Isia Basset: "When you are invaded by Orinteering you can't ever stop"

It started as a “family matter” and it is now “a very serious matter”. Orienteering entered in Isia Basset's life at the age of eight and revolutionized it completely. Today, she is one of the rising stars of French and World orienteering and her ambitions have a perfect parallelism to her enormous talent. Come know her a little better.

How did you meet Orienteering?

Isia Basset (I. B.) - I started doing Orienteering very young, at the age of 8, at the time my parents and my older brother began to take interest in the sport. I liked it, I participated in many national races, but it was only at the age of junior when I started training more seriously with my older brother Lucas [Basset], in search of a place in the National Team of France.

And why Orienteering? Why not Athletics or Swimming?

I. B. - Well, firstly it was because Orienteering was a family matter, was something particular, that joined us, leading us to the forest to do something that we really liked. I learned to run later, but I stayed focused in the orienteering. I've never done Athletics. And why not? I do not know. I know that Orienteering is a sport that pleases me greatly. When you are invaded by Orinteering you can't ever stop.

What responsibility has your brother in the process?

I. B. - He has a very big responsibility. Mainly because it was he who dragged us to the races every weekend. After that, also my two younger brothers started doing Orienteering. Anyway, we are four siblings and we all are in Orienteering on a very serious way.

Despite being too young, I'm sure that you have had a special moment in Orienteering. Would you like to share it with us?

I. B. - The first special moment was my first Junior World Championships in 2011. I managed to exceed my own expectations and I realized that, with training, I could get really interesting results. Currently, my reference is the World Junior Championships in 2013, in Czech Republic, where I got the 4th place in the Long Distance and the 5th place in the Middle Distance. Those were two good results and I hope to repeat them in the coming years.

This is not the first time that we have seen you at the Portugal O 'Meeting. Why the Portugal O' Meeting?

I. B. - This is my third participation, having been here in 2010 [Figueira da Foz] and 2013 [Idanha-a-Nova]. The Portugal O' Meeting is a very interesting competition, which always attracts a large number of participants. In France, for example, we don't have an event like this, with such strong competition, particularly speaking of Women Elite. And even though I live in a region of France where the snow isn't usually a problem, it is always a pleasure to run in these conditions. Portugal is perfect!

How do you rate this organization of the Portugal O' Meeting 2015?

I. B. - I really enjoyed. I didn't see any mistake in the organization and the competitions were very interesting, even if the terrain was technically very accessible. But it is a very beautiful forest, very clean, where you can run easily. For me it's specially important because I feel that there is a lot of work to do in terms of my physical shape. The shape is still not the best and competitions of this level allow us to understand what to do.

Are you happy with your results?

I. B. - Yes, very happy. I begin to explore my potential to the maximum and achieving results that make me very happy.

What are the major goals for this season?

I. B. - Last year, I was at the World Championships in Italy, and I would love to be able to repeat the experience, being in this year's World Championships, in Scotland. I can't say, at the moment. In what or which distances I will participate, as I must, necessarily, have good results in the selection races that will be in the World Cup. So, really important for me, there will be two events this season and I have, for one of each, a precise goal.

Motivated?

I. B. - Very motivated. Comparing to last year, I could see a huge improvement over this last week. I will still stay a few more days in Portugal, we will make some more technical training, but it was a good start to the season and that opens excellent perspectives.

Thierry Gueorgiou is one of the outstanding figures of Portugal O' Meeting and he was absent, this year, by injury. Would you like to leave him a word?

I. B. - Thierry is the French Team's mentor. He made our level rise enormously and we all are very grateful for that. Right now, I just hope that he can quickly restore from his injury and that he may be at the highest level in the World Championships.

And a word to all orienteers worldwide.

I. B. - A good season for everyone and continue to love this sport.

Joaquim Margarido

Two or three things I know about it...

