughest training week in 2008 (day-by-day)? Did that have any specific impact for your great achievements in 2008?
That would be one of the training camps preceding WOC in The Czech Republic. These training camps with the national team are always tough physically – especially when we prepare for competitions in hilly continental terrain.

The terrains just south of Stockholm are superb – very detailed and challenging

Are you a professional orienteer? How many percent is your work/study that you do besides orienteering compared to a full position – and how many hours do you train each year?
I would love to say, that I was a professional orienteer – but reality is, that I have a full time study at the University besides the training. However in racing season I take fewer courses to be able to focus more on performing in the forest but it means that the time of final graduation gets postponed. In 2007 I squeezed about 500 hours of training into my busy schedule.

In your training: Do you put priority on running in the forest or on the road/track? What is your PB in 3000m/5000m?
I try to do as much running in terrain as possible, but more than half of my trainings are on road/hard surface. Most of my fast distance-trainings and intervals are on hard surface. I haven’t recorded a 3000m PB and my 5000m time is around 17.50.

- 2012 is already in my head – then the World Champs are held in Switzerland. I’m dreaming of winning WOC Gold in all 4 disciplines in my career, Daniel Hubmann explains in this interview. Hubmann had seven WOC and EOC silver medals before he took his Gold medal over the long distance in Olomouc in 2008 – now he has only 3 disciplines to go. Below Hubmann is presented for the nomination “The Orienteering Achievement of 2008″ through an interview made by World of O and Ultimate Orienteering.

About: Two of the major sources for international orienteering news on the Internet – World of O and Ultimate Orienteering – are organizing a poll to name “The Orienteering Achievement of 2008″ and “The Ultimate Junior Orienteer of 2008″. The winner in each category is decided in a vote amongst all the readers of World of O and Ultimate Orienteering after all nominees have been presented. Starting November 12th we present all nominees on a day-by-day basis. The poll is sponsored by Trimtex. Voting will be possible after all nominees have been presented from the voting page. See also all nominees in the initial press release.

Interview with Daniel Hubmann

Give a short presentation of yourself.
I’m 25 years old, started orienteering 13 years ago. Since beginning 2007 professional orienteer, before working as a carpenter (part time). Since my JWOC gold in 2002 it was my main goal to be a real world champion. After several silver medals (7 WOC & EOC) I finally managed to win a gold medal this year. [Editors remark: Take a look at Hubmann's summary of the 2008 season - an interesting read. Includes Hubmann's conclusion about developing from a Top-or-Flop runner to a runner with top results].

What was the highlight of the 2008 season for you?
Gold medal at WOC Long distance

I’m still very hungry to win more medals and titles

What is your thought about being nominated for the orienteering achievement of 2008?
It’s an honor for me and it is a confirmation for a really great season.

What are your main goals for the future?
I think I still can improve myself, physically and technically. And I’m still very hungry to win more medals and titles. 2012 is already in my head – then the World Champs are held in Switzerland. I’m dreaming of winning WOC gold in all 4 disciplines in my career.

Where is your favourite place to orienteer – where you would advice our readers to travel?
There are a lot of nice orienteering-places all over this world. I guess in Switzerland the Jura-area (Jura Mountains) is one of the most challenging and beautiful place to orienteer.

Can you describe your toughest training week in 2008 (day-by-day)? Did that have any specific impact for your great achievements in 2008?
One of my toughest weeks was right after Tiomila:

• Mo. Morning: Orienteering 60′. Afternoon: Orienteering 82′
• Tu. Morning: Orienteering 65′. Afternoon: Orienteering 100′
• We. Morning: Orienteering 81′. Afternoon: Orienteering 44′
• Th. Morning: Running 58′. Afternoon: Running 55′
• Fr. Morning: Running 65′. Afternoon: Running 60′
• Sa. Morning: Running 68′. Afternoon: Bike 120′
• Su. Morning: Running 62′. Afternoon: Bike 90′

I guess in Switzerland the Jura-area (Jura Mountains) is one of the most challenging and beautiful place to orienteer

Are you a professional orienteer? How many percent is your work/study that you do besides orienteering compared to a full position – and how many hours do you train each year?
Yes, I’m professional. Training during last 12 months: Total 624 hours (495 hours = running)

In your training: Do you put priority on running in the forest or on the road/track? What is your PB in 3000m/5000m?
I do both. But about 80% of my training is running on paths. 5000m =14:44.

