Sarah Ginsbach: "Belonging to the USA MTBO Team means more than just wearing a team jersey"

Still a newcomer to MTB Orienteering, Sarah Ginsbach is focused on learning from the experts and improving her own skills. In this interview, she reflects about herself and what it is like to be an orienteer in a country so vast and far from the big events, the United States of America.

The first question is always the easiest. Could you present yourself briefly?

Sarah Ginsbach (S. G.) - First and foremost, my name is Sarah Ginsbach. I was born in Oregon and moved to Texas 16 years later. In October of 2015, I moved to Colorado for work. I currently work in the administration side of emergency rooms for multiple companies and enjoy the flexibility my schedule offers. However, sometimes I work weekends and I feel like I miss out on the activities those days. Next spring I will be going back to school to work on my masters. When I'm not working, I love being outdoors. Cycling, snowboarding, hiking, orienteering, etc. I also enjoy both cooking and baking as well as socializing with my friends. I absolutely love that racing has taken me to so many places and I hope to continue to travel to new locations.

How did you get to know about Orienteering?

S. G. - I started as a swimmer in high school and college. After graduating, I tried my luck in XTERRAs and fell in love with all things off-road. I even qualified and competed in Worlds in Maui in 2011. After a successful and hard season in 2011, I turned my interest to mountain biking. It was then that I realized the bike left me the most happy. Much like adventure racing, road biking and cyclocross, I found Orienteering through mountain biking. Unlike my USA Teammates, my background was limited to cycling and adventure racing, with no map reading experience. I was picked up for the 2014 USA Women's team to help complete the women's relay. My first MTBO experience was in Poland during training camp. It was challenging and frustrating, but left me wanting more. It was my first time in an event where I was using both my mental thought process and body. I committed myself during that trip to learning more about orienteering and it's growth in the US.

What do you see in MTB Orienteering that makes it so special?

S. G. - The mix of skill and strength combined with mental clarity is very different from just foot orienteering. I feel I crash much more in MTBO than just XC or even downhill style mountain bike events. Taking your eyes off the trail to look at a map is challenging - for all levels. The faster you go, the quicker you need to make decisions and think about what you are going to be riding through/over. The events are varied even in that some locations allow you to ride off tracks, while other locations do not permit riding off tracks. This alone, can change your route choice completely. I enjoy mountain bike orienteering because it is not about who is the strongest. It requires mental skill and knowledge of map reading as well as being in elite physical fitness.

What comes to mind when you look back at the 2016 season?

S. G. - Why didn't I foot-o more?!? I moved in October and joined the Rocky Mountain Orienteering Club. The members were beyond inviting and full of helpful knowledge. Between wanting to explore and play in my new home, I did few O events. Perhaps only four or five. I did, however, learn to be more reserved when I raced. I know going into MTBO, that I often go too fast for my map reading skills. This posed a constant - passing turns and even controls. This year, I made a point to ride more reserved and try to minimize my time consuming mistakes. It took a while to get back into the groove, but I felt much improvement overall this year.

What does it mean to belong to the USA MTBO Team?

S. G. - Belonging to the USA MTBO Team means more than just wearing a team jersey. In the USA, we lack MTBO events in the country. I believe a handful of these events exist in the USA, and I have not have the privilege to attend any on US soil. But aside from racing, being a member of the US team means representing my country. While I may not be the fastest, I continually look to those with more knowledge and skill on ways to improve my map reading. It means I work hard during both the on and off season to better my performance for the WMBTOC. It means I am a member of a close knit family that works towards a common goal - bringing Mountain Bike Orienteering to the States. I best apply this by actively inviting friends to orienteering events and discussing my adventures and growing pains as an orienteer. I am lucky to have an amazing base to speak from. Not many can say they have been on the US MTBO team and many listen to my experiences and stories when I am asked of my journey to the World Championships.

Comparatively to the European riders, what opportunities would you like to have in the US that you don't?

S. G. - I would like to see orienteering events offered more often - and of different types. Learning orienteering in Texas, we lacked MTBO and ski-o. We only had foot-o. In Colorado, we have a few ski-o events, but are still working on MTBO. Orienteering as a whole is still an unknown event to the masses and I feel if it was as common as the weekend run event or weeknight bike race, it would be greatly enjoyed. Bringing the unknown to the masses would allow many to learn of the great sport and challenge that orienteering has to the offer - including the growth of orienteering in different forms - bike, ski, foot.

Is there a rider that you admire, that is an inspiration?

S. G. - I meet many riders when I compete at MTBO World Championships. All the athletes I have met have been inspiring. I must say, though, the Great Britain team has and continues to be an inspiration and great help for the US Team. I think it is hard to pinpoint key players, but Emily Benham has most certainly been a huge advocate for the US Team - myself included. It was incredible watching her reach such high achievements this year in Portugal and I wish and hope for her continued success.

The next big competition will be in Austria, in early June 2017. Are you already looking forward to the next season?

S. G. - I am always looking forward to the next event. It is a great way for me to train and see improvements. I also enjoy the camaraderie of fellow competitors. This year I spent some more time chatting with a few members of the Austrian team and I have been assured it will be an amazing event!

Would you like to share your goals for 2017?

S. G. - Improve route choice and commitment to the route choice. I often second guess myself and had I stuck to the original plan, it could have been faster than changing my mind. I also hope to improve in the long distance. I lack the skills needed to link long route choices.

Meanwhile, what does a MTB orienteer do in such a long waiting time? What are your plans for the winter season?

S. G. - During the winter, I work on my bike intensity. Since moving to Colorado, Cyclocross has been my most commonly raced sport. Season here runs from September through the end of December. We start out in warm, dry heat and finish in ice and snow. I also plan to learn to ski this winter and try my hand at ski-orienteering. Wish me luck!

With the season ending, I would ask you to make a wish for the MTB Orienteering community in 2017.

S. G. - In 2017, I hope MTBO continues to see a growing field of competitive athletes. I feel 2016's Championships were more competitive than ever! I hope we have more new girls show up and crush the sport. We need to break any barriers there are and encourage anyone new to the idea or the sport to give it a try. They will most certainly be rewarded with challenges and fun.

Joaquim Margarido

2nd Ávila Trophy: Victories of Andreu Blanés and Marta Alonso in the last event of the Spanish season

In the astonishing scenery of Sierra de Gredos, in the heart of Spain, took place last weekend the Ávila Trophy's second edition. Last round of the 2016 Spanish Foot-O League, the event was organized by the Club Orientación Maximus, having in Andreu Blanes Reig and Marta Guijo Alonso the big winners in the Elite category.

Sierra de Gredos, “capital of the granite”. It was in the spectacular settings of Navalmoral de la Sierra and Burgohondo, that was held the last round of the Spanish Foot Orienteering League 2016. Wih two stages - Long Distance and Middle Distance -, both physically and technically demanding, the 2nd Ávila Trophy still offered to the 650 competitors a Sprint event on the afternoon of the first day.

Andreu Blanés Reig (Colivenc) was the fastest in both forest stages. Leading the Long Distance from the beginning, Blanés Reig finished his course with a five-minute advantage over his team mate Antonio Martínez Pérez, and practically solved the question about the overall winner. This winning trend extended to the last stage, where he ran faster than his opponents in thirteen of the 23 controls, getting another triumph with a one-minute advantage, again on Antonio Martínez. Third placed in both stages, Eduardo Gil Marcos (Tjalve) closed the podium over nine minutes after the winner.

Decision in the first stage

In the Women Elite, the first stage would prove to be even more decisive, with Marta Guijo Alonso (Via Plata) achieving what would have been her only victory of the season, and by a large six-minute margin. For that, she took advantage of the misfortune of Amparo Gil Brotons (COB) in her way to the 15th control, where a huge mistake caused a eight-minute (!) damage. Although without a clean race, Gil Brotons' performance in the final stage would give her the victory, small prize since insufficient to blur the difference that separated her from Guijo Alonso. Third in the Long and second in the Middle, Violeta Feliciano Sanjuan (Colivenc) finished in the third place overall. In addition, Violeta Feliciano Sanjuan and Eduardo Gil Marcos were the winners of the Sprint stage.

Finished the 12th and final round of the Spanish Foot Orienteering League 2016, the Final Provisional Ranking is now available, whose Men and Women Elite champions were Antonio Martínez Pérez and Violeta Feliciano Sanjuan, respectively. Javier Ruiz de la Herran Pidal (COMA) and Andreu Blanes Reig, in the Men Elite, and Marta Guijo Alonso and Guadalupe Moreno Zúñiga (Monte El Pardo), in the Women Elite, finished their participation in the Spanish League this season in the second and third places, respectively.

Results

Men Elite

1. Andreu Blanes Reig (Colivenc) 1:35:26 (+ 00:00)

2. Antonio Martínez Pérez (Colivenc) 1:41:37 (+ 06:11)

3. Eduardo Gil Marcos (Tjalve) 1:44:33 (+ 09:07)

4. Javier Ruiz de la Herrán Pidal (COMA) 1:55:57 (+ 20:31)

5. Greg Ahlswede (Escondite-M) 1:58:02 (+ 22:36)

Women Elite

1. Marta Guijo Alonso (Via Plata) 2:00:24 (+ 00:00)

2. Amparo Gil Brotons (COB) 2:01:52 (+ 01:28)

3.Violeta Feliciano Sanjuan (Colivenc) 2:02:17 (+ 01:53)

4. Carmen Patiño Déniz (Tierra Trágame)2:09:56 (+ 09:32)

5. Guadalupe Moreno Zúñiga (Monte El Pardo) 2:25:04 (+ 24:40)

Complete results and further information st http://carrerasdemaximus.blogspot.pt/2016/05/ii-trofeo-de-avila-liga-nacional.html.

[Photo archive]

Joaquim Margarido

Thierry Gueorgiou: "There's a constant need to find new solutions to reach the same result"

Thierry Gueorgiou is back to the Portuguese Orienteering Blog's stage for another great interview. In the next lines, you can read about the French multi-champion's thoughts on a season that hasn't pleased him and his projects for those which will, most likely, be the last months as an elite orienteer.

I would like to start with a “relaxing” question. Being a football fan, how did you feel about the Portuguese victory against France in the European Championships final, last July?

Thierry Gueorgiou (T. G.) - I was following the final in the quiet environment of Sälen, as I was preparing for O-Ringen at that time and it was probably less hysterical than being in France at that time. The game itself, from a technical point of view, was not that exciting, as it is fair to say that those two teams weren't the ones with the best football. But the mental side of the game was really interesting to analysis. When Ronaldo was leaving the field after being injured, in the very first part of the game, the odds were clearly for France. We had our chances early on, but we did a huge mistake by not willing to risk more, and played too safe. But, minutes after minutes, when you realized that you might miss the chance of a lifetime (i.e. home win), the pressure starts to become negative and you let the momentum pass. The right time to press hard was when Ronaldo was leaving the field. It was the perfect moment to tell the Portuguese: “Thanks for playing, but it is not going to be your night!” Instead, they gained confidence seeing the French so defensive, and realized they could make it even without him. At the half-time, I heard Ronaldo did a great motivational speech for his guys, and even if he wasn't on the pitch anymore, he made a difference. That's probably what we were missing that night – a leader who inspired the others. It is no surprise that the only major titles we have won where when we had World class players like Platini or Zidane in our line-up. But a lot of my Portuguese friends were delighted that night, and my frustration didn't last too long.

Someone is the favourite but someone else wins. How often did it happen to you in the last years, considering that you're an “eternal” favourite?

T. G. - I can't really complain, you know. When I was a kid, I was always dreaming big, but the successes I got along my elite career has surpassed, by far, all my expectations. Favourite or not, the hardest challenge in sport is being mentally strong to deal with the disappointments, day in and day out, and still having the energy to come back the next day and to start fresh.

