Orientation In Jukola, Mynämäki, orienteers run in the terrain, which is one of the fastest in the history of the race – Track Master: “We go really hard there”

Mynämäki

Navigation is one of those sports whose competitive performance cannot be compared to, for example, athletics or swimming.

This is due to the fact that the arenas of orienteering, ie terrains, are always different from each other, as are the tracks designed for terrain.

However, statistics can be found on the website of Jukola’s message about the great “summer festival” of orienteering, from which the terrains of different years can be compared with one criterion.

It’s about the speed of the terrain, which is described as the mileage of the winning team. It tells you how much time the winning team spends on average per kilometer.

Mynämäki In Lukkari-Jukola, orienteers have access to the terrain, which is one of the fastest in the history of the giant message.

Ratamestari Heikki Andersson according to calculations, the winning team will spend an average of five minutes and 15 seconds per kilometer in Mynämäki.

At a faster pace, Jukola has only been won twice. Kilometer times can be found in the statistics since 1981.

In 2004, the winner’s mileage in the Jämijärvi canvas was 4.45, and in 1994 in Pyhä-Luosto on 5 October. Then the momentum could be boosted by the fact that the message ran on a nightless night.

The average mileage for the years 1981–2021 is 5.47. The corresponding reading in the Venla message is 6.22.

In Mynämäki, the track master of the Venla message Maippi Antikainen has estimated that the mileage of the winning quartet is about 5.45.

“This is a Finnish open-air terrain with quite small elevation differences and it is easy to run. It’s going really hard there. And the spacing is not slow either, ”Andersson explains the speed of the terrain.

Andersson states that as the pace increases, the possibility of navigation errors also increases for top teams.

“They need to be able to go to those easy places really hard, and then keep applying the brakes when it comes to a smaller place.”

Fast moving the terrain also means that the proportions of the messages are longer, as the total time is desired to be about three hours in the Venlo message and about eight hours in the Jukola message.

Andersson believes that the easy terrain offers an enjoyable ride for amateur navigators.

“I hope the fitness orienteering teams and groups of friends will have good experiences and vibes from this race. This is pleasant terrain overall. There is a lot of field, road, path, or clear objects. Big mistakes are not easy for anyone, ”says Andersson.

From top teams rapid terrain requires running force. Helsinki Orienteering (HS) was in Rovaniemi in August last year in the darkest Jukola of all time the best Finnish team reaching third.

“Running power is emphasized because there’s so much easy navigation there,” says HS’s top team head coach and team chooser Henrik Tala.

According to Tala, the fast terrain has affected the team’s preparation.

“We have to be ready for a different type of race than last year or in Kangasala 2019.”

The leader of the second Finnish team in Tampere Pyrinnoma is on the same lines Kari Jussila. The goal was the third best Finnish team in Jukola in 2019, and last year it was fourth.

“The maximum physical capacity of athletes will be measured differently than in previous posts. Strong endurance athletes are needed if they are to succeed. But that race in orienteering will not be a breakthrough, even though the pace looks so fast, ”says Jussila.

Venlojen and Jukola’s winning battles may be affected by the fact that some of the top foreigners will exceptionally miss the event, as the World Sprint Championships will start in Denmark next weekend.

According to preliminary data, the best female navigator in the world, a Swede, is absent Tove Alexandersson (Stora Tuna) and the best male navigator in the world, Norwegian Kasper Fosser (IFK Gothenburg).

Helsinki Orienteering is not affected by absenteeism, because all the men in its number one team are Finns.

“At our house Tuomas Heikkilä goes to the World Cup, but he also runs in Jukola, ”says Tala.

Tala admits that the weakening of Gothenburg, one of the toughest opponents, due to Fosser’s absence, improves the opportunities for others.

“We’re going to fight for victory. I think we are a little better than last year. When we have one success behind us, it gives us such spiritual confidence that we know and dare to navigate boldly, even if we are at the forefront, ”says Tala.

Instead The proximity of the World Championships affects the composition of Tampere’s Pyrinnes.

In the previous two Jukola, the Swiss was the anchor of the “Red Machine” Florian Howald, but he is not present now.

“He has a Swiss World Cup team camp in Denmark, so that way it hits us a bit, but luckily we have a good roster. Yes, we are doing well, ”says Jussila.