- If I could only run one discipline each Championships, it would always be the relay, Helena Jansson says in this Interview. One of her big highlights in 2008 was therefore deciding the EOC Relay for Sweden on the last leg. Jansson has taken another major step up as an orienteer with her first individual WOC medal this year.
Below Helena Jansson is presented for the nomination “The Orienteering Achievement of 2008″ through an interview made by World of O and Ultimate Orienteering.

About: Two of the major sources for international orienteering news on the Internet – World of O and Ultimate Orienteering – are organizing a poll to name “The Orienteering Achievement of 2008″ and “The Ultimate Junior Orienteer of 2008″. The winner in each category is decided in a vote amongst all the readers of World of O and Ultimate Orienteering after all nominees have been presented. Starting November 12th we present all nominees on a day-by-day basis. The poll is sponsored by Trimtex. Voting will be possible after all nominees have been presented from the voting page. See also all nominees in the initial press release.

Interview with Helena Jansson

Give a short presentation of yourself.
Helena Anna Jansson, 23 years old, medical student, living in Umeå (the very north of Sweden). I absolutely hate the darkness here but I adore the snow. I love skiing, and by that I mean real alpine skiing, none of that Nordic nonsense. I have an older brother who loves his suit-job and an older sister who likes rowing and who inherits all my left-over training-gear. None of them likes orienteering. My brother dislikes the fact that I am lousy at getting personal sponsors, partly because I don’t have one that can supply him with a GPS for his car. In Ume I live with my boyfriend Niclas Jonasson, who likes running shoes and to vacuum. He also likes me, and I definitely like him, and it is such a luxury to live with the person you like the most, it still fascinates me. Also, I am a sucker for music, especially alternative pop and, as Kat Stratford said, “angry girl music of the indie-rock persuasion”. Currently, Arcade Fire, Joel Alme, Melissa auf der Maur and Editors are among my favourites. I love pink and I am a firm believer that you can never get to much glitter. My to worst things are bananas and eggs, and also, I can’t stand Swedish singer Lars Winnerbäck.

What was the highlight of the 2008 season for you?
Hard! I have had a great year, with a whole lot of really great races and experiences. If I have to choose I would say that the EOC relay was the best. I had just come out of a period of knee-trouble, not really knowing if I had anything in those championships to do, and therefore I was extra nervous. Relays are my favorites (if I could only run one discipline each Championships it would always be relay.) but being part of a team means that someone else will have to suffer for your mistakes… Luckily, we didn’t make that many mistakes, and when I, together with Lina P and Emma E crossed the finish line, we did it as European Champions, and it was just great!

My brother dislikes the fact that I am lousy at getting personal sponsors

What is your thought about being nominated for the orienteering achievement of 2008?
It is very flattering, but I don’t really know why you are putting me up there with all the stars, I think I have some way to go before I am among the most skilled runners in the world! It feels really great though!

What are your main goals for the future?
I still have a lot to learn and to develop, and I have a vision that I one day will feel that I am all the best that I can be. I still have a long way to go before I get there, and maybe I never will, but in the meantime I am completely satisfied that I am taking one step at a time towards becoming really good at this sport!

Where is your favourite place to orienteer – where you would advice our readers to travel?
I have a lot of favourite places for orienteering, and I still have not seen so many. I love northern Italy, Slovenia, an (after last weeks trainingcamp) Hungary. In Sweden, one of my favourites is Haddingen, right here in Umeå. It is the greatest forest ever, and I would advise every one who likes orienteering to come here and run at least once! We have a guest room…

Can you describe your toughest training week in 2008 (day-by-day)? Did that have any specific impact for your great achievements in 2008?
My toughest week is yet to come! I have not started my training towards 2009 yet, but when I do it will be something extra! Overall, my toughest weeks have been around 18 h of training, and with high intensity running (and weightlifting) as a major part. Exactly which weeks I have done what, I have no idea, but my trainer Harri Viinamäki does!

I love northern Italy, Slovenia, an (after last weeks training camp) Hungary

Are you a professional orienteer? How many percent is your work/study that you do besides orienteering compared to a full position – and how many hours do you train each year?
I am a professional orienteer, of course, but I am also a full time medical student. Does it work? Oh, yes! I love school and I love to run, and the two things together make me even better! When I have too much time of from school, I don’t know what to do with myself, I can’t make use of all the time, and the days that I am resting from training I start crawling on the walls. I am not sure how many hours exactly I have trained this year, but last year it was 660 h, and probably it is maybe 10-15% more this year. I really don’t know.

In your training: Do you put priority on running in the forest or on the road/track? What is your PB in 3000m/5000m?
I try to be diverse. I have a tendency to run more on tracks and unpaved roads than in the forest when I am training just running without a map, but I try to keep a good balance! In the winter however I run wherever I can (snow you know…), mostly on paved but cleared roads and indoors. I have no idea what my PB is on either 3000 or 5000 m, numbers are not my big thing, especially running-times. I know that I have run 3000 a couple of times though…

- I was a turbulent child who discovered orienteering at the age of 4, Thierry Gueorgiou says in this interview. Gueorgiou is known as The King of Middle Distance, but this year there was even more attention around the “lost” gold medal in the WOC Relay. Gueorgiou however worked hard mentally, and managed to get back in the top at the World Cup in Sälen only days after the tough WOC Relay experience. Below Gueorgiou is presented for the nomination “The Orienteering Achievement of 2008″ through an interview made by World of O and Ultimate Orienteering.

About: Two of the major sources for international orienteering news on the Internet – World of O and Ultimate Orienteering – are organizing a poll to name “The Orienteering Achievement of 2008″ and “The Ultimate Junior Orienteer of 2008″. The winner in each category is decided in a vote amongst all the readers of World of O and Ultimate Orienteering after all nominees have been presented. Starting November 12th we present all nominees on a day-by-day basis. The poll is sponsored by Trimtex. Voting will be possible after all nominees have been presented from the voting page. See also all nominees in the initial press release.

• Remember to vote for “The Ultimate Junior Orienteer of 2008″ between Nov 18th and Nov 25th!

Interview with Thierry Gueorgiou

Give a short presentation of yourself.
I was a turbulent child who discovered orienteering at the age of 4. And thought it should be fun to become World Champion when I saw, by my own eyes, the legendary Kent Olsson winning the World Championship in France (1987). Since that day, I pursued my dream with commitment. The 08th August 2003, my dream came true and then realized that I had now to continue to challenge myself as long as possible. I knew I could be even better and that’s what still pushes me forward today. You’re only bitter if you reach the end of your life and you’re filled with frustration because you feel you missed out something. You’re bitter because you regret not accomplishing things you could have accomplished. I won’t be a bitter old man.

What was the highlight of the 2008 season for you?
Well, there is no other race which has the same flavor that WOC races. All top orienteers peak their preparation to be at their very best at that time. So, I should answer that the middle distance in Stara Ves forests was the highlight of my season. But I also liked my performances at the middle distance in European Championships, as well as the long distance at CISM. For some diverse reasons, if I would have bet before the races, I would never have gambled a single euro on me… This is always the greatest emotions to beat your feelings and thoughts.

You’re bitter because you regret not accomplishing things you could have accomplished. I won’t be a bitter old man

What is your thought about being nominated for the orienteering achievement of 2008?
I suppose that it’s probably better to be in the nominate list than getting no mail from you at this time of the season. But, to be honest, 2008 is already behind and I am now fully focused on 2009.

What are your main goals for the future?
Hopefully, I still have couple of goals to achieve. I think the biggest is probably to perform at my best at the World Championships 2011 (France). But up to there, I’ll try to compete with some decent level as well. I still miss the long distance and relay gold to complete my WOC greatest hits. So, I might put some energy on trying to achieve those goals.

Where is your favourite place to orienteer – where you would advice our readers to travel?
Well, I have been lucky to visit many marvelous places to orienteer. I am a little addict to Trøms terrains (Northern part of Norway). But as a French orienteer, I could only recommend to visit the Aveyron’s terrains (where 2008 French days took places). This is a must for me, one of those few places in the World where you get the feeling that your brain is definitively hopeless…

• See this Routegadget from Stage 3

Can you describe your toughest training week in 2008 (day-by-day)? Did that have any specific impact for your great achievements in 2008?
Since a while (before 2003), I decided to not record my training in a diary. The reason for this choice is that I put too much energy on just counting hours, but not much on analyzing my feelings. So unfortunately, I can’t answer precisely to this question. But, as far as I remember, it should be a week with around 20-24 hours of trainings (mostly running/orienteering). I don’t consider those « record week » as primordial to perform at my best. The most important thing is to have good basic trainings that you keep for every single week during all the winter (like uphill intervals or special orienteering sessions for example).

I am a little addict to Tromsø terrains (Northern part of Norway)

Are you a professional orienteer? How many percent is your work/study that you do besides orienteering compared to a full position – and how many hours do you train each year?
Yes, I am a professional orienteer since 2004. My evaluation of my trainings hours per year is around 700 hours.

In your training: Do you put priority on running in the forest or on the road/track? What is your PB in 3000m/5000m?
My priority is always to try to be an orienteer who will perform well at the coming World Championships. So, I evaluate the aspects that I consider as primordial to handle. If I think that next WOC race need to be especially good in some style of running, I will include it during my basic trainings. But as I am also passionate about orienteering techniques, I must say that I am also training a lot in orienteering just to enjoy the feeling when you are on the edge and close to your limits of controlling your orienteering.

I never ran 3000m or 5000m seriously.

Marianne Andersen has grown to become one of the big profiles in international orienteering with individual World Championship medals 3 years in a row. Below Andersen is presented for the nomination “The Orienteering Achievement of 2008″ through an interview made by World of O and Ultimate Orienteering.

About: Two of the major sources for international orienteering news on the Internet – World of O and Ultimate Orienteering – are organizing a poll to name “The Orienteering Achievement of 2008″ and “The Ultimate Junior Orienteer of 2008″. The winner in each category is decided in a vote amongst all the readers of World of O and Ultimate Orienteering after all nominees have been presented. Starting November 12th we present all nominees on a day-by-day basis. The poll is sponsored by Trimtex. Voting will be possible after all nominees have been presented from the voting page. See also all nominees in the initial press release.

• Remember to vote for “The Ultimate Junior Orienteer of 2008″ between Nov 18th and Nov 25th!

Interview with Marianne Andersen

Give a short presentation of yourself.
I’m 28 years old, live in Oslo, but come from Drammen. I have been orienteering since I was 16. The last four years I have run for Nydalens SK, but next season I’m going to run for my home club Konnerud IL again.

What was the highlight of the 2008 season for you?
Because I was injured most of the winter and spring, WOC in Czech Republic became not only my main goal, but in many ways also my only goal this season. That I managed to get in decent shape for WOC and get a silver medal and a 4th place there, was the highlight of the 2008 season for me. But the best race of the year I did in the Norwegian long distance Championship in august.

The best race of the year I did in the Norwegian Long Distance Champs in August

What is your thought about being nominated for the orienteering achievement of 2008?
I am a bit surprised, because I hadn’t thought I would be nominated for something like that. But I’m also really happy about it.

What are your main goals for the future?
My main goal is to become a better orienteering runner. My main goal for 2009 is to win a gold medal in WOC in Hungary.

Where is your favourite place to orienteer – where you would advice our readers to travel?
My favorite terrains are some of the forests around Eiker and Kongsberg. But I like to orienteer in almost all kinds of terrains – the variation of terrains is one of the things I like with orienteering

Can you describe your thoughest training week in 2008 (day-by-day)? Did that have any specific impact for your great achievements in 2008?
I don’t feel that I had any really though training weeks in 2008. Because I couldn’t run from January to April, my legs weren’t ready for really though running this summer. But I trained quite a lot in the last part of April and in May. This was short after my Achilles tendon had become so well that I could start running again, and therefor I still did a lot of alternative training. Here is a typical training week in this period:

• 21/4: I: Aqua jog 2h 5min II: Running 35min
• 22/4: I: Aqua jog: Warm up 20min, 15*3.15-3.20min intervals (I-3), 30sec recovery, cool down 15min. II: Orienteering 35min + Roller skiing (using only my arms) 1h
• 23/4: I: Aqua jog 2h 25min II: Cycling 1h 35min
• 24/4: I: Aqua jog 2h II: Orienteering 35min (9 + 6 min fast). Strength training 20min.
• 25/4: I: Aqua jog: Warm up 20min, 15*3.20min intervals (I-3), 30sec rec, cool down 10min II: Running 40min III: Cycling 1h 25min
• 26/4: I: Aqua jog 2h II: Orienteering 40min. Strength training 30min.
• 27/4: I: Skiing (using only my arms) 1h 20min II: Running: Warm up 10min, 5*4min hill intervals (I3-4), 1min rec, walked down. III: Cycling 1h 25min

I think all the alternative training I did when I couldn’t run, was the main reason that my shape became as good as it was at WOC.

I will now put priority on running in the forest

Are you a professional orienteer? How many percent is your work/study that you do besides orienteering compared to a full position – and how many hours do you train each year?
I work 40% at the Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority. This year I will train about 850h. At the most I have trained about 950h.

In your training: Do you put priority on running in the forest or on the road/track? What is your PB in 3000m/5000m?
The last couple of years I have put priority on running on road/track to improve my skills on this area. But this has led to more injuries than before. And with the next two WOCs in hilly terrains in Hungary and Norway, I will now put priority on running in the forest. My PB in 3000m is 9.50.

Voting for the “The Ultimate Junior Orienteer of 2008″ has now opened – and will be open from November 18th until November 25th. The past week all nominated juniors have been presented at World of O and Ultimate Orienteering – and now everything is ready to name the ultimate Junior Orienteer of 2008. Parallel with the voting for “The Ultimate Junior Orienteer of 2008″, we will present all runners nominated for “The Orienteering Achievement of 2008″ – starting at November 19th.

• Follow this link to go to the voting page
• 10 prizes from Trimtex will be drawn among all voting

Nominees “The Ultimate Junior Orienteer of 2008″

Rules and prizes

The winner in each category is decided in a vote amongst all the readers of World of O and Ultimate Orienteering. Prizes will be drawn among the voters:

1. A person can only vote once in each of the categories (if several people share one internet connection, only one can vote, as the IP address is used to identify the voter along with the email-address of the voter).
2. Among all people voting, 10 prizes (Trimtex Extreme shirts and Trimtex Extreme pants) will be drawn. We would like to thank Trimtex for making available the prizes.
3. The winners will be made public after the poll closes at World of O and Ultimate Orienteering.

Spread the news

Help making the poll as representative for the international orienteering community as possible! Spread the news about the poll, by publishing an article about the election on your website, and encourage people participating. Please use this link:

• http://poll.worldofo.com/poll2008.html (voting will be opened from here)

Of all websites with on average more than 50 visitors/day who link to the poll after it has been opened for voting, five websites will be drawn who will get a free “Sponsored Link” at either World of O or Ultimate Orienteering. Websites with on average more than 200 visitors/day will count triple when linking to the poll. Send an email to Jan@Kocbach.net with the sites address if you want to be part of this draw for free sponsored links. Sponsored links may be to any orienteering related page or product – must necessarily by the website drawn. Please use one of the following images when linking to the poll:

Siri Ulvestad took the Bronze medal at the Junior World Champs Long in Gothenburg this year. Below Ulvestad is presented for the nomination “The Ultimate Junior Orienteer of 2008″ through an interview made by World of O and Ultimate Orienteering.

About: Two of the major sources for international orienteering news on the Internet – World of O and Ultimate Orienteering – are organizing a poll to name “The Orienteering Achievement of 2008″ and “The Ultimate Junior Orienteer of 2008″. The winner in each category is decided in a vote amongst all the readers of World of O and Ultimate Orienteering after all nominees have been presented. Starting November 12th we present all nominees on a day-by-day basis. The poll is sponsored by Trimtex. Voting will be possible after all nominees have been presented from the voting page. See also all nominees in the initial press release.

Interview with Siri Ulvestad

Give a short presentation of yourself.
My name is Siri Ulvestad and I am 20 years old. I grew up in Oslo and started to run orienteering when I was about 8 years old. At the age of 11 I also started competing in cross country skiing, and have combined those sports ever since. Last year I moved to Trondheim and started to study civil engineering at the Norwegian university of science and technology.

What was the highlight of the 2008 season for you?
The international highlight was the bronze medal at the long distance in the junior world orienteering championships. On national level there has been many highlights wining 5 gold medals in the Norwegian championships and the overall national cup.

On national level there has been many highlights wining 5 gold medals in the Norwegian championships

What is your thought about being nominated for the orienteering achievement of 2008?
I think it is great to be nominated among so many other good junior orienteers.

What are your main goals for the future?
My main goal in the future is to achieve good results as an senior orienteer, and have fun while practicing and competing in orienteering.

Where is your favourite place to orienteer – where you would advice our readers to travel?
I do like typical Nordic terrains the most, and I really enjoy running orienteering in the forests south of Oslo (for example at Siggerud where the World Cup was held)

Can you describe your thoughest training week in 2008 (day-by-day)? Did that have any specific impact for your great achievements in 2008?
I guess I have a few though weeks in front of me as the cross country skiing season is coming up, but so far my hardest training week is maybe O-ringen.

• Mon: 1. Orienteering competition (1:55) 2. Roller ski (0:30)
• Tue: 1. Orienteering competition (1:15) 2. Running (0:20)
• Wed: 1. Orienteering competition (1:35) 2. Running (0:25)
• Thu: 1. Orienteering competition (1:05) 2. Running (0:20)
• Fri: 1. Orienteering competition (1:35)
• Sat: Rest day
• Sun: 1. Cycling (4:45)

I like to look at my self as a professional orienteer

Are you a professional orienteer? How many percent is your work/study that you do besides orienteering compared to a full position – and how many hours do you train each year?
I like to look at my self as a professional orienteer. I study 75% compared to a full study, and train about 550 hours a year.

In your training: Do you put priority on running in the forest or on the road/track? What is your PB in 3000m/5000m?
I do almost all of my running in the forest, but ran 3000m a few times in 2006-2007. My PB in 3000 m is 10:24.