okansas.blogspot.com Occassional thoughts about orienteering
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Klas Karlsson's model of orienteering technique
I downloaded a copy of the Swedish O' Federation elite plan and have been working my way through it. The document includes a summary of Klas Karlsson's model of O' technique. Klas is a guy who has done some careful thinking (and writing) about O' technique. Here is a rough summary of his model.
The model is built around 5 processes:
Translation ability - the ability to translate from terrain to map and map to terrain. Establishing position - placing yourself in relationship to the structure.
Tool - the ability to use different O' techniques - simpliying, extending, rough and fine map reading, following a compass.
Optimizing - the ability to pick the right technique for the situation. Strategy - planning a race, leg, route choice, and control taking.
These processes range from unconscious to conscious. For example, the translating ability is - or should be - unconscious. Strategy is a conscious ability.
Karlsson sees the different orienteers as having more or less unconscious ways of thinking. A World Champ accomplishes most of the 5 processes unconsciously. A beginner has to think consciously about most of the processes. More from Klas Karlsson
Years ago I translated an article Karlsson wrote on "systematic orienteering." If you haven't seen it before, it is worth a look.