1. Are the orienteers the future guardians of nature? The answer seems to be yes and comes in a study by Charlotta Bjurvald and Robert Johnsson Wetterlöf concerning the impact of an event with the magnitude of the O-Ringen Skåne in 2014 on the ground. With a forest management increasingly rationalized and the decline of the interference of agriculture in the way of life and traditions of the populations, there is an strong link between biodiversity and the landscape's disturbance. Seeking to clarify how the forest reacts to the presence of 25,000 orienteers, the study analyses three locations before and after the competitions, in the bottom and field layer. The results showed a clear decrease in the frequency of the dominant species, but trivial species in all areas and in one area the amount of bare ground also increased, allowing to conclude for less dominant species to spread and therefore can benefit the biodiversity. “In the future, Orienteering may have an important word to say in terms of conservation of species,” the authors conclude. The article can be read - in Swedish (!) - at http://www.orientering.se/ImageVaultFiles/id_86777/cf_78/Orienterare_framtidens_naturv-rdare.PDF.

2. It is now published on the International Orienteering Federation's webpage the summary of the TOC Meeting of last January, from where we extract some interesting notes. The first has to do with the the responsabilities and the work of Commission, with a proposal of reorganization suggesting that, at least, two Council members should liaise with each of the disciplines and support the Commissions. Each Commission shall appoint a Supervisor, which shall over the years guarantee the continuity of experience and support and advise the SEA. Another subject matter has to do with the electronic recording system, being appointed the WTOC 2016 in Sweden, as the goal for being implemented. Currently are being prepared some documents, one of which is a handbook about how to set up a secretariat that will produce fast and accurate results at a TrailO event. The Unofficial European Cup in Trail Orienteering was another widely discussed matter, continuing the debate on the possibility of turning it official, and the creation of a World Ranking and World Ranking Events, similar to what occurs in the other three disciplines. Finally, a situation that concern us in particular: Portugal is, so far, the only applicant to organize the World Trail Orienteering Championships in 2019. The summary of the TOC Meeting can be read at http://orienteering.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Meeting-summary-1-2015-TOC.pdf.

3. The last note of “Two or Three Things I Know About Her ...” of this week offers you... music. The song is written by the "Said the Whale", a indie rock band from Vancouver, Canada, which emerged in 2007 with Ben Worcester and Tyler Bancroft. The band has so far published four studio albums and won the Juno Award for New Group of the Year in 2011. Among its most popular themes - and it was here that I wanted to get – there's a song about ... Orienteering! No, it's not unheard of. But it is unusual. And more unusual still is the fact that both, the song and the lyrics, are beautiful. But this is already a matter of personal taste and... it is best to listen to it.

Joaquim Margarido

Baptiste Rollier: "I dream of a medal in the Long Distance"

Being currently the 8th placed in the IOF World Ranking, Baptiste Rollier was one of the great names of the Portugal O 'Meeting 2015. From the recent experience in Portugal to the Highlands of Scotland where, in early August, will be held the World Championships, a couple of issues to retain in this Interview to the Portuguese Orienteering Blog .

Why Portugal in this time of the season?

Baptiste Rollier (B. R.) - Because of the good weather and because there are good maps.

Were these the kinds of terrains that you were looking for?

B. R. - In the beginning of each season, I try to return to the maps and this is the first opportunity to do something a little more technical. There is still plenty of time until the first races that really count and Portugal arises naturally in the training program. Next will be two weeks in Spain and then the UK.

And how did you feel throughout the four days of POM?

B. R. - Well, I must re-acquire the automation with the maps, but also the physical part still has something to be tuned. We had three Long Distance races, but the terrain is very soft and, in some way, let us safe from possible injuries. Clearly, from a technical point of view, there are terrains much more complicated, but these four days of Portugal O' Meeting were very good for the start of the season.

You left with some advantage for the final stage of POM, but you couldn't hold it. What happened?

B. R. - I lost about three minutes at one control and it turned out to be decisive. That's when the Finnish [Aaro Asikainen] caught me up and later on the last loop, Frédéric [Tranchand] also got me, he is faster than me. I felt very tired - in fact, I had already felt like this in the WRE Long Distance on the third day - the tiredness accumulates, but I'm happy, though, because I feel that the physical shape is good for this time of year.

Was it in your plans to win the Portugal O' Meeting?

B. R. - No, that never was my goal. To come here, to train the technical part and to be able to maintain the concentration levels in my orienteering, that was the goal. It was never a question of results.

