[roc-info] Orienteering training this Saturday

[Richard Detwiler]

There will be an orienteering training session this Saturday, June 12, 
from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Webster Park, meeting in the parking lot 
on the SW corner of Lake Road and Holt Road.

The objective of this training will be map memory and map 
simplification. There will be three courses set out (using streamers for 
controls), a White, Yellow, and Orange. The intent is to do a course 
easier than you generally do, so you can focus on simplification and map 
memory with a lower level of technical challenge than normal.

The exercise is simple in concept: At the start, look at the first leg 
of your course (from the start to control #1), determine a route choice, 
figure out how to simplify the map/route so you can remember it, then 
fold the map up and don't look at it again until you're at control #1. 
Then study the leg from #1 to #2, and do the same thing. Keep repeating 
until you've done the entire course, ideally only looking at your map at 
each control, and not in between controls.

This exercise is appropriate for all levels of ability, providing you 
are able to complete a White course successfully.

If you normally do Brown, Green, or Red, try the Orange course or the 
Yellow course. Err on the side of picking too easy of a course and being 
able to remember whole legs at a time, rather than being too ambitious 
and having to refer to your map multiple times during each leg, which 
defeats the point of the drill. If you usually do Orange, try Yellow or 
White. If you usually do Yellow, then try White.

By looking at the map less, and being on an easier course, you should be 
able to move faster as well, so if you're out for a physical workout, 
this should be a good opportunity for that as well. And if you find it 
too easy to do this by looking at your map once per control, then try 
memorizing two legs at a time!

What if you usually do White? There's obviously no place to move down 
from in that case, but you can still learn from this exercise, by 
focusing on looking at the map less often than you normally do. If you 
typically look at the map 10 times per leg, then see if you can get by 
with looking at it once, twice, or three times a leg, rather than 10 times.

It would be helpful if you can let me know if you expect to be 
attending, so we can have enough maps printed. Please bring a map case 
if possible.

Dick Detwiler