Indoor Orienteering Cup Season Opens in Riga on Sunday
The first stage of the Riga Indoor Orienteering Cup takes place on 18 October at Riga Secondary School No. 34. Six stages in school and university buildings are planned through the end of November.
The orienteering season moves indoors on Sunday, 18 October, when the first stage of the Riga Indoor Orienteering Cup is held at Riga Secondary School No. 34, Kandavas iela 4, in the Dzirciems district. The series, organised by the Latvian Orienteering Federation, invites both experienced orienteers and complete beginners to compete inside buildings, and it runs until the end of November.
What indoor orienteering involves
Indoor orienteering, known as Telpu-O in Latvian, takes place in school and university corridors, stairwells and floors. Running speed matters, but so do spatial thinking, attention and quick decision-making. Participants read a map that shows each floor separately, keep track of their position in the building, choose the most suitable staircase and find the shortest route to the next control point.
Classes and fees
Competitions are held in several age classes. The first stage also includes S12 and V12 classes with a separate, simpler course, while the EASY class is meant for those who want to start with an easier task. The youth classes S16 and V16 are free for those who register in advance. In other classes, advance registration costs 11 euros per stage; in the EASY class, participants up to age 16 pay 6 euros.
Overall standings
Participants compete in individual stages and for the season's overall standings. To qualify for the overall ranking, a competitor must take part in at least four stages, and each person's four best results count. At the end of the season, the top three in each class receive awards.
Calendar
- 18 October – Riga Secondary School No. 34;
- 24 October – RTU Faculty of Computer Science, Information Technology and Energy, Zunda krastmala 10;
- 1 November – LU Nature House, Jelgavas iela 1;
- 8 November – RTU Faculty of Civil Engineering, Ķīpsalas iela 6A;
- 28 November – LU House of Sciences, Jelgavas iela 3;
- 29 November – venue to be announced.
Registration
Entries are made through the federation's registration system. On the day of the event, registration on site is possible for a higher fee and only if extra maps are available. Starts run from 11:00 to 13:30, and from 10:30 there is a training session on the basics of indoor orienteering. The competitions are co-funded by the City of Riga and the Ministry of Education and Science.