The major goals for this season are focused on the World Championships. What is your dream?

B. R. - I dream of a medal in the Long Distance, clearly. It will be a very tough race, very long, in a very difficult terrain and it will cause a huge wear of energy. But it will be a special moment and I'm preparing myself for it. It is the big goal of the year.

What special meaning has to be the nº 8 in the World Ranking?

B. R. - Personally, it doesn't mean much. After all, what really counts are the World Championships and the stages of the World Cup. But I'm not looking for this or that race to move up in the rankings.

How is Switzerland preparing the World Championships?

B. R. - We have a team with a good base level and all of us have do our best to get a place in the national team. This makes the level increase even more. In September last year we were in Scotland and we already got a good image of what we can expect in terms of terrains. Some athletes returned there in October and we will be there again in early April in Lake District, competing in the Jan Kjellström International Festival of Orienteering. We think that the terrains will be very similar to those of the World Championships and that mapping can be a bit within the same style.

Can we count with Switzerland on top?

B. R. - As usual our possibilities in terms of results are good and the very fast terrains are something that can also play for our team. But we have a long way to go until August.

Until what age are we going to see you doing Orienteering?

B. R. - It's hard to say, especially when we see 95 year-old people doing Orienteering. But I want to do Orienteering for many years. Even if the physical capacity doesn't let me run, it is always a fantastic thing to go into the forest. And there is no longer that anxiety, to get nervous if I can't find the flags.

One last word, a desire to those who do Orienteering.

B. R. - That everyone can take pleasure of what they do and that the relationship amongst the younger and older generations stay always a strong point of our sport. That families can continue together doing Orienteering, to enjoy this fantastic atmosphere, these forests and this sun.

Joaquim Margarido

IOF Athlete of March: Tove Alexandersson

Tove Alexandersson was one year old when she was taken out on her first orienteering course. From that early beginning, she has moved up to taking three victories in a row in the first round of the World Cup in Foot Orienteering at the beginning of the season, and to gold medals in Sprint and Relay in the World Ski Orienteering Championships two weeks ago. A remarkable start to the year which places her, currently, in the lead in the IOF’s World Rankings both in Foot Orienteering and Ski Orienteering.

Name: Tove Alexandersson
Country: Sweden
Born: 7th September 1992
Disciplines: Foot Orienteering and Ski Orienteering
Career highlights:World Orienteering Championships: Six silver medals (2014, Sprint and Long Distance; 2013, Middle Distance and Long Distance; 2012, Middle Distance and Relay), three bronze medals (2014, Middle Distance and Relay; 2011, Relay). European Orienteering Championships: two bronze medals (2014, Middle Distance; 2012, Relay). Junior World Orienteering Championships: Five gold medals (2012, Sprint and Middle Distance; 2011, Relay; 2010, Middle Distance; 2009, Middle Distance). World Cup in Foot Orienteering: One victory and one second place overall (eleven winnings in stages).

World Ski Orienteering Championships: Five gold medals (2011, Sprint; 2013, Sprint and Mixed Sprint Relay; 2015, Sprint and Relay), one silver medal (2013, Relay), one bronze medal (2013, Long Distance). Junior World Ski Orienteering Championships: gold medal (2009, Relay; 2010, Relay; 2011, Sprint and Middle Distance; 2012, Sprint, Middle Distance, Long Distance and Relay). World Cup in Ski Orienteering: Two second places overall (thirteen winnings in stages).

IOF World Ranking position in Foot Orienteering: 1st

IOF World Ranking position in Ski Orienteering: 1st

“Foot orienteering is the most important discipline for me, but so far I feel that ski orienteering also makes me a better orienteer. I don’t focus on SkiO during the orienteering season, but I always focus on orienteering and do what I think is the best for me to be better”. It was in this way that Tove Alexandersson answered, one year ago, the Portuguese Orienteering Blog’s question about the “duality” of being both Foot orienteer and Ski orienteer. At that moment she was close to the top in the IOF World Rankings, both in FootO and SkiO, but now she is at the very top. The answer hasn’t changed, however. Just a little upgrade, so to say: “For the last few weeks I have been focused only on ski orienteering, but I’ll probably switch the focus soon”, Tove states.

