Orienteering

It's very simple: it's a race in which you have to find your bearings without any technological or connected device, so you need a map and a compass. Yes, these are objects that we rarely have in our hands in everyday life. Children may never have seen one, so this is an opportunity to share it with them.

Also known as OC, orienteering is very simple: with your map and your compass, you look for the markers that are circled on the map. The aim is to find the best route to each marker. You'll need to use your head and your legs to be the fastest. Orienteering can be done on foot in the countryside, or by bike, ski or kayak, but it can also be done in an urban environment.

Orienteering has its origins in military orienteering, with its history dating back to 1850 in Sweden. It was practised during training and the first orienteering competition was launched in 1893, then in 1897 for civilians.

Orienteering first appeared in France in the 1960s, with a world championship organised every 2 years.

Today, orienteering is practised in more than 70 countries, and has been modernised with punching systems in electronic boxes to better time passages over the markers.

What are the rules of orienteering?

Once you have your compass and map in your hands, a stopwatch is started if you are competing, otherwise the race is not timed.

You will have to reach the first marker to punch it electronically to find out your time and continue your adventure. If the course is not equipped with electronic boxes, you can always punch in by hand. Once you've found all the markers, all that's left to do is cross the finish line and check your ranking if it's a competition.

Why get involved?

Orienteering has a number of health benefits: you'll improve your cardio, endurance and ability to think while you're doing it. It's a real team sport, and a great way to build cohesion within a family or group of friends. You'll have to agree on the route and make quick decisions. It's also a great way to recharge your batteries if you practice this activity in the great outdoors, and to meet new people along the way.

Where can you go orienteering in Les Arcs?

Orienteering courses in Bourg Saint Maurice

• The fun orienteering course: starting from the tourist office, you will have to find 7 markers and answer 7 questions about the places where the markers are. The programme includes a walk to discover the Clos des Capucins, the Maison des Têtes, the Passage St Maurice, the bell tower, a square, a small and a large wash-house and then back to the tourist office. It's an easy 1.5 km walk that will take you around 45 minutes.
• The heritage trail: this time the route is longer, with an extra 5 markers to find. You'll have to run/walk 4 km and it will take you around 1h30.

• Sports trails: on the programme is a 3km green trail (easy) starting from the Arc 1800 tourist office, with a 180m ascent. You'll need to find 6 markers in the right order. A 5km blue route (medium) starting from the Arc 1800 tourist office, with a 300m ascent and 8 markers to find. A 5km red route (fairly difficult) starting from the Cachette chairlift, with a 40m ascent and 10 markers to find around the cliff.
• The heritage trail: starting from the tourist office, you will have to find 12 markers and, as in Bourg Saint Maurice, answer questions to find out more about the resort. It's a fairly easy 5km walk that will take you around 1 hour 45 minutes.