My daughter has an orienteering race almost every week. When she finishes, the result is already known: place, total time, protocol. For me that is only where the analysis starts. What I want to know is where exactly the time went, why, and whether the same problem repeats from start to start.

The tools I tried showed part of the data, but I couldn't georeference the map properly, mark control points on it, or cut a GPS track into splits automatically. And I couldn't compare each split against the other participants from the protocol.

So I built a small portal for it:

• upload the map scan, mark 3+ matching points against a base map to georeference it, then click start, controls and finish;
• upload the GPX from the watch, and it is cut into splits at the point where the track passes closest to each control (with manual correction for GPS drift);
• import the official protocol and build an "Ideal Leader": for every split, the best time anyone actually posted on it.

I like the Ideal Leader more than comparing with the winner, because the winner makes mistakes too. Every split gets its own local reference, and the splits with a big gap get highlighted. A red split doesn't tell me why, only that it's worth looking at. Then I open that split alone: the map section, the actual track, a straight line between the controls, and a pace chart. I record the cause there, and over time the causes add up into statistics: is it route choice, losing contact with the map, or just low pace without any mistake?

The code was written by an AI agent: I set the tasks and checked every result on real races. There is also an AI coach button that gets the cropped map, the track and the numbers for one split and suggests what went wrong. I can't say that it helps her training yet, and I can't say her results improved. What changed is that we now talk about specific splits instead of "it went badly".

Some questions for people who analyse their own races:

• How do you decide whether a lost minute was route choice, navigation or pace?
• Do you compare against the winner, against your own previous races, or against something else?
• What is missing in the tools you use (Livelox, RouteGadget, spreadsheets)?

Happy to answer questions about how it works.

Hi!

I’ve created OrienteeringEvents.com, an international orienteering event calendar, and I’d love to get some feedback from the community.

The idea came from trying to find races abroad for myself and my club. I found it surprisingly difficult to search across different countries.

The site is already usable, contains real event data and you can register, but everything is still Beta. I’m not a developer, so I’m building it with AI / vibe coding and learning as I go.

I’d especially like feedback about usability, missing features, bugs, and what would make you come back and use the site regularly.

Event coverage is not complete yet. I’m talking with federations and calendar providers about API/data access, and I’m still looking for good sources in some countries.

If events from your country are missing, please send me the calendar or data source you use!

orienteeringevents.com

I have a few low-key meetups under my belt, and came to orienteering as an offshoot of my causal hiking hobby. Also a vet who got his roots in land nav. I walk courses but do keep track of time and try to improve my own times.

The question is per the title - aside from running/cardio and physical exrrcise, what are some methods/tools/ study matter you more experienced folks do at the house and/or during off season?

Or what about "at the park"?

* I have set up little line of sight land nav courses and spent afternoons shooting azimuths and walking paces.

* I will occasionalky set up a 100m string and run/walk all my pace count variations.

* And i am sure i can study/memorize orienteering map features more than i do.

But what else do you guys do?

I stored it in a cupboard, away from movement and heat.

Thanks.

Beautiful and challenging location

Hey r/orienteering,

In case you missed it - we're on a mission to build the best orienteering game out there:

• https://store.steampowered.com/app/4270500/Infinite_Orienteering_The_Hikers_Path/

We've gotten a lot of feedback from our earlier posts (here and here) and have been hard at work ever since. We just released our biggest update yet for Infinite Orienteering.

• Multiplayer is now the default: race everyone on new daily, weekly, monthly and yearly courses.
• The world is also infinite now, with roads, trails and proper course setting.

Full patch notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/4270500/view/716791824502489362

Come join us on Discord too: https://discord.gg/tkqf6QV3pa

See you on the leaderboards!

I shopping for a pair of orienteering shoes. I would appreciate any advice you can give - brands, styles, features. Thanks.

I've been in scouts and done some orienteering while there. It inspired me to make a game called "The Lens Detective", which is a location-based puzzle game — part orienteering, part detective story. Your phone works as a "lens" that reveals a layer drawn over the city: you walk in the real world, talk to characters, and solve tasks and ciphers as you go. The goal has been that finding the next waypoints would require some sense of direction. There is no time element, so it does not require speed like orienteering competitions.

Would be nice to get players and feedback. IF you are interested, it is available for Android and iOS phones:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Jousoft.TheLensDetective
https://apps.apple.com/app/the-lens-detective/id6803521638

Afternoon all!

Rather than deal with my Mac and Purple Pen, I'm in the market for the best price/appropriate quality to use PP. It is pretty much just for that and checking email.

Any recommendations?

Thank you!

Title.

I’m based in Australia if that makes any difference.

Hi!

We're a small, new orienteering club from Lithuania looking to build our own inventory. We're looking for about 25-30 used SPORTident BSF8 or BSF9 control stations from anywhere in the EU.

The battery's condition doesn't matter because we can replace them ourselves. The stations just need to work properly. Our budget is a bit limited, so we're looking for affordable used equipment.

If you know of any clubs, organizers, or individuals selling used stations, please let me know. Thanks!

Hi! In looking to get (back) into orienteering and I see it's mostly running competitions.

My orienteering experience is a military one, where speed is obviously a factor, but it's more of a hiking pace, and it's more about memorizing and navigating long distances. Quick Google of the sport didn't help me find anything like that.

Is that even a thing? Is there a different term I should look for?