These were the very first words of a conversation that will enable us to visit some of the most important moments of Tove’s career. But it’s important to set down, right now, a warning: The girl who saves all the energy she has, applying it only on what is essential (and the essential item is the competition, of course), is the same person who is answering these questions. So, don’t anticipate big revelations or extraordinary advice. Just small ideas, little pieces in this kind of puzzle that we’ll show you. Just … the essential!

“I love orienteering”

To be the number 1 in the IOF’s World Rankings both in Orienteeering and Ski Orienteering was something that she had never dreamed of. “Actually I have never cared much about the IOF’s Ranking List. I don’t look at it that often, so I didn’t know that I was on the top before someone told me.” Otherwise, to be the world number 1 is unimportant: “I see it most like numbers, the competitions are much more important”, she said.

Despite Tove’s short career, the number of times that she has climbed on to the podium in major competitions is amazing, and today she has no doubts: “I love orienteering and I’m quite sure that I will continue even after my elite career is over.” If not orienteering, Tove would choose a sport also linked to nature: “cross-country skiing or mountain running”, she admits. And she would be the best, that’s for sure!

Seven days of sport

Tove says that she has no typical training week: “Sometimes I’m at home a whole week, but most of the time I’m at different training camps or competitions. The last 7 days have been like this: Friday: Rest day; Saturday: World Ski Orienteering Championships Middle Distance; Sunday: World Ski Orienteering Championships Relay; Monday: 1 hour of running; Tuesday: Ski race 10 km 0:30h + 0:45h warm up/cool down; Wednesday: a.m.: 2 hours running half of the time in snowy forest; p.m.: 2 hours of classic skiing; Thursday: a.m.: intervals on treadmill 6-5-4-3-2-2 minutes with a 1-minute rest; p.m.: 2 hours running in forest”, she says.” And also an interesting revelation: “I don’t have any technical or physical coach, I plan it by myself”.

Having run in many terrains – “many of them bad, but nothing that stands out”, she says – Tove’s favourite is Norrlandskusten, “a nice forest, hilly and with many details”. Her training diary shows that she ran 1,999 km and skied 1,633 km during the last season. “I don’t always have a gps-watch with me so it’s probably some more”, Tove says. Her physical shape stays next to optimal and it’s all about how to deal with the pressure in the big competitions. It doesn’t seem to be a problem for her: “I know that I’m competing for myself and no-one else”, she says.

Australia

You finished last season in the lead in the World Rankings and we could see you confirm it in Australia, during the FootO World Cup first round. Was it in your plans to be so strong at this time of the season and win so “easily”?

“Of course I wanted to have good performances. I had a really good training period in the months before the competitions but actually not so much running, most skiing”.

What are the best (and worst) memories that you keep from the Australia days?

“I have just one bad memory from the days in Australia days and that was when Karolin twisted her ankle. Besides the competitions, my best memory is when we were running on Cradle Mountain some days after the World Cup. I like to travel and see new places, and I think it’s good that there are big competitions also on that side of the world. But I prefer to not have them during the winter.”

Running and skiing; summer and winter

After her stay in Australia, Tove took the plane in Sydney, arriving in Switzerland for the European SkiO Championships. Was it a “shock”? Tove says “no” and explains why: “I’m quite used to switching between running and skiing and summer and winter. I had some days at home with good ski training before arriving in Switzerland so it wasn’t a problem.” This kind of switch from “FootO mode” to “SkiO mode” is seen as natural: “I really looked forward to the ski orienteering and that was the only thing I needed to come in the right mode”, she adds.

Seeing the European Ski Orienteering Championships “as a good preparation for The World Championships”, it was in Norway that Tove concentrated her attention, there that she focused on her biggest goals of the SkiO season. And she shares her feelings about her performances and achievements: “Yes, they were really nice competitions. Maybe too many ups and downs in the results for me to be totally satisfied, but it was fun to be there.” About the best moments of the Championships, Tove elects “the Sprint, definitely. It was a really nice course and I was in good shape and had one of my best performances ever. The worst moment was that one person close to the team passed away during the week, that was really hard.”

