Beginer - Where to start

godtabh

I've recently given up playing soccer and am looking for something else to spend my weekends doing and I think I'd be interested in out door pursuits.

I used to do it when I was younger and even more recently the odd walk up the Sugar Loaf.

I came across http://www.anoige.ie/ in the useful link section. They seem to only do hill walks. That seems like some where to start off.

But I was thinking of doing something a bit more competitive and was thinking of orienteering. Any one know how I'd get into that. I'd be Dublin based but presume most of the events would be down the country.

What kind of equipment would I need and how much would it set me back? Were would the best place to go to start off?

cavedave

There are lots of orienteering events held in Dublin. UCD hold one every year and i think some of the bigger parks do as well. Check out http://orienteering.ie/builder.php3?Home I am sure there forums will be useful.

fergalr

But I was thinking of doing something a bit more competitive and was thinking of orienteering. Any one know how I'd get into that. I'd be Dublin based but presume most of the events would be down the country.

Have you had any success with this so far?
You could try and join and orienteering club - there's a good list on orienteering.ie
Ring them up and ask them if they have any sort of begineer training, afaik, some should have members that will bring you around, or maybe a training day.

Or you could just start turning up to orienteering events, and give it a go that way.

What kind of equipment would I need and how much would it set me back? Were would the best place to go to start off?

You'll need clothes that you can walk/run in, that you don't mind getting muddy, gear suitable to be whereever you are when your there (so if your on open mountain in the rain, bring rain gear etc)

You should have shoes you can run in, ideally fairly grippy. Trail runners would be good, a pair of old runners would do for your first time.

If you don't know the basics of using a map and compass, do a simple course (short one) on your first event. Plenty of info on navigational techniques on the internet, start off by practicing setting the map to the terrain, and slowly finding the points without getting lost!

Even if you go for the full orienteering kit, it won't set you back an enormous amount, compass 20e, o-shoes 50e, o-suit 40e or maybe twice that if you splash out. You could happily orienteer for quite a while in a decent pair of trail runners, your usual outdoor gear, and a cheap 10e compass.

I'd be Dublin based but presume most of the events would be down the country.

Most of the events are outside dublin, so having a car to drive there is best.
That said, there's a dublin by night, night orienteering series later in the year, and some events are held in city parks (good places to start navigating). Don't start with a night event unless your feeling confident.

Again, as cavedave said, there's lots of information on orienteering.ie
You could also post to the discussion group, linked to from that site, looking for help with starting off if you have further questions.