Orienteering/Videos/On the ground

The Presenter and the Instructor walk down the track, with the Presenter thumbing the map as they pass a boulder [or some other feature] on the side of the track. She points it out to the Instructor, who nods.

PRESENTER (V/O)

I’ve just started my first orienteering event. I’ve learned how to align my map with my compass so that I’m heading in the right direction, and how to thumb my map. Now I’m looking for my first checkpoint, which is known as a ‘control’.

PRESENTER (to Instructor)

So what exactly am I looking for?

INSTRUCTOR (ad-lib…)

You’re looking for an orange and white flag on a stand. It should be placed clearly at the feature you’re looking for, so that when you’re at the feature, you can see the control.

PRESENTER

So the flags aren’t hidden behind bushes or anything?

INSTRUCTOR (ad-lib…)

That sometimes happens, but it’s discouraged. Especially on an easy navigation course, when you get close to the centre of your circle, you should be able to see the control.

PRESENTER

And how do I know what I’m looking for?

INSTRUCTOR

You can usually tell just from looking at the map –

(CLOSE UP of the map)

But it also will tell you on your control description.

PRESENTER

That’s this thing here?

CLOSE UP of Presenter pointing the control description [in English]

INSTRUCTOR

Right. So your first control is on a track junction.

PRESENTER

And what’s this number here?

INSTRUCTOR (ad lib…)

There’s a unique number on each control stand. If it’s the same number as the number on your control description, you’re in the right place.

PRESENTER

And if it’s not?

INSTRUCTOR

That probably won’t happen today.

They walk on…

PRESENTER (V/O)

Probably? That doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence.

...as a young girl goes running past.

PRESENTER (V/O)

At least she looks like she knows where she’s going.

They look ahead to where the kid is running. There’s the control!

PRESENTER

The control!

(to Instructor)

Mind if I run from here?

INSTRUCTOR

Sure. You don’t really need me any more.

And with a ‘click’, the Instructor disappears into a JUMP CUT.

PRESENTER (to camera)

Looks like I’m on my own.

(calling out to kid)

Wait for me!

She runs toward the control, where the kid punches quickly then runs off to her next control.

CLOSE UP of control, as Presenter runs into frame and punches the control, immediately heading off down the track a few meters…

PRESENTER (V/O)

My first control. And it’s even the right number.

…before stopping abruptly, then scratching her head.

PRESENTER (V/O)

But before I go rushing off to my next control, I probably need to work out how I’m going to get there.

She looks at the map, frowning.

PRESENTER (to self/camera)

That kid made it look so easy.

CUT TO footage of elite orienteers showing control flow.

PRESENTER (V/O)

Experienced orienteers plan which way they are going to leave the control circle, often before they’ve even found the control in the middle of it. This is called ‘control flow’ and it means exactly that: Flowing smoothly through the control and leaving the control circle in the right direction, so that you’ve set yourself up the quickest and cleanest possible route to the next control. It’s not uncommon to see elite orienteers move so quickly past a control that you’re not even sure it they’ve punched it!

Back on Presenter, studying her map.

PRESENTER (to camera)

But when you’re a beginner, it pays to take your time and really know where you’re going before you go anywhere. Now that I’ve lined up the north arrow on my compass with the lines on my map, worked out what feature I’m looking for and what I should follow to get there, and pointed myself in the right direction, I’m ready to set off to find my second control.

She sets off at right angles to the track, along a fence/other track.

PRESENTER (V/O)

Which happens to be at right angles to the direction I was just headed.