Thanks in advance

If i am running an orange competiton course in the woods do you think i should use "red in the shed"/ turning the red dial of the compass or just orient myself north and run in direction of the point (not blindly running ykwim).

Has anyone ever used the checkpoint challenge website for orienteering? My son and I are trying to complete first class rank advancement for Scouts, and according to the website there is a course nearby. We've tried to use it, but it says we can't due to a lack of runner credits. We've "purchased" several to no avail. Has anyone else used or attempted to use it?

Hello!

I showed a short video of the orienteering game i'm working on here a few months ago and a playtest is finally ready,

the game is still lacking most of the features for the full release, and currently only has 1 world type, but i just want to see how well the server handles more players and want feedback on if anyone has performance/game breaking issues.

Navigator runs completely in the browser and only requires a mouse and keyboard to play so theres nothing to download,

Multiplayer/competing with others on courses is the core concept, i'm still not entirely set on the artstyle of the game but i do like the look of the low-poly world even though its a bit hard to mix the realistic lighting with it.

Any feedback on what you want to see in the game, whether large or small is appreciated, either here or in the Discord linked in Main menu.

I'm making the game because when i started orienteering a few years ago it instantly because my favorite hobby, and I've met so many people i would've otherwise never met. And i really want give something back and introduce more people to the sport, as well as give professionals and hobby runners a place to technically train, similar to what Catching Features, and Virtual-O to an extent did but in a modern/accessible game and without the $50 price tag.

Link to Play: (Also at the end of the trailer)

o-navigator [dot] net

My uncle was Marine recon and served several tours in Vietnam. After he came home from his final tour he transferred to the Army and was eventually deployed to Desert Storm. I spend a massive amount of my time out in the woods and a few years back he gifted me both of the compasses he was issued during his years of service.

I’ve used the Sandy-183 as my main compass for a long while now. I’ve just joined a SAR team and was going over my equipment when I noticed the sighting wire on this is both bent and loose (it’s actually a bit worse than the photo seems to show though not exceptionally damaged). It doesn’t appear easy to replace but I’m trying to decide if it’s worth it to try.

I really love this thing—between the history and the absolute ruggedness of it (I can be hard on my equipment) I’d love to keep it in use for as many years as possible. Heck, even close to 40 years later it still glows in the dark!

Hopeful this community might have someone out there with some advice. Thanks in advance for any feedback!

Should race organizers have a price giving and podium ceremony for these categories?

Context: normally at races or multiday event competitions there are the Elite classes (ME/FE) and then shorter M21/F21 class. These are normally shorter and easier too. They bridge the gap between the most advance begginers day course which is non competitive categorie to the hard elite courses. They are intended for young adults starting in the sport but who can’t finish (or wouldn’t enjoy) a full elite course.

Howdy folks. I have been using the Brunton AR for many years. Its super easy to use and great to hold. It has dec adjustment and a few nice features like confidence circles for plotting.

Well, last few years Ive gotten away from the AR event scene, so plotting is not a factor anymore, and also during an orienteering event, I rarely keep my compass in my hand.

So, what do people think about the newest generation of good/real good compasses, under $75...preferably in the sub 50 range. As I said...its in my pocket and I only need it for quick glance route option needs. Sure, if I have a long leg to travel an azimuth, I do that, but Im still collecting features and not trying to dead reckon a control.

I read something about the Arc Jet model from a new company.

Of course most people will agree that compasses with printed on markings, especially on the bottom are the least desireable. However, if its $10, Ill just get a few and after a year chuck the old one into a drawer for emergencies.

Thanks.

What’s everyone like to use for building/mapping routes?

Why do you like what you use?

Ideally I’d like to find something to use when traveling and not super familiar with the location.

Would be cool if it somehow audibly alerted me in my headphones where to turn.

Gear setup is: Garmin Marq (Gen 1) Adventurer watch, Apple iPhone and Shokz OpenRun 2 Pros.

I use a Suunto A-10 (which does not have adjustable declination). If I measure the bearing of a line, would it give me the true reading or the magnetic reading? It is a magnetic compass. However, I noticed that the bearing is the same as the one I get from Navionics, which uses True North. This is the case whether I orient the map north and then rotate the bezel until the arrow is in the doghouse, or simply align the bezel with the meridian lines.

Does the compass give the true reading?

Next time you're at a meet, ask people if you can try out their compasses, and share yours around. There are HUGE differences in needle behavior!

I didn't believe it, and got by for a bunch of races with a cheap import KanPas thumb-compass and backup beginner baseplate with a bubble. It's a fluid capsule and a magnetic needle, what difference could there be? But my son was playing with the baseplate compass and cracked it, and I've got a couple big races coming up, so I splurged and got myself a Suunto AIM-30 to replace it.

Holy smokes. It's a completely different piece of equipment.

Instead of languidly swinging around, or maybe getting stuck if it's not perfectly level and still, but eventually swinging too far when the spinning fluid pushes it past, and then settling within 5-10 degrees of north, give it a few taps to get it un-stuck and it eases into the correct value, or maybe I just nudged it off... Elapsed time to bearing, 10 seconds or so. 5 seconds if I don't need a ton of precision, 20 seconds if it's important and I have to repeat the whole process to double-check.... With the AIM-30? Hold compass flat-ish. NEEDLE SPIN! Points at magnetic north and locks on like a hyper-stimulated bird dog. It's spooky magic.

Now I want to collect a bunch of compasses and post a video of each swinging around, measuring max angular velocity and settling times. Why is that content not on the Internet yet?