"Course of the Year 2015": You can vote now!

From today, and during the next seven days, you are invited to choose the “Course of the Year 2015”. The World of O initiative offers you 70 courses, from different competition levels, several countries and even different Orienteering disciplines. Now it's up to you!

It's not an easy task. Indoor races in Stockholm or outdoor at Tasmanian jungle? A charming Sprint in Denmark or a tough Ultralong in Norway? An OOCup “ultimate” or a Vyborgskaya “troika” (which is another ultimate)? A Night-O Fight in Wroclaw or a 10Mila Long Night? A MTBO Long in Pilsen or a Ski-O Long in Hamar? World of O is offering, for the sixth year in a row, an amazing set of course, opening in front of our eyes and remembering some of the best moments of the season. But also those who remain behind the scenes, the map makers and the course setters.

The World Championships Middle Distance in Italy won last year's contest, and the two years before we had Portuguese winners: a spectacular Sprint between boulders and old buildings in Monsanto, during the Portugal O' Meeting 2013 and some great technical orienteering in the Portugal O' Meeting's 3rd stage in 2012, in Satão. In 2011 the WOC Middle Distance in France took the first place and the year before a very special Jukola Relay was the big winner. From today to next Monday, 7th December, you have the power to choose the “course of the Year 2015”.

Voting is done by setting up your “Top 5 List” based on the nominated maps. Based on all the submitted “Top 5 Lists”, the best course in 2015 is found using a simple formula: For each 1st spot in a “Top 5 List”, a course gets 100 points, 70 points for each 2nd spot, 50 points for each 3rd spot, 30 points for each 4th spot and 10 points for each 5th spot. The “Course of the Year 2015” will be found based on summing all the votes. You are only allowed to vote once (if several people share one internet connection, only one can vote, as the IP address is used to identify the voter along with the email-address of the voter). Among all people voting and submitting suggestions, great prizes from the contest's sponsors will be drawn.

The collection of maps nominated in the poll “Course of the Year 2015” can be found HERE. Now, it's just follow the instructions and vote at http://omaps.worldofo.com/course2015.php. Good choices and... good luck!

Joaquim Margarido