Ski orienteering

Winter sport combining cross-country skiing with orienteering

Ski orienteering

Ski orienteering

Highest governing body| IOF
Characteristics
Equipment| skis, skipoles, map
Venue| snow
Presence
Olympic| no
World Championships| yes
Paralympic| no

Ski orienteering (SkiO) is a cross-country skiing endurance winter racing sport and one of the four orienteering disciplines recognized by the IOF. A successful ski orienteer combines high physical endurance, strength and excellent technical skiing skills with the ability to navigate and make the best route choices while skiing at a high speed.

Standard orienteering maps are commonly used, but since 2019, a separate mapping standard ISSkiOM[1] has been produced which recommends a subset of the symbols used in other disciplines. Ski-orienteering maps uses green symbols to indicate trails and tracks and different symbols 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 skate-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-poling needed along narrow snow trails.

## Events

[edit]

Ski orienteering events are designed to test both physical strength and navigation skills of the athletes. Ski orienteers use the map to navigate a dense ski track network in order to visit a number of control points in the shortest possible time. The track network is printed on the map, and there is no marked route in the terrain. The control points must be visited in the right order. The map gives all information the athlete needs in order to decide which route is the fastest, including the quality and width of the tracks. The athlete has to take hundreds of route choice decisions at high speed during every race: a slight lack of concentration for just a hundredth of a second may cost the medal. Ski orienteering is time-measured and objective. The clock is the judge: fastest time wins. The electronic card verifies that the athlete has visited all control points in the right order.[3]

International competitions
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.[4]

Junior World Ski Orienteering Championships and World Masters Ski Orienteering Championships are organized annually.

World-wide sport
Ski orienteering is practiced on four continents. The events take place in the natural environment, over a variety of outdoor terrains, from city parks to countryside fields, forests and mountain sides - wherever there is snow. The leading ski orienteering regions are Asia, Europe and North America.

National teams from 35 countries are expected to participate in the next World Ski Orienteering Championships to be held in Sweden in March 2011. Ski orienteering is on the programme of the Asian Winter Games and the CISM World Military Winter Games. The IOF has applied for inclusion of ski orienteering in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and will also apply to FISU for inclusion in the 2013 Winter Universiades.[5]

## World Rankings

[edit]

### Men

[edit]

As of 23 January 2025[update], the highest ranked male ski-orienteerers are:

Rank  | Name  | Country  | Points

|
|
|

1 | Jorgen Baklid |  NOR | 6610
2 | Niklas Ekström |  FIN | 6485
3 | Nicola Müller |   SUI | 6469
4 | Jonathan Sthål |  SWE | 6467
5 | Stanimir Belomazhev |  BUL | 6408
6 | Aapo Viippola |  FIN | 6406
7 | Vegard Gulbrandsen |  NOR | 6394
8 | Henrik Fredriken Aas |  NOR | 6391
9 | Eevert Toivonen |  FIN | 6373
10 | Teodor Mo Hjelseth |  NOR | 6366
11 | Gion Schnyder |   SUI | 6346
12 | Styrk Kamsvaag |  NOR | 6338
13 | Bjørnar Kvåle |  NOR | 6304
14 | Gustav Nordström |  SWE | 6303
15 | Tuomas Outinen |  FIN | 6274
16 | Albin Gezelius |  SWE | 6269
17 | Miska Tervala |  FIN | 6253
18 | Rasmus Wickbom |  SWE | 6241
19 | Gustav Jonsson |  SWE | 6239
20 | Misa Toumala |  FIN | 6234
21 | Petr Horvat |  CZE | 6232
21 | Josef Nagy |  CZE | 6232
23 | Isak Lundholm |  SWE | 6225
24 | Andrei Lamov |  SWE | 6217
25 | Pyry Riissanen |  FIN | 6215

Last updated: June 2019
Source: [6]

### Women

[edit]

As of 23 January 2025[update], the highest ranked female ski-orienteerers are:

