These days it is a little more than a year since Megan Carter-Davies (GBR) and Kasper Fosser (NOR) sprinted their way to gold medals at the World Orienteering Championships Sprint in Vejle, Denmark.
And this week a new opportunity to enter the history books arises as the 2023 World Orienteering Championships begin in Flims Laax, Switzerland with three forest disciplines to be decided.
Athletes from 44 different nations have entered the 39th edition of WOC, which will be situated in the heart of the Swiss Alps.
Orienteering in the mountains
In altitude between 800 – 2000 meters above sea level the athletes will race for championship medals in Long, Middle and Relay.
The terrain for the long distance is described as mountainous, dominated by steep slopes and deep stream systems, whereas the terrain for Middle and Relay is located at a lower height with more moderate slopes and a high number of contour and rock details.
Title defenders are ready
The latest forest WOC in Czechia were held in 2021, so several athletes have been reigning world champions for two years now.
Tove Alexandersson (SWE) won both the long and middle distances back then and the men’s titles are held by Kasper Fosser (NOR) and Matthias Kyburz (SUI) in long and middle respectively.
All three are registered to race and defend their titles in Switzerland.
Matthias Kyburz talks about running WOC on home soil in the IOF Podcast
Sweden won both relays in Czechia.
Follow WOC from home
As always, there is great chance to follow the championship races even if you cannot be in Switzerland on the arena in Flims.
IOF TV shows all finals on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
IOF’s experienced commentators Katherine Bett and Jonas Merz will guide the viewers through the races.
Tickets are available at IOF TV for 9/25 EUR for one/all races.
If you haven’t created a profile in 2023, you will have to do that frist.
Six national broadcasters will show the high-quality TV production live from WOC:
SVT (SWE), NRK (NOR), YLE (FIN), SRF (SUI), ORF (AUT) and Tv8 Mont Blanc (FRA).
Cz-TV (CZE) will show highlights.
You can watch the start lists, GPS-tracking, live results and maps at IOF LIVE.
WOC 2023 Program
(All times UTC +2)
Wednesday, 12 July
Middle qualification
10:00 First start M
11:40 First start W
Thursday, 13 July
Long
09:00 First start W
10:45 First start M
12.00-16.30 TV Broadcast
Saturday, 15 July
Middle
10:33 First start W
11.35-15.00 TV Broadcast
12:15 First start M
Sunday, 16 July
Relay
12.10–16.30 TV Broadcast
12:20 Start M
14:30 Start W
Photos: William Hollowell, Terje W. Pettersen