With the Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC) a day away, we felt it was time to learn a little more about our team. JWOC is an U21 event and we have a full team of 6 Men and 6 Women who are currently Baia Mare, Romania ready to compete. This year’s team are being coached by Kieran Woods and managed by Jenni Adams. Our team is an interesting mix of athletes, including one whose first language is Swedish and another who resides in the USA. The team also includes the only set of twins to be currently representing New Zealand.

Felix Hunt
1: Your club and how long you have been a member?
PAPO, for approximately five years.
2: What is your greatest personal orienteering win?
Ultralong 2023
3: Fav training area
Port Hills
4: Name an orienteering legend to follow
Gustav Bergman
5: What do you do when you’re not at the orienteering?
Train for orienteering
6: A couple fun facts about you?
I’ve forgotten to punch the drinks control at the Oceania long distance … twice!
I was home schooled for my first year of school.
7: Fav running shoes
Innovates
8: Race day nutrition before and after a run
Creamed Rice before, choccy milk after!
9: What would you say to someone who’s thinking about starting out in orienteering?
Watching the pros. There’s plenty of free broadcasts of World Cups on Youtube that are really interesting to watch. They get you hyped and develop your technical ability.

Penelope Salmon

1: Your club and how long you have been a member?

Auckland orienteering club, since 2018 and Linköpings OK since 2022

2: What is your greatest personal orienteering win?

Coming 2nd in my sprint qualification heat at WOC last year. Although the final went terribly it was still really fun to have qualified.

3: Fav training area

Not sure I have one, I just love training on anything new and different that I haven’t experienced before. I find it exciting to run on different terrain.

4: Name an orienteering legend to follow.

Gustav Bergmann, he’s always uploading all his training maps which are fun to look at especially as the Swedes are usually so hush-hush about trainings.

5: What do you do when you’re not at orienteering?

I’m either running, listening to music/audiobooks or doing both at the same time

Also, I’m often Facetiming my family now that I live so far away.

6: A couple fun facts about you?

I’m currently studying in the USA while running xc and track, and I’ve been learning Swedish.

7: Fav running shoes

Favourite for feel is the Nike infinity react but my feet have been too unstable in them lately so I’ve had to transition into a Pegasus runner.

8: Race day nutrition before and after a run

A plate of scrambled eggs, a big bowl of oats and plenty of water along with some electrolytes to stay hydrated.

Afterwards, I make sure I get in a some protein and a bit of carbs immediately usually that’s in the form of a yogurt and a cliff bar. Then I make sure to have more electrolytes and rehydrate with lots of water.

9: What would you say to someone who’s thinking about starting to get out orienteering?

I could not recommend a sport more! It’s for all ages and abilities. It’s so fun to run around in the forest, time just flies compared to plodding along mindlessly on a road by yourself. When you execute a good route it’s incredibly rewarding, but the equally great thing about orienteering is the community. Everyone is so welcoming and friendly to all. I think orienteers are just the nicest bunch of people.

Fergus O’Neill

1: Your club and how long you have been a member?

PAPO for 7 years as well as UCOC for 2 years

2: What is your greatest personal orienteering win?
Getting selected into the 2022 NZ JWOC teams was amazing, but being NZSS Champ in 2021 for senior boys long was a big achievement as well

3: Fav training area?

Bottle Lake on a good day

4: Name an orienteering legend to follow:

Zefa Fa’avae

5: What do you do when you’re not at the orienteering?

Procrastinate studying my Civil Engineering degree, go for a bike ride every so often, sit around at home with my flatmates.

6: A couple fun facts about you?

I can solve a rubik’s cube in 45 seconds, and the last song I listened to on Spotify before writing this was ‘Come on Eileen’

7: Fav running shoes:

My VJs are pretty good at the moment but can’t go wrong with a pair of Scott Supertrac RCs

8: Race day nutrition before and after a run.

The one and only Felix Hunt has got me onto the pre race creamed rice. Along with a GU gel this gives me the energy I need to race hard. Post run usually whatever’s in the fridge is a go, or a sandwich is good. Also love to stay hydrated with some good old H2O

9: What would you say to someone who’s thinking about starting out in orienteering?

If you find running on its own quite boring like me, then orienteering solves this problem by giving you some navigation to do while you run

Zara Stewart

1: Your club and how long you have been a member?

Auckland for about 7yrs and UCOC since this year

2: What is your greatest personal orienteering win?

Probably 1st in the Aussie W20 sprint last year

3: Fav training area

Have loved having the Canterbury hills to train on

4: Name an orienteering legend to follow:

Kaia Jorgensen all the way!!