WOC is the big goal

Switching into “FootO mode”, the conversation is looking now towards the World Orienteering Championships (WOC). Tove explains how her training is going to be up until then: “The next important competitions are the World Cup in Norway and Sweden. Also some Swedish championships and the 10-mila before that. It’s not so often I have such a long training period, but that’s good and I’m looking forward to it. The plan is to train as much and as hard as I can, continue skiing as long as it is possible and train in relevant terrain for Scotland.”

Noting that, personally, the most important moment of last season was “of course the World Cup Sprint Final and winning the race and the overall World Cup”, Tove is pointing at the WOC being her big goals now: “I will prepare for all disciplines and do what I can to be the best.”

“The most important thing is to be motivated”

When asked about Rune Haraldsson’s victory in “The Orienteering Achievement of 2014”, a poll promoted by the website WorldofO, Tove states: “It was cool that Rune Haraldsson won the prize, his life is really impressive.” And she has no doubts: “I also want to be able to run in an orienteering event when I’m 96 years old”.

The last words take the form of advice; advice especially to the youngsters, those who dream, some day, about becoming like Tove Alexandersson: “The most important thing is to be motivated. Enjoy challenges and train on the things you need to improve.”

Athletes’ questions and answers

The question from Michael Johansson, the Athlete of the Month in February: “Have you tried mountain bike orienteering and trailO? Or will you do so?”

And Tove’s answer: “Yes I have been on some competitions in both. I really like mountain bike orienteering, if I had more time I would like to go in for some more competitions.”

Finally, the question from Tove Alexandersson to Hana Dolezalova, Athlete of the Month in April: “Where is your favourite place in the Czech Republic and why?”

Worldly matters

What time would you sleep until, every morning, if possible? I don’t like to sleep in the mornings and most of the time I don’t need an alarm to wake up. I usually wake up between 6:30 and 7:30.

What is your dream car? Do you prefer to drive a car or to be driven? I have no dream car, but I want to have a car that is good in winter conditions. I prefer to be driven but sometimes it’s nice to drive too.

If you had a band what would be the name of it and what kind of music would you play? I just know that I would need someone who is a bit more musical than me!

Please, choose a crew for your sailing boat and the route of the trip of your dreams. I like to travel and see new places but I don’t want to travel on a sailing boat, so I think I will stay close to land. I will bring some friends who like adventure and want to run with me.

Pick one of these and tell me why: a tree, a stone, a beach, a domestic animal, a sunset. A big stone, so I can do some rock climbing on it.

You invite Barack Obama to dinner. What would you cook for him? I don’t know, I have no speciality. I’d cook what I felt like that day.

After a big scary skiing run down the mountain, what drink would you prefer for relaxing? Hot chocolate.

What is your favourite movie? What character would you like to play in it? I think it’s boring to watch movies, so I don’t see them so often and especially not a whole movie.

You have the chance to make a trip to Mars but then you can’t go orienteering for the next thousand days. Would you go on the trip? No, definitely not. I don’t want to go to Mars. It’s a long boring journey and what should I do there?

Tell me one thing that you would absolutely carry with you to the desert island? Some friends.

[Text: Joaquim Margarido; Photo: Swedish Orienteering Federation / orienteering.org. See the original article at http://orienteering.org/best-in-summer-best-in-winter-iof-athlete-of-march-2015/. Published with permission from the International Orienteering Federation]

AOM 2015: McLeod and Mironova, the big winners

With the dispute of the Long Distance course at Playas del Portil, this morning, the Andalucia O' Meeting 2015 is over. The absence of Daniel Hubmann allowed to open the range of candidates to the victory in the Men Elite class, with Scott Fraser winning the Long Distance stage and Alasdair McLeod to call him the victory in this edition of AOM. In the Women Elite, Svetlana Mironova showed why she was the big favourite, winning everything there was to win.

It was under a bright sun and blue sky, in a great atmosphere, that came to the end in Punta Umbría, the Andalucia O' Meeting 2015. Organized by Sun-O, city of Punta Umbría, Spanish Orienteering Federation and International Orienteering Federation, the event scored for the Spanish Foot Orienteering League 2015, offered two stages counting for the World Rankings and had the participation of eight hundred and fifty athletes, overall.

