Summer vibes in the sleety weather

The terrain inspection for the WOC Tour (Fin5) sprint was held in Nilsiä on a January Saturday. In the same small village in Savo, national teams trained for the 2023 World Orienteering Championships sprint in Sotkamo. The sleety weather may not have been ideal for an outdoor walk, but the group completed the task diligently. The sprint’s head course planner, Erkki Saarijärvi, noted that plans were mostly ready.

“Designing the courses has been relatively straightforward. However, the main road running through the town center has posed its own challenges,” said Saarijärvi.

WOC Tour (Fin5) event director Ari Kauhanen and the head of the course planning team, Kari Heinonen, stated that the plans were in good shape. Some details were still being fine-tuned, and areas requiring further inspection were identified. Despite the unfavorable weather, the terrain inspection boosted confidence in the smooth execution of the event.

“The plans are progressing well and on schedule. As competition director, I have no concerns about the success of the event. A big thank you also to the people of Nilsiä! The event has been warmly received, and there have been no issues regarding land ownership,” said Ari Kauhanen. “The final checks will be done in the spring to ensure everything is in order,” Heinonen added.

Welcome to follow the World Orienteering Championships and participate in the WOC Tour! The summer in Finland will be pleasant and sunny.