Why Orienteering?

We asked fellow orienteers: "Why do you orienteer?"

Dive into why they fell in love with the sport:

Anthony

"No other sport makes me feel so engaged in what I'm doing as orienteering does."

Bruce

"It's an activity that stretches the limits of both my mind and body working in-sync—keeps me feeling young."

Sam

"The combination of mental and physical challenge, all while getting to see new and different places."

Grace

"I'm so consumed with the strategic aspect of orienteering that I don't even realize how much I've run!"

Jason

"I love being out in nature and using the skills of map reading and compass work."

Paige

"Being good at navigation means I can beat the high school boys."

Sandy

"Why do I orienteer?  It has changed over the years.  I used to love the competitiveness, the thrill of running fast and navigating well and having a control appear right where I'm expecting it to.  But as I've aged I've slowed down, and now I just enjoy the camaraderie of fellow orienteers, spending time in the woods and knowing that when in the woods, with a good map, I can always figure out how to get where I want to go.

And orienteering has taken me all over the world.  I've been to events in many countries, getting to know many wonderful people.  And it's been rewarding to have been able to give back to the orienteering community over the years by organizing events and setting courses."

Sandy was a member of the course setting team for the 2022 World Games, which was held in Birmingham, AL.