After an intense and exciting day, with two stages scoring to the World Rankings, the Long Distance course that closed the AOM 2015's competitive program promised great fight in the Men Elite class. The Swiss Daniel Hubmann announced his abandonment from the Meeting after the Middle Distance WRE yesterday and the struggle for the final victory was more fierce than ever. With the great pretenders showed to each other at the same level, it was no surprise that we could see a very hard fight, with just twelve seconds separating the top four athletes in the stage. The British Scott Fraser (TuMe) was the winner, with 1:07:00 for the 15.0 km and 37 controls of his course. The Latvian Edgars Bertuks (TuMe), with more 5 seconds, and the British Alasdsair McLeod, with more 9 seconds, closed the podium by this order. Overall, McLeod turned out to be the great beneficiary, concluding with a total time of 1:41:32 for the set of two stages (Middle Distance + Long Distance) and taking the victory in the Andalucia O' Meeting 2015 overall. Edgars Bertuks and Scott Fraser, with more 0:19 and 1:27, respectively, than the winner, concluded in the immediate positions. Sixth placed in the stage with a time of 1:09:30, the Portuguese Tiago Martins Aires (GafanhOri) would complete his presence in the AOM 2015 with an extraordinary 5th place, with more 7:10 than the winner.

In the Women Elite class, the Russian Svetlana Mironova (KooVee) was once again unstoppable, winning with a time of 58:56 for 10.9 km and 27 controls of her course. The Finnish Marttiina Joensuu (SK Pohjantähti) and Heini Saarimäki (Angelniemen Ankkuri), with more 1:36 and 1:38, respectively, concluded by this order in the immediate positions. Overall, Mironova was the winner with a total time of 1:33:49, against 1:35:40 of Saarimäki and 1:36:01 of Joensuu. The Portuguese Raquel Costa (GafanhOri), 9th ranked in the Middle Distance stage, was disqualified due to “mp”. One last word to the Portuguese Manuel Dias (Lisbon OK), who joined to the first place of yesterday's stage, a second place in the Long Distance held today, winning the M60 class.

Final Results

Men Elite

1. Alasdair McLeod (Clydeside Orienteers) 1:41:32

2. Edgars Bertuks (TuMe) 1:41:51 (+ 00:19)

3. Scott Fraser (TuMe) 1:42:59 (+ 01:27)

4. Douglas Tullie (TuMe) 1:45:17 (+ 03:45)

5. Tiago Aires (GafanhOri) 1:48:42 (+ 07:10)

6. Tomas Dlabaja (Rajamäen Rykmentti) 1:48:50 (+ 07:18)

7. Pavel Shestakov (KooVee) 1:49:45 (+ 08:13)

8. Murray Strain (Interlopers) 1:49:48 (+ 08:16)

9. Tiago Gingão Leal (GD4C) 1:51:11 (+ 09:39)

10. Miguel Reis e Silva (TuMe) 1:51:42 (+ 10:10)

Women Elite

1. Svetlana Mironova (KooVee) 1:33:49

2. Heini Saarimäki (Angelniemen Ankkuri) 1:35:40 (+ 01:51)

3. Marttiina Joensuu (SK Pohjantähti) 1:36:01 (+ 02:12)

4. Marte Narum (Nydalens SK) 1:40:14 (+ 06:25)

5. Siri Ulvestad (Nydalens SK) 1:41:00 (+ 07:11)

6. Léa Vercellotti (Maximus Madrid) 1:45:20 (+ 11:31)

7. Ruth Holmes (Southern Navigators) 1:48:35 (+ 14:46)

8. Violeta Feliciano Sanjuan (Colivenc) 1:50:27 (+ 16:38)

9. Sarah Rollins (Southern Navigators) 1:51:04 (+ 17:15)

10. Anette Juveli (Konnerud IL) 1:51:14 (+ 17:25)

Full results and further information at http://andaluciaomeeting.com/.

[Foto: Andalucia O Meeting / facebook.com/AndaluciaOMeeting]

Joaquim Margarido