5: What do you do when you’re not orienteering?

A bit of hockey, hang out with friends and maybe some uni

6: A couple fun facts about you?

I’m really good at procrastinating, so much that I did these answers on the way to Romania. Also I was born in The Netherlands and lived in Slovakia

7: Fav running shoes.

Crocs in sport mode

8: Race day nutrition before and after a run:

A banana beforehand and some yoghurt or fruit after

9: What would you say to someone who’s thinking about starting to get out orienteering?

You can go to some amazing places with your friends so it’s definitely worth it!!!

Riley Croxford

1: Your club and how long you have been a member?

Nelson Orienteering Club – I have been a member for 10 or 11 years.

2: What is your greatest personal orienteering win?

Beating Nathan, Felix and Zefa on the M16 long distance championships.

3: Fav training area

Either the Nelson lakes or Canaan downs

4: Name an orienteering legend to follow:

Kasper Fosser

5: What do you do when you’re not at the orienteering?

Think about going orienteering

6: A couple fun facts about you?

I have a rule never to talk to anyone who’s name begins with F! I have made the NZ schools team every year of high school, and my cat’s name is Kapser Fosser.

7: Fav running shoes:

My Inov8

8: Race day nutrition before and after a run:

I don’t have a routine for before, but afterwards an ice cream is always key.

9: What would you say to someone who’s thinking about starting out in orienteering?

Always let your nav dictate your speed.

Rachel Baker

1: Your club and how long you have been a member?

Wellington Orienteering Club, about 10 years.

2: What is your greatest personal orienteering win?

Having a smooth run with no mistakes on Day 1 of the Easter 4-days

3: Fav training area

Sleeping in my bed. No really. But I do enjoy the sand dune forests north of Welly

4: Name an orienteering legend to follow

Zara Stewart

5: What do you do when you’re not at the orienteering?

I play hockey and I go to school

6: A couple of fun facts about you?

When I was 7 I had an 8 pack

Toby Cazz can’t keep a secret #foghorn

I have never been to kfc

7: Fav running shoes

My Mizuno something or others – should have asked the shoe expert Molly

8: Race day nutrition before and after a run

Tbh anything sweet, but a banana is generally my go to

9: What would you say to someone who’s thinking about starting out in orienteering?

Keep your map facing north, surprisingly it makes it a lot easier.

Nathan Borton

1. Your club, and how long have you been a member?

I’m a member of Auckland Orienteering Club, which I’ve been a part of for 7 years, and also University of Canterbury Orienteering Club for the past year and a half

2: What is your greatest personal orienteering win?

Qualifying for the Auckland sprint champs as a year 8 without even realising they existed, definitely wouldn’t be where I am today without that happening

3: Fav training area:

Wherever junior camp is because there’s always a punching race involved

4: Name an orienteering legend to follow:

Ralph Street, the goat

5: What do you do when you’re not at the orienteering?

Prioritising my recovery

6: A couple fun facts about you?

Favourite movie is ‘Notting Hill,’ favourite book is ‘How Champions Think’ and favourite song is ‘Bonkers’

7: Fav running shoes…

The dogs, they go crazy on a warm down after a hard track workout

8: Race day nutrition before and after

Porridge with hazelnut spread and a banana for breakfast, then a vanilla Up&go a few hours before my run. Vitasport and crackers afterwards.

9: What would you say to someone who’s thinking about starting out in orienteering?.

Just go for it, find a local club or event and try it out, unless it’s in Riverhead – then just sleep in and try again next week

Katherine Babington

1: Your club and how long you have been a member?

PAPO and for about 7 years

2: What is your greatest personal orienteering win?

Winning the long red/W20 at the UCOC Ultralong 2023

3: Fav training area

Running in the port hills

4: Name an orienteering legend to follow.

Kaia Joergensen

5: What do you do when you’re not at the orienteering?

Football for both school and club as well as spending time in the outdoors and with family and friends

6: Fav running shoes.

My orange inov-8’s

7: Race day nutrition before and after a run

A pre race banana and then a choccy milk as a recovery drink

8: What would you say to someone who’s thinking about starting out in orienteering?

Don’t get lost!

Ryan Moore

1: Your club, and how long you have been a member?

PAPO, 5 years, before that NWOC for a few years

2: What is your greatest personal orienteering win?

Nationals 2019 Middle

3: Fav training area

Crater Rim – Dyers to Gebbies

4: Name an orienteering legend to follow:

Joshua Jones

5: What do you do when you’re not at any orienteering?

Looking at maps and making maps

6: A couple fun facts about you?

I cook the best flat meals by far #humble#chef

I almost fell under a bus

7: