Please read all you can find on this web-site, follow all
links and menu buttons, then pick an event from the schedule and come along.
Some common questions and topics:
For more specific questions, after reading this page please
contact our Youth Groups (BSA, GSA etc) liasons or our other
officers / committee chairs using our CONTACTS
WELCOME / MEMBERSHIP | WHAT is Orienteering
| WHERE, WHEN
etc
WHAT
to expect at an event
| YOUR
SAFETY
| COSTS
| TIMES
Local
SCHEDULE | Wider SCHEDULE
EVERYONE IS WELCOME at LAOC
events. Come on out and try it - it is the best way to learn
Always a
beginner's course and someone to help you. For a specific event
contact the Meet Director listed in Schedule
- Do I have to join the club to participate? No. Events
are open to all who are interested in having fun. When you do join
the club you will receive a discount on events and the news letter
that will give you photos and results, plus the dates and location
of up-coming events. Plus a vote in club business.
- Well, how do I join the club? Print the Membership
application form and follow the
directions.
back to top for more topics
- WHAT is Orienteering?
-
Orienteering is an organised sport for individuals, navigating a
course by hiking or running to find your way through the trees and
fields. Map Reading, Navigation and Route Choice are the
key. Orienteering is a sport for everyone, regardless of age or
experience. At advanced levels it is very competitive. Others,
while learning, often go in small groups . It is done at your pace,
whether you run or walk it is the Satisfaction of finding your own
way. Sample 'O' maps will show you more about Orienteering than any
words see maps
-- Orienteering, the sport, is not GPS, is not backpacking nor A/R nor topo reading. It is not following a line with a compass and pace counting, although it will improve all those skills. . It is detailed map reading and fine navigation using your best route choice. Courses are graded by their challenge to navigation skills. A good topo reader could possibly start with an Orange course, and stay with it until in top results for several events, learning skills along the way.
-- Read these
COURSES/CLASS descriptions
There are categories for casual hikers through elite
athletes. You can walk or run, just dont lose yourself! Take a
friend or family. And unlike many sports, at EVERY EVENT there are
special courses for beginners
- You will have FUN of competition or
leisure, and at the same time:-
- You will develop your decision making skills.
- You will become more observant
- You will gain confidence, especially with maps!
TRY IT FROM HOME NOW!
Click and enjoy
-
- What does an "Orienteering Map" look like? An
Orienteering map is much more detailed and on a larger scale
than USGS Topo maps, showing prominent rocks, trees, vegetation,
anything that aids in navigation. It will have some 'check-points'
circled on it which vary by course difficulty. The plan is to get
from point-to-point by choosing your own route and exercising your
navigational skills.(map-reading, pacing, compass, contouring).
Sample 'O' maps,
back to top for more topics
- WHERE are these meets(events) held?
- The LAOC holds events at various locations ranging from Los
Padres forest to Orange County to San Bernardino/Big Bear [see VENUES] for description and
location maps.
- When are events held?
- Approximately one event month . Usually the second Sunday. Sometimes a 2-day
event. [see
LAOC SCHEDULE].
- Other nearby clubs and events:
see COMBINED SCHEDULE: CA+AZ + NAtional A and Rogaine
- How long do these meets(events) last?
- As a beginner, expect to spend from one to 3 hours out on a
course of between 1 and 2 miles*, and save time to discuss your
route afterwards - that's part of the fun! *advanced navigation
courses can be 10k Everyone starts at their own time, from 10am to
Noon (unless noted). There are courses offered for each skill level
and families are welcome at most events. [see
TIMES]
back to top for more topics
- What can I expect at an EVENT?
- When you arrive at an event the procedure is really very
simple. There will be members around to welcome you and notices to
help you see what the courses are offered that day (always a
beginners course). You will see a registration table where you
sign-in , pay a small fee and can rent a compass. You will be given
a map and a small control card. After a
brief instruction session, you will be given a start time, and off
you go, finding the controls and punching the card at each one to
prove you have reached it. You must check back in when you finish ,
and your total time is recorded.
There is a time limit, usually 3 hrs, so
bring a watch. The easier courses will take you about 1 1/2 miles
in an hour or less, keeping mostly to trails. So come and try your
first course, and maybe even do a second slightly harder one on
your first outing.
- Can I bring my children? Would there be something for
them to do? Bring your children and introduce them to Orienteering
with our string course designed just for them.
- Can I do the sport with a partner? This activity can
easily be enjoyed by more than one, two or more in a group. As you
develop your skills you may prefer to become competitve and go it
alone
- How much do I need to know before I show up? Can someone at
the meet teach me how to orienteer? There are always members
available to help you learn the basic information needed to
participate. There are courses offered for each skill level.
- Do I have to be in great shape to enjoy this sport? You
complete the course entirely at your own pace. Many just stroll
along the course and there are some who will run competitively
- What do I wear? start with ordinary hiking clothes and
shoes
back to top for more topics
We do keep track of who is out on a course, and try to make sure
you are not in over-your-heels! But please:-
Choose the right course for your skill
level and enjoyment
In consideration for the organisers, and again for your
safety,
you must return and check-in within 3hrs of your OWN start
time!
Off trail hiking can be dangerous - be careful, please view
waiver here.
Remember These Four C's: -
>
1C. CHECK-OUT - before leaving,
- ALWAYS!
2C. COURSE - Choose right course for your skills
3C. COURTESY - Be quiet, - Don't
distract others, - use WHISTLES for EMERGENCY
only
4C. CLOCK - be back within 3hrs, or before
course closure whichever first
5C. is 1C. always CHECK-OUT - before
leaving,
What Course
should you try?
Courses are set by degree of technical navigational
difficulty, not by length . Never choose above your skills until you consistently rank high at that level.
All courses are set with the expected winning time of one hour
(Although most courses allow a 3 hour time limit):
POINT -TO-POINT Courses are named by COLOR.W,Y.O
etc
What skills each Color Course expects of you, and what you can
expect to learn from it: find out
here
White, for beginners, all on trail,
Yellow, next up, still close to trails and other handrails
(fences. streams)
Orange is for intermediates, where you go cross country,
challenging but still with safe navigating features. Stay with
the Orange course until you know all the advanced techhniques, and
regularily come in near the top 3.
Br,G,R and B Brown, Green, Red and Blue are all equally
technically advanced, with Brown being the least physical, and Blue
being a long tough haul.
In Sprint-O you run very short courses as quickly as possible. Make decisions quickly.
In Trail-O Nodes of multiple controls are set in the same vicinty. You view them from a nearby path and chose the one which matches the description on the race clue sheet. This event was started to help physically disabled people enjoy the sport. It has turned into a mental challenge even for the elite athletes.
In Score-O you try to find as many mapped features as you
can within a time limit with the more distant and/or more difficult
features having higher point values.
Motala format is used where the area is small. You do 3
or 4 loops out from the start, each loop often has only 4
controls.
see also USOF course
descriptions
back to top for more topics
COME EARLY! expect to stay 3 hours or
more
Any LARGE GROUPs, please notify the Meet Director ahead of time
Beginner Instruction starts around
9.30am
Start times from 10am to 12noon unless
noted (Individual starts are every few minutes )
Courses close at 2.30pm unless stated
otherwise
REGISTER from 9.30am.
you will save time if you register ahead ON-LINE here
back to top for more topics
|
Event Entry
ePunching
SConet
member e-mail
HOT LINE
Membership
SCHEDULES:
Calif. plus
USOF
Rogaine
MAP
of S. Calif. Orienteering Venues
Other Clubs:
SDO San Diego
BAOC
(SF)
GCO Sacrmnto
SConet
Pacific Region
Western
Clubs
USOF
MD-CS
GUIDES
Checklists, Forms,
Displays, Equip.
Helpful Info:
Skills
Course and Color
A- meet rules
Bylaws
|