Welcome to the Ultimate Orienteering Series
In this spring and summer series, you will have the opportunity to participate in several different types of orienteering, from short distance to long distance, and from day-time events to night events. On the longest course (at some events, women may run a different course) at each Ultimate event, you (individuals only) will receive points for your placing. Your best scores (see below for how many scores count) will be combined to determine The Ultimate Orienteer.
How do I sign up?
Pre-registration is NOT required for most Ultimate Series events. Just sign up for the appropriate course and you will automatically be eligible for Ultimate points. The list of events that make up the series will be posted on the Events page by mid-February.
All events will include beginner and intermediate courses. Please see the Events page for more details about each event.
Scoring
The winner at each event receives 1000 points and everyone else receives points based on the percent behind the winner's time. For example, if the winner has a time of 25 minutes and your time is 50 minutes, you will receive 500 points.
How Many Scores Count?
The number of scores that count towards your Ultimate point total depends on the number of events in the series. The general rule is that at least half of the total number of scores are included in your total score. For example, if there are 6 Ultimate events, your best 3 scores will count. If there are 7 Ultimate events, your best 4 scores will count.
Types of Orienteering
Following are short descriptions of the types of orienteering which may be offered during the Ultimate Orienteer Series. There are other variations of orienteering, but these are the ones we currently choose from. In all types except Score-O, you must visit the controls in a specified order.
Sprint Distance
A short, very fast course characterized by lots of technically easy controls with difficult route choices, and requiring a high level of concentration. Winning time should be 12-18 minutes for elite men and women.
Middle Distance
A technically challenging point-to-point course with a winning time of 30-40 minutes for elite men and women.
Long Distance
A point-to-point course offering route choice and long legs, with a winning time of 80-100 minutes for elite men and 70-90 minutes for elite women.
Ultra Long Distance
A course with characteristics similar to that of a Classic course, but with a maximum winning time of 145 minutes for elite men and 100 minutes for elite women.
Score-O
An event with a mass start, each control on a Score-O course is worth a specified number of points. Generally, the more difficult controls (because of their navigational difficulty or distance) are worth more points than easier controls. Competitors collect as many points as possible within a specified time limit. Point penalties (for example, 10 pts/minute) are assessed for those returning after the time limit. This is the only race in the series where you are allowed to visit controls in any order.
Night-O
Night-O, not surprisingly, is an event held in the dark. Control locations which seem easy during the day can become difficult by the light of a headlamp or flashlight.
Goat
A “Goat” event is a special variation of Long-O in which you must visit controls in order, but are allowed to skip one or more (quanitity designated by the organizers, but your choice which one(s) to skip). Other course variations may also be allowed. Goats are mass-start events and generally have a 3-hour time limit. Fun and following are encouraged, but not required. For more information about goat events, visit the “official” goat site, www.billygoat.org.
Relay
A team event. There are many types of relays, but basically teams of 2-5 people consecutively run individual courses, with the total team time determining the relay winner. For any relay used in the Ultimate O' Series, all team members will run the same or equivalent leg(s) and each individual's score will be based on his/her individual time.
For more information about the different types of orienteering courses, see the Orienteering USA guidelines.