One of the best Orienteering
athletes in Spain, Raúl Ferra, has been appointed by the President
of the Spanish Orienteering Federation, Assistant to the FEDO's
Technical Department. The Portuguese Orienteering Blog met him,
listening his ideas and projects for the future.
How the invitation happened and what
led you to accept it?
Raúl Ferra (R. F.) - A few
months ago, the President of the Spanish Orienteering Federation
asked me about joining the FEDO's Technical team. From the beginning,
I saw it as an opportunity I couldn't waste. After discuss some small
details, the agreement came quite easily. I've always said that the
only job I would prefer to my current profession as a teacher would
be to devote myself, exclusively, to Orienteering. As simple as that!
From my point of view (which I believe
I share with the vast majority of the Spanish orienteers), José
Samper has probably been for many years the biggest icon of Spanish
Orienteering and has played a key role in our development process,
doing an outstanding job and leading lots of projects that brought us
to where we are now. So, it's my privilege to work closely to him,
absorbing all the possible information. And the time will show the
FEDO's organizational chart in the future. We cannot forget that we
are in election year and the results may change everything.
What challenges do you face in the
new job? Are there any aspects that will call your particular
attention?
R. F. - The FEDO's Technical
Department is a very challenging area, with many different fronts to
respond. Subjects such as rationalizing the national calendar,
defining quality criteria for the races, updating the rules,
embedding new modalities in the Spanish Championships, strengthening
disciplines such as MTB Orienteering and Rogaine, revitalizing and
expanding technical centres and, of course, the quest for a
qualitative shift, supporting the national teams, are some of the
challenges. However, I'm just “landing” on the charge and a
reasonable period of time is still needed to thoroughly study all
topics and have a deeper insight into the tasks I'm about to face.
Does your project lie on the
continuity or you're ready to break with the past and run the
Orienteering in Spain in a new direction?
R. F. - Personally, I think the
Orienteering in Spain has improved a lot in a few years, and I know
that much has been done by the FEDO's Technical team. My philosophy
isn't to keep it the same way neither break with the past to give a
totally different approach. I think there are many things that have
been done and are doing very well and others that can now (and not
before) start performing differently. Therefore, I think we should
focus on strengthening the aspects that work well and that led us to
the present situation, while we shouldn't be afraid to innovate and
grow, as the new times require. I've never been afraid to change, but
we can't forget our roots and the way that brought us here. It's from
there that we may keep on growing. In short, it will be a continuity
and innovative project.
How do you evaluate the
Orienteering's current moment in your country? Where lie the biggest
difficulties?
R. F. - ¿How do I value the
current situation of the Spanish Orienteering? It depends how to
compare with! If we compare the situation with five or six years ago,
it's certainly much better now in every aspects. If we compare the
situation to the next five or six years, I would say it's much worse.
Everything goes changing. As I mentioned before, I think that the
Spanish Orienteering has grown considerably in recent years, and what
better example as a Spanish orienteer leaving a few seconds behind
the World title, being runner-up in the Junior World Championships,
winning the Jukola or arriving first in a Tiomila leg. Just a few
years ago, it would be science fiction and now we daydream with WOC medals. The improvement's margin is still very large, and my
goal is to work to help the Spanish Orienteering to stand where I
think it deserves, among the best countries in the world.
¿The biggest difficulties? There are
many in a sport like ours, but certainly the main difficulty is
funding. With money you can do many things, develop many projects and
improve easier and faster. Unfortunately we are still (I like to
think that “still”) a minor sport, with little impact on the
media. And it is there where we must work firmly, to make visible our
sport, to sell Orienteering. TV, GPS, results, campaigns, search for
sponsors,... they will be elements of the greatest importance if we
want to reach the step we deserve. This is essential.
The first great moment of your new
mission will be lived in the Czech Republic during the European
Championships. What are the main goals set for EOC? How far they can
go, these boys and girls of the Spanish team?
R. F. - One thing I've learned
in recent years: these “boys” and “girls” are able of
anything. It is difficult to set a quantitative target in a such high
level competition as EOC, but I'm quite sure that our athletes in the
Czech republic will be at the highest level, as they usually are.
They are showing a very good shape and I think the terrain will fit
better to their characteristics than the Nordic terrains. In
addition, the Sprint will be, as always, the great asset of our team,
and we have some of the best in this discipline.
Will you leave the competition at
the Elite level or are we going to see you in the future facing the
tasks, both as athlete and as coach?
R. F. - This was a matter of
vital importance for me, and I had to think really well before
accepting the position. I don't want, under any circumstances, to
close the door to top-level sport as competitior. Personally, I still
feel strongly enough to continue training and competing at the elite
level, so I will reconcile both tasks. I think I still have a lot to
offer and I'm ready to keep training hard as I have done so far. I
don't want retire so soon (laughs).
To conclude our interview, would you
like to share your greatest wish?
R. F. - Honestly, I want to see
a Spanish medal in WOC soon.
Joaquim Margarido
