Course setter’s blog

16.6.2023

Final tips from course setters

The past week has been tough and sweaty for all the volunteers at Porvoo Borgå Jukola, as well as for the course setters. As a successful volunteer effort, we took control flags and about 550 emit punching units to the terrain last weekend. After that, with a smaller group of Stefan, Pekka and Mikael Salo, we started inspecting over 150 control points and their punching units one more time. From now on, control points will be monitored by strict groups of supervisors led by Petteri Muukkonen. Despite the heat, it has been reassuring to go around for the last time to see the results of our long-term work, expecting thousands and thousands of Jukola orienteers to be the next to punch at the control points.

In addition, we have taken strips of forbidden areas to the terrain. Check the competition instructions to see what they look like and how forbidden areas are marked on the map. Forbidden areas are indeed prohibited. They are supervised and going to them will result in disqualification from the competition.

There has been almost a “traffic jam” in the Jukola Relay training tracks. The tracks set by Mikael Salo have been praised for their challenging nature. In part, they describe well what the Jukola competition terrain itself will offer. Finishing touches to the competition can still be continued with model orienteering located right next to the competition centre, the maps of which are about to be sold. It’s worth training there too.

On behalf of the course setters, we wish everyone a sunny and enjoyable Jukola weekend and success in orienteering with the following latest tips:

• Drink, drink and drink enough! We can’t escape the heat of the weekend, so staying hydrated is very important before and after the race. And, of course, during the race with refreshment points. The terrain of Epoo is heavy in places and the heat increases the strain of orienteers. The course setters’ previous instruction “throttle on the bottom but with one foot on the brake” can also be a valuable hint from the point of view of coping.
• Enjoy Jukola’s unique atmosphere and performance. In a large group, the queues of orienteers in the forest are tempting, but remember to orienteer yourself and punch at the correct control points, always checking the control code. There can be control points close to each other, but the control code is also printed next to the control sequence number, indicates the correct one.
• The last control point is descended a rather steep and bumpy slope. It is difficult to restrain the orienteers in the last leg, but especially in the first legs, take those last meters of the track carefully and do not ruin your good performance with a last-minute injury. The final sprint can then be performed in the home stretch.
• After the race, remember to also carry out an important tick check yourself and with the help of your competition partner!

Stefan and Pekka

19.5.2023
What orienteers face in Porvoo Borgå Jukola

Less than a month to Porvoo Borgå Jukola. In various competitions and exercises, orienteers will certainly perfect both their orienteering readiness and physical fitness for one of the most challenging races of the orienteering season. The question we have also been asked on various occasions is what kind of tools can be used to achieve good performance in the forests of Epoo. The use of the training areas and courses has been very active, but do they really tell us what orienteering will be like in the Jukola competition terrain itself day and night? We answer yes and no to this and at the same time that the terrain of Epoo is somewhat of a mix of Karhunkorpi, Norike, Holken and, in small, nice parts Virvik. In other words, a mix of better and more challenging terrain types from Eastern Uusimaa.

The competition terrain is located between the Epoo village centre in Porvoo and Seitlahti – Voolahti. In the northern part of the terrain, no competitions have been held for more than 30 years. In the southern part a competition was arranged in 2003. Old maps of the area are available on the Porvoo Borgå Jukola website.  Yes, getting to know them gives you an idea of the terrain on some level, but training in our training terrain gives you an idea of the nature of the terrain in Eastern Uusimaa itself.

The competition area of Porvoo Borgå Jukola is varied and diverse orienteering terrain, alternating between steep sharp-edged areas and extensive shallower open rock areas located more in the southern part of the area, as well as sometimes more covered and even deep forest mixed forest areas. The differences in altitude vary by terrain area, being in the order of 20-40 m. The area is characterized by the rockiness of Eastern Uusimaa, which can be seen on the map and also felt under the orienteering shoe (don’t go out into the terrain with jogging shoes!). Undergrowth also affects navigability.  In June, there are no blueberries in Epoo yet, but in some places there are thick brush. In swamps, orienteers may encounter a dense, slowing wild rosemary mattress, the smell of which at the same time is unforgettable.

In addition to slower terrain, pine-dominated open rock areas and, on the other hand, old spruce forests are fast-moving. For this reason, kilometre speeds will vary significantly in different terrain areas. Visibility is mainly good, with the exception of young saplings and thickets dominated by deciduous trees. As a result of active forest management, logging, thinning and thickets of different ages are also well visible in the terrain. There are some protected areas in the area.

The area is evenly crossed by a network of forest roads, which means that there are enough points of “I’m just here” for orienteers. Apart from the tracks formed by the abundant elk and deer population, there are not many human-formed paths on the map.

In the course setting the aim has been to utilise all the different terrain types offered by the area and to offer challenging orienteering tasks for all sections from the start to the very last control points. The course setters have had access to a very good orienteering map, which can be said to describe all the diverse terrain areas excellently.

Yes, not to forget; how to prepare yourself to Jukola! Train your running focused and keeping your balance in terrain with small stones and uneven bottom, holding back speed and saving strength on soft-bottomed brush, and accelerate in good-bottomed “troll” forests, open areas and open cliffs using their edges.  At the same time, observe and read only the essential thing on the map; perceive what guides and leads to the control points and leave the individual stones alone, there will be plenty of them to read in other ways as well. In rally terms, to quote our Finnish gravel road heroes: throttle on the bottom with your foot suitably on the brake, already anticipating the next bend and jump.

Stefan and Pekka