Ski-orienteering (ski-O) is a cross-country skiing endurance winter racing sport and is one of four orienteering disciplines recognized by IOF. Similar to the foot orienteering disciplines practiced in the summer season, ski orienteering requires an high level of both physical and mental fitness.^[1]

Standard orienteering maps are used, but with special green overprinting of trails and tracks to indicate their navigability in snow; other symbols indicate whether any roads are snow-covered or clear. Navigation tactics is similar to mountain bike orienteering. Standard cross-country skiing equipment is used, along with a map holder attached to the chest.^[2] Compared to cross-country skiing upper body strength is more important because of double pooling needed along narrow snow trails.

Contents 1 International competitions 2 Equipment 3 External links 4 References

[edit] International competitions

Please help improve this article by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (October 2008)

The World Ski Orienteering Championships is the official event to award the titles of World Champions in Ski Orienteering. The World Championships is organized every odd year. The programme includes Sprint, Middle and Long Distance competitions, and a Relay for both men and women.

The World Cup is the official series of events to find the world's best ski orienteers over a season. The World Cup is organized every even year^[1].

Junior World Ski Orienteering Championships

[edit] Equipment

A person taking part in competitions in ski-orienteering is equipped with:

• Clothing adequate for cross-country skiing, boots and skis and ski poles.

• An orienteering map provided by the organizer, showing the control points which must be visited in order. The map is designed to give all the information the competitor needs to decide which route is the fastest, such as the quality of the tracks, gradient and distance. Green lines on the map show a trail suited to race on skis. Depending on the thickness and continuity of the lines, the competitor makes decisions about which route is the fastest between control points.^[3]
• Map holder: a map holder attached to the chest makes it possible to view the map while skiing at full speed.
• Optionally lighter type of compass is attached to the map holder or to the skier's arm.
• A control card or an electronic punching chip (see orienteering control point).

[edit] External links

1. (YouTube) Ski orienteering presentation (June 11, 2008)

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Ski orienteering on IOF site
2. ^ "Ski Orienteering". The Canadian Orienteering Federation. http://www.orienteering.ca/ski-o.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-26. 
3. ^ "International Specification for Orienteering Maps 2000". International Orienteering Federation. http://www.orienteering.org/i3/index.php?/iof2006/content/download/866/4026/file/International_Specification_for_Orienteering_Maps_2000.pdf. Retrieved June 11, 2008. 

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