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Mountain Bikes - Cycling through the Rough
If you want to get into a fun sport that will allow you to get
plenty of exercise, get into shape, and offer you challenges
that you won't find elsewhere - all while enjoying an abundance
of nature - you might want to start thinking about...
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I have a friend who blew out his ACL in his left knee while playing old man basketball. Old man being relative. A bunch of guys playing rec ball in their 30’s. We all get out there and play hard, sometimes harder than we should. The mind says yes,...
Road Bike Selection and Purchase 101
Road bikes will range in price from $500 to over $5000, and vary greatly in design, materials, and performance. The first decision you need to make is road bike or tri set up. What type of riding are you going to be doing? Are you purchasing the...
Skill Based Division of Talent in Recreational Youth Leagues
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Let's face it, we dream in Technicolor of size 10 green drake hatches or Hexagenia Limbata as big as beavers - but the reality is Winter Time Is Midge Time. Often the only bugs on the frigid water are so small; they challenge most anglers to...
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Why Orienteering is Hot!
So, you didn’t know it was hot did you? Do you even know what Orienteering is? It is one of the most thrilling activities available for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and here’s the good news – it’s inexpensive. If you enjoy spending time out of doors and you are looking to break out of your regular routine, Orienteering may be the challenge you’ve been hoping for. Thousands of men, women and children around the country are addicted to the mental and physical rush of Orienteering. Let’s find out why.
First off, what is Orienteering? Orienteering is an outdoor sport where you use a map and a compass to find your way through a cross-country style course either leisurely or competitively. Here’s basically how it works: By using only a compass and a map, participants will move from one control point to another until reaching the end of the course. Each participant – an orienteer – uses a special device, a unique one is located at each control point, to mark their scorecard thus proving they have actually visited the required control points. The orienteer who reaches the finish line first, with all control points visited, is the winner. Sounds easy doesn’t it? So what’s the catch?
There are two main challenges to the sport. First, the route is not marked. Therefore the orienteer must personally navigate from control point to control point using only a compass and a map. To successfully do this, you will always need to know how far you have traveled and in what direction. Their map, provided at the event, gives detailed information on the terrain such as hills, landmarks, bodies of water and other obstacles. Secondly, to be successful in
orienteering, the orienteer needs excellent map reading skills, the ability to focus mentally and the ability to make decisions. If the event is competitive, all of this is done as fast as possible.
The most popular type of Orienteering is Foot Orienteering – abbreviated as Foot-O – and it is an Olympic sport. World-class Foot-O athletes typically have endurance and strength characteristics similar to marathon runners. Other Orienteering types include Mountain Bike, Skiing, Trail, and Night Orienteering. To find out more information on Orienteering in your city, contact the United States Orienteering Federation or visit our online Education Center. Competitive orienteering has been called the “thinking sport” and has been likened to “running while playing chess.”
With Orienteering, you’ll improve your problem solving skills, your decision making skills and you will push yourself to new levels of accomplishment. All while having a great time. While leisure Orienteering is not nearly as fast paced or as pressure-packed as competitive Orienteering, you’ll still get an adrenaline rush when you’ve successfully found your way through the course – and that’s why Orienteering is Hot! Use this information and you’ll Get It Right The First Time. Get Outdoors!
About the Author
Chuck Fitzgerald is the owner of Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online specialty store with the “Best Gear Out There” and dedicated to helping outdoor enthusiasts to “Get It Right The First Time” with timely educational information. Please visit http://www.BackCountryToys.com to find great gear and to receive the Fact & Tips e-newsletter, "FreshAir.” (800) 316-9055.
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