Team event challenges body and mind

The Great Forest Rogaine is a three or six-hour battle of wits and fitness in Rotorua's Whakarewarewa and Redwood Forests. Photo / Supplied

Rotorua forest run doubles as secondary schools rogaine championships

Around 500 athletes are preparing for the Great Forest Rogaine, which is a battle of wits and fitness in Rotorua's Whakarewarewa and Redwood Forests.

The event, which was created in 2010, doubles as the inaugural New Zealand Secondary Schools Rogaine Championships, with students arriving from all over the country to compete in Rotorua.

Darren Ashmore, who is the regional co-ordinator and events manager for Bay of Plenty Orienteering, said the Great Forest Rogaine is special because of its location.

"It is a pretty unique and cool team challenge that showcases the amazing Whakarewarewa Forest in Rotorua. This forest is world-renowned for its mountain bike network but is also one of the best places in the country for trail running or walking," he said.

Ashmore, 42, said the event was a fun and safe way for newcomers to explore the forest and spend a bit of time with family and friends. The Rogaine is open to all ages and abilities, with everyone taking part in the same event.

"Mum, Dad, the kids and Granny and Granddad can all take part in their own age category at the same event, on the same day. There aren't many other sports where you can do that."

A rogaine is a form of orienteering done in teams and is like a little outdoor adventure that is different every time you hit the trails; athletes never run the same course or route twice.

Ashmore has competed in a wide range of sports and believed that orienteering is the ultimate athletic challenge that mixes physical, mental and psychological skills.

"There is so much to get right to achieve a top performance and really you are your own greatest opponent," he said.

The event is a navigation challenge for teams of up to five, and competitors choose either a three-hour or six-hour option and also choose to ride a mountain bike or compete on foot.

The athletes are given an accurate map of the forest and, with their team, have to navigate to as many checkpoints as possible within the time limit. There are different points available depending on checkpoint location.

"It is typically impossible to get to all of the checkpoints within the time so you have to come up with a strategy to build the biggest score you can and then plan carefully to be back at the finish before the clock stops to avoid penalty points. It is great fun and suitable for all levels of fitness and navigation experience."

Ashmore said the most successful teams were those who used their planning time well to consider several route options.

He offered some good advice: "It is a good idea to have a rough idea of how fast you will cover the ground as you can use the map scale to quickly measure your planned route choice, so you can easily see if it is too little or too far. You will be out there for either three or six hours, so think about how you are going to keep yourself fuelled up to last the distance."

Forest rogaine

When: Saturday, August 9
Where: Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua.
What: 3- or 6-hour team foot or mountain bike rogaine.
Teams: Must consist of 2-5 people.
Categories: Men's, women's, mixed, family and corporate.
Also: The event doubles as the New Zealand Secondary Schools Rogaine Championships.
For more information, visit: http://www.obop.org.nz/great-forest-rogaine-2014.html