Rank  | Name  | Country  | Points

|
|
|

1 | Anna Ulvensoen |  NOR | 6513
2 | Magdalena Olsson |  SWE | 6440
3 | Daisy Kudre Schnyder |  EST | 6374
4 | Maria Hoskari |  FIN | 6311
5 | Frida Sandberg |  SWE | 6308
6 | Elin Schagerström |  SWE | 6305
7 | Amanda Yli Futka |  FIN | 6284
8 | Sari Vaaranen |  FIN | 6234
9 | Eliane Deininger |   SUI | 6232
10 | Alina Niggli |   SUI | 6230
11 | Synne Strand |  NOR | 6227
12 | Ella Turesson |  SWE | 6203
12 | Linda Lindkvist |  SWE | 6203
14 | Idunn Strand |  NOR | 6202
15 | Nina Karna |  FIN | 6200
16 | Heta Virtanen |  FIN | 6191
17 | Hanna Eriksson |  SWE | 6174
18 | Kaisa Klementtinen |  FIN | 6164
19 | Ane Sofie Krogh |  NOR | 6148
20 | Aasne Haavengen |  NOR | 6145
21 | Antoniya Grigorova |  BUL | 6138
22 | Doris Kudre |  EST | 6118
23 | Anna Aasa |  SWE | 6112
24 | Birgit Dorthea Kleppa Madslien |  NOR | 6109
25 | Delia Giezendanner |   SUI | 6108

Last updated: June 2019
Source: [7]

## Equipment

[edit]

Ski orienteering map

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

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

Map holder worn on chest

* 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.[8]
* 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.
* An electronic punching chip (see orienteering control point).

## Bid for inclusion in 2018 Winter Olympic Games

[edit]

The International Orienteering Federation (IOF) had applied for ski orienteering to be included in the programme of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.[9][10] However this was unsuccessful.[11] In the past few years, ski orienteering has grown considerably in terms of global spread. The growth has been boosted by the inclusion of ski orienteering into the Asian Winter Games and the CISM World Military Winter Games.[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "International Orienteering Federation Mapping Specifications". The International Orienteering Federation Mapping Committee. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
2. ^ "Ski Orienteering". The Canadian Orienteering Federation. Archived from the original on 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
3. ^ "Background material to the Press Release: Ski orienteering bids for inclusion in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games / News / Top - International Orienteering Federation". Archived from the original on 2010-09-25. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
4. ^ "Home | International Orienteering Federation".
5. ^ "Background material to the Press Release: Ski orienteering bids for inclusion in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games / News / Top - International Orienteering Federation". Archived from the original on 2010-09-25. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
6. ^ "IOF Ski-Orienteering World Rankings". International Orienteering Federation. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
7. ^ "IOF Ski-Orienteering World Rankings". International Orienteering Federation. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
8. ^ "International Specification for Orienteering Maps 2000" (PDF). International Orienteering Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 8, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
9. ^ "Ski orienteering launches campaign to be included in 2018 Winter Olympics". www.insidethegames.biz. 2010-09-01. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
10. ^ "Ski-O Bids for Spot in 2018 Olympics – FasterSkier.com". fasterskier.com. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
11. ^ "Ski Orienteering: Possible Future Winter Olympic Sport". www.topendsports.com. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
12. ^ "Ski Orienteering Makes Successful Debut Thanks to GPS Technology". sportsfeatures.com. Retrieved 30 October 2023.

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Ski orienteering at Wikimedia Commons

* International Orienteering Federation
* Ski orienteering presentation (Background material to the Press Release: Ski orienteering bids for inclusion in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games)  (August 31, 2010)
* Ski orienteering presentation on YouTube(June 11, 2008)

* v
* t
* e

Orienteering

* History of orienteering
* List of orienteering events

Sport disciplines|

| IOF-governed|

* Foot orienteering
* Mountain bike orienteering
* Ski orienteering
* Trail orienteering

|

IARU-governed|

* Amateur radio direction finding
* Fox Oring
* Radio Orienteering in a Compact Area

Other sports|

* Canoe orienteering
* Car orienteering
* Mountain marathon
* Mounted orienteering
* Rogaining

Related|

* Adventure racing
* Alleycat race
* Fell running
* Relay race
* Transmitter hunting

Equipment|

| Event|

* Control point
* Course
* Map

|

Personal|

* Compass
* hand
* protractor
* thumb
* Eye protectors
* Gaiters
* Headlamp

Exceptions|

* Backpacking
* Satellite navigation
* Whistle

Software|

| Proprietary|

* OCAD
* Condes
* SportSoftware

|

Open-source|

* OpenOrienteering Mapper
* Purple Pen
* MeOS

Video games|

* Catching Features
* Suunnistussimulaattori
* WinOL / WinOL II Oriantica

Fundamentals|

* Map
* orienteering map
* Navigation
* cardinal direction
* resection
* route choice
* wayfinding
* waypoint
* Racing
* hiking
* running
* walking
* skiing
* mountain biking

Organisations / lists|

* International Orienteering Federation
* members
* List of clubs
* List of orienteers
* by country
* innovators
* List of events

Non-sport related|

* Adventure travel
* Bicycle touring
* Climbing
* Hiking
* Hunting
* Location-based game
* geocaching
* poker run
* Scoutcraft orienteering
* wilderness

Competitions|

| Foot orienteering|

* World Championships
* Junior
* Masters
* University
* World Cup
* World Games
* European Championships
* Youth
* University
* North American Championships
* Open events
* O-Ringen
* Jukola
* Tiomila
* Kainuu Orienteering Week
* Jan Kjellström Festival

|

Ski orienteering|

* World Championships
* Junior
* World Cup

Mountain bike orienteering|

* World Championships

Trail orienteering|

* World Championships

* Category
* WikiProject

* v
* t
* e

Skiing and snowboarding

* History of skiing
* Glossary of skiing and snowboarding terms

Nordic skiing|

| Competitive|

* Cross-country skiing
* Paralympic
* Ski jumping
* Ski flying
* Nordic combined

|

Endurance|

* Ski marathon
* Ski orienteering
* Ski touring

Recreational|

* Cross-country skiing
* Backcountry skiing
* Roller skiing
* Skijoring

Alpine skiing|

| Olympic disciplines|

* Slalom
* Giant slalom
* Super-G
* Downhill
* Combined

|

Other disciplines|

* Extreme skiing
* Glade skiing
* Heliskiing
* Para-alpine skiing
* Speed skiing

Other skiing|

* Biathlon
* Indoor skiing
* Night skiing
* Ski archery
* Para biathlon
* Ski mountaineering
* Telemark skiing

Freestyle skiing|

* Aerial skiing
* Big air
* Freeriding
* Freeskiing
* Half-pipe skiing
* Mogul
* Ski ballet
* Ski cross
* Slopestyle

Snowboarding|

* Alpine
* Backcountry
* Big air
* Freeriding
* Freestyle
* Half-pipe
* Para snowboard
* Slopestyle
* Snowboard cross
* Snowboard racing

Technique / learning|

* Carved turn
* Jump turn
* Parallel turn
* Pivot turn
* Snowplough
* Stem christie
* Ski school
* Ski simulator
* Skate skiing

Equipment|

* Bindings
* Boots
* Helmet
* Monoski
* Poles
* Skins
* Skis
* List of ski brands
* Snowboard
* Suit
* Wax

Resort amenities|

* Dry ski slope
* Half-pipe
* Superpipe
* Piste
* Ski area
* Ski tunnel
* Snow grooming
* Snowmaking
* Trail

| Ski lifts|

* Aerial tramway
* Chairlift
* detachable
* Funicular
* Funifor
* Funitel
* Gondola lift
* bicable
* tricable
* Hybrid lift
* Surface lift

|

* Category:Skiing
* Category:Snowboarding

* v
* t
* e

Racing

Running|

| Track running|

* Sprinting
* Middle-distance running
* Long-distance running
* Relay race
* Hurdling
* Steeplechase

|
|

Road running|

* Half marathon
* Marathon
* Ultramarathon
* Ekiden

Off-road running|

* Cross country running
* Mountain running
* Fell running
* Trail running
* Skyrunning

Other|

* Tower running
* Racewalking
* Backward running
* Snowshoe running
* Parkour

Orienteering|

* Foot orienteering
* Mountain bike orienteering
* Ski orienteering
* Trail orienteering
* Radio orienteering
* Canoe orienteering
* Rogaining
* Mountain marathon
* Car orienteering

Bicycle racing|

* Road bicycle racing
* Cyclo-cross
* Gravel racing
* Mountain bike racing
* Track cycling (Keirin)
* BMX racing
* Cycle speedway

Animal racing|

* Camel racing
* Greyhound racing
* Horse racing
* Pigeon racing
* Sled dog racing

Swimming|

* Open water swimming
* Marathon swimming
* Paralympic swimming

Climbing|

* Speed climbing

Motor racing|

| Auto racing|

* Drag racing
* Formula racing
* Kart racing
* Off-road racing
* Pickup truck racing
* Sports car racing
* Stock car racing
* Touring car racing
* Truck racing

|
|

Motorcycle racing|

* Beach racing
* Motocross
* Motorcycle chariot racing
* Rally raid
* Track racing

Motorboat racing|

* Drag boat racing
* Hydroplane racing
* Jet sprint boat racing
* Inshore powerboat racing
* Offshore powerboat racing

Other|

* Air racing
* Radio-controlled car racing
* Slot car racing
* Street racing

Board racing|

* Longboarding
* Sandboarding
* Slalom skateboarding
* Street luge

Winter racing|

* Alpine skiing
* Cross-country skiing
* Snowboard cross
* Speed skating
* Sledding

Multi-sport racing|

* Adventure racing
* Triathlon
* Duathlon
* Aquathlon

* List of forms of racing

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