Within orienteering there are plenty of opportunities to represent your club, State or Australia. Opportunities are available at junior, elite and masters levels.
International Competition
Each year Australia sends representative teams to the:
* World Orienteering Championships (WOC)
* Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC)
* World and Junior World Mountain Bike Orienteering Championships (WMTBOC)
Every two years Australia sends a team to the:
* World University Games (WUOC)
* Australia-New Zealand Challenge, which is held at the Oceania Championships, conducted in junior, open and masters age classes.
Every four years Australia sends a team to the World Games (an event for sports not in the Olympic Games).
Each year the World Masters Orienteering Championships (WMOC) are held in a different country. Entries are open to all orienteers aged 35 and over.
The experience of orienteering in another country can also be simply an enjoyable and interesting part of an overseas holiday. Orienteering is practised world-wide on a variety of terrain and entry at most events is open to all. For links to orienteering organisations and listings of events in other countries, see the International Orienteering Federation website.
World Orienteering Championships - these are conducted annually for both foot and mountain bike orienteering. The team is selected by Orienteering Australia. A number of National League events each year will be nominated as selection races. Australia has a proud tradition at world level and boasts some world champions. The World Championships are usually conducted in Europe or Scandinavia.
Junior World Orienteering Championships - Orienteering Australia selects both foot and mountain bike teams in the under-21 age class to represent Australia each year.
World Masters Orienteering Championships - these championships are open entry and conducted annually in both the foot and mountain bike disciplines. Many NSW orienteers base their overseas holidays around the championships as they offer high quality orienteering at some amazing and interesting locations with great company. Age classes range from 35-95 years!
Oceania Championships - conducted every two years and usually alternating between Australia and New Zealand as the host nation. Orienteering Australia selects a team with representation from 16 years through to over 70s.
Bushrangers - Orienteering Australia selects a squad of developing elite orienteers to compete regularly against New Zealand.
National Level Competition
Australian Championships Carnival and Easter Carnival - these are the highlights of the year and attract athletes from across the country. The Australian Championships are conducted in late September or early October. Both Carnivals rotate around the states. Long, middle and sprint distance events feature in each Carnival as well as relays. Both Carnivals are open entry with no qualification necessary.
Australian Mountain Bike Orienteering Championships - these are conducted each year and no qualification is necessary.
National Orienteering League and Junior National Orienteering League (under 21) - this national series is open to elite orienteers only. The NSW team is called the Stingers.
Australian All Schools Orienteering Championships - Each state selects a squad of high-school aged students to compete. Based on the results of the two days of competition an Australian Honour team is named each year.
State Level Competition
NSW Long Distance, Middle Distance and Sprint Distance foot orienteering Championships - these competitions are conducted in association with the State League series each year. Entry is open to members of any orienteering clubs.
NSW Mountain Bike Orienteering Championships - conducted annually with entry open to all club members.
Training Squads
Orienteering Australia selects squads of foot and mountain bike orienteers at both the elite and junior elite level. Squad members receive additional coaching opportunities.
Orienteering NSW selects a squad of junior orienteers who are also able to benefit from squad training camps.
Improving Basic Skills Materials
British Orienteering Improving Performance
World of O: O-training.net (High quality training exercises)