I know you've recently been to Scotland for a lecture and I believe that you had in the audience lots of boys and girls. What's the best advice to the youngsters who dream of being like you?

T. G. - Well, if they have a dream, they have already solved a big part of the problem. I would say that if you don't begin with a dream, if there isn't a reason to push forward, a reason to concentrate, a reason to discipline yourself, it's much harder to succeed. But the best advice I have for the youngsters is to have fun, and always see orienteering as a game. It might sound strange as orienteering has been a job for me the last thirteen years, but it's hard to succeed if you don't really enjoy what you are doing, if being on the start line of a WOC is not a perfect mixture of joy, excitement and stress.

How do you feel about being Orienteering´s ambassador?

T. G. - The kids are always so enthusiastic with me, and they literally fill me with their energy and spontaneity. I feel really grateful you know, and it is just great if I can bring back a little bit of all I got from orienteering.

A couple of days ago, you decided not to give up high competition, at least for another season. What motivates you to keep pushing?

T. G. - Competitive addiction, most probably!? As I've always said, it is hard to stop something you love deeply too.

Are you as "hungry" as you were?

T. G. - Obviously, probably not as much as 10-15 years ago. Each time that you win takes away a little bit of that hunger. Take the tennis player Nowak Djokovic for example. After being almost unstoppable earlier on this season, he got beaten lately by players he has always defeated. I believe it is not about his tennis skills, which are still pure perfection time to time, but more about his will to survive during a game. He is not ready to die for every single point like before, and this is it what makes the difference between the world's bests and the others. So, yeah, my hunger is probably different than some years ago, but I'm expecting to have a last boost of energy as it will probably be my last months as an elite orienteer.

You'll be 38 next year and you've been at the top for a long time. Do you feel your age? Have you had to adapt? Was skipping the European Championships this season an example of “adaptation”?

T. G. - Ahah, of course, I feel my age, and to be honest, when I wake up I feel more like ninety-six... My body no longer feels like my body, especially in the morning. In fact, you have to adapt all the time, you can't hope to press the same buttons to get the same results. You change all the time, all along your career, and what was working two years ago might not work anymore, there's a constant need to find new solutions to reach the same result. It is what makes it interesting. Lately, I remembered seeing Mister Jörgen Mårtensson warming up, when I did my World Cup debut in 1998. I was 19, he was 39. He was quite rusty and looked more like a prehistoric dinosaur, than a cheetah. But that day, in Slovakian mountains, he crushed everyone once again. It is my turn now to find a way to make a good use of my rusty body. I should probably invest more in recovering, and look even more for quality instead of quantity (read: bring back sprint training!)

How do you rate your WOC results? Were you expecting something better than the silver in the Long Distance, and the 4th place in the Middle?

T. G. - Since a while now, WOC for me is about winning or failing, there is not much “in-between”, and therefore, I'm not pleased with the results I got in Strömstad. Especially in the middle distance, where I could have reach my goal with better route in two of the legs. At the long distance, it took me too much time to really find an offensive pace, and it was already too late to challenge Olav. There are plenty of small things I've not been happy with, and I'm already working hard to be better prepared next time. I wouldn't say I enjoy failing, I still hate that, but I find it more meaningful in many ways, and I'll try to use my frustration as a source of energy.

What other moments do you see as really important this season?

T. G. - Spring is never the ideal time (if there is any…) to be injured and I struggled a bit with a shin inflammation in March. I couldn't run for three weeks, and felt like I lost part of the good flow I had all over last winter. But winning O-Ringen in Sälen was, for sure, something special.

What was the best Orienteering achievement of the year, in your opinion?

T. G. - It's always hard to pick only one specific achievement as there are plenty of success who go unnoticed. Of course, the breakthrough of Emily Kemp is clearly one of the highlights of the season. But I would choose the “home wins” of Tove Alexandersson and Jerker Lysell – to be able to deliver the day where the expectations are at the highest means a lot about your character and skills.

We now have a big gap until the next really important competitions. What are your plans for the Winter season?

T. G. - Spend as little time as possible in the Swedish snow and cold ; )

Joaquim Margarido

Portuguese Absolute Championships 2016: Gold to Manuel Horta and Raquel Costa in the season's last race

Manuel Horta and Raquel Costa achieved the Portuguese Absolute titles of the current season. A double victory of the colors of GafanhOri, crowning a weekend lived intensely in the beautiful terrains of Viana do Alentejo.

Putting an end to the 2016 Foot orienteering season, the Portuguese Absolute Championships saw its 14th edition taking place in Viana do Alentejo, in the south of Portugal. Organized by the Clube da Natureza de Alvito and the Clube de Orientação e Aventura do Litoral Alentejano, the event registered the presence of over four hundred athletes, 311 of which in the direct fight for the Absolute title, and 104 athletes in Open and Initiation classes.

Contested in the Middle Distance, the qualifying courses of the first day were almost a promenade for Tiago Romão and Raquel Costa, both from GafanhOri, who got the best times in the male and female sectors, respectively. The four-minute lead by Tiago Romão over the second-placed, Manuel Horta (GafanhOri), clearly showed a firm will to revalidate the title achieved a year ago, in Figueira da Foz. But in Orienteering - as in everything else -, there aren't two days the same and Manuel Horta was still there, searching for a title that escaped him in the previous two years. In the decisive stage, Manuel Horta and Tiago Romão fought a “fratricidal” duel, running shoulder to shoulder over the 8460 meters of their courses, to finish separated by 35 seconds and with the advantage to fall, this time, to Manuel Horta's side. Pedro Nogueira got the third place with the time of 54:42.

In the Women qualifying, Raquel Costa was able to impose on Carolina Delgado (GD4C) by a margin close to two minutes, but everything would be smoother in the Final. In fact, the 5:50 advantage over the second ranked, the junior Filipa Rodrigues (ADFA), allows to understand a peaceful return to victories in the Absolute Championships, after a four-season fasting. Absolute Champion in 2015, Mariana Moreira (CPOC) finished in the 3rd place with more 6:19 than the winner. ADFA - Associação de Deficientes das Forças Armadas and COC - Clube de Orientação do Centro achieved the collective titles in the male and female categories, respectively.

Results

Men

1. Manuel Horta (GafanhOri) 51:35 (+ 00:00)

2. Tiago Romão (GafanhOri) 52:10 (+ 00:35)

3. Pedro Nogueira (ADFA) 54:42 (+ 03:07)

4. Rafael Miguel (Ori-Estarreja) 55:00 (+ 03:25)

5. Alberto Branco (CP Armada) 55:23 (+ 03:48)

6. Jorge Correia (ADFA) 55:45 (+ 04:10)

7. João Bernardino (COC) 59:18 (+ 07:43)

8. Ricardo Esteves (ADFA) 59:35 (+ 08:00)

9. Gildo Silva (COC) 1:01:48 (+ 10:13)

10. Davide Machado (.COM) 1:04:40 (+ 13:05)

Women

1. Raquel Costa (GafanhOri) 48:16 (+ 00:00)

2. Filipa Rodrigues (ADFA) 54:06 (+ 05:50)

3. Mariana Moreira (CPOC) 54:35 (+ 06:19)

4. Susana Pontes (COC) 57:50 (+ 09:34)

5. Patrícia Casalinho (COC) 1:00:47 (+ 12:31)

6. Rita Rodrigues (GafanhOri) 1:04:14 (+ 15:58)

7. Carolina Delgado (GD4C) 1:07:40 (+ 19:24)

8. Carla Saraiva (Ori-Estarreja) 1:08:38 (+ 20:22)

9. Joana Marques (Ori-Estarreja) 1:09:50 (+ 21:34)

10. Helena Lima (COC) 1:10:23 (+ 22:07)

Complete results and further information at http://cnabsoluto2016.weebly.com/.

[Archive photo]

Joaquim Margarido

Two or three things I know about it...

1. One week left to the 49th CISM World Military Orienteering Championships everything is ready to welcome the event. This is the fifth time Brazil organizes the World Military Orienteering Championship, with the competition taking place this time in the magnificent natural environments of Búzios and Rio das Ostras, around 200 km east of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Middle Distance will open the program on 18th November, Friday and the Long Distance will take place the day after, both races in Rio das Ostras and scoring for the IOF World Ranking. The event will finish on 22nd Novembre with the Relay, in Búzios. Lots of fun in Orienteering dreamland and a beautiful weather,combined with the hospitality, culture and gastronomic delights of this places and people, are waiting for near two hundred participants from 19 countries. Further information at http://cism-orienteering.com/.

2. Took place last Saturday in Lisbon, Portugal, the 1st Iberian Ori-Trail/Rogaine Championships. Organized by the Clube Português de Orientação e Corrida, the event was attended by near 180 athletes, representing 73 different teams. In the Men Absolute class, three teams reached the maximum score, with Miguel Silva and Tiago Romão (CMoFunchal/GafanhOri) being the fastest with the final time of 3:26:27. Marcelo Costa and Marco Póvoa (MM April 22 ) and the Spanish Álvaro Para and Aurelio Rodan (Fuby Tierra Trágame) got, by this order, the immediate places on the podium, with more 27:35 and 33:21 than the winner team. In the Women Absolute class, Patricia Casalinho and Susana Pontes (Cachopas Team) were stronger than their opponents, achieving 146 points in 3:47:09. Raquel Costa and Rita Rodrigues (GafanhOri) got the second place and Alice Silva, Margarida Ricardo and Sandra Rodrigues (ADFA) were third, with less 6 and 40 points than the winners. Emilia Silveira, Eduardo Soares and João Real (COAAL / CNAlvito) won the Mix Absolute class with 165 points overall, beating the Spanish Ainhoa Del Campo and Maikel Fernandez (COBI) and Ernesto Osma, Ramiro Rejón and Uolanda Poveda (Tribu Roller Granada), by 7 and 19 points, respectively. Complete results and further information at http://cpoc.pt/eventos.php?ev=rogaine01&op=inicio.

3. The Danish Camilla Sogaard or the Australian Angus Robinson are among the top MTB Orienteers heading to Rotorua for the New Zealand Mountain Bike Orienteering Champs on 18th to 20th November 2016. Overall event organiser, Pete Swanson, from Orienteering Bay of Plenty mentions “125 people entered now” and he's sure that “it’s going to be a great weekend of racing in lots of new and interesting areas.” The events also qualify as part of the World Masters Mountain Bike Orienteering Series and the SportIDENT Air+ punching system will be used for MTBO in New Zealand for the first time ever. The New Zealand Mountain Bike Orienteering Champs consists of four events. There is a Warm Up event on the evening of Friday 18th November in Whakarewarewa Forest. The Sprint Distance is in Tihiotonga-Centennial Park, Waiariki Campus and the Rotorua Thermal Holiday Park on Saturday 19th November in the morning. The Middle Distance is at Tui Ridge Park on Saturday afternoon and the Long Distance is at Cougar MTB Park, Tokoroa, on Sunday 20th November. Orienteering Bay of Plenty is very grateful for all the support they have received from landowners and managers, as well as the Tokoroa MTB Club, in running these events. All the information can be found on the website http://www.mtbochamps.nz.

4. Are you interested in environmental issues? Have you asked yourself: how can orienteering become even more sustainable? Do you have a great interest in orienteering maps? Are you an expert in advanced printing? The IOF Environment Commission and the IOF Map Commission are looking for new members to work with these types of questions. These IOF Commissions meet twice a year, in addition to virtual meetings whenever needed. The IOF Council gives each commission a set of Remits, detailing their working procedure and tasks for the current council period, and the commissions each have a supporting team made up of members of council and the IOF Office. Does this seem like something for you? To be in an IOF Commission you also need the support of your National Federation, and it is they who will formally put you forward as a candidate. Please contact your National Orienteering Federation to gain their support. Not sure how to contact them? To find out more, send an email to iof@orienteering.org.

Joaquim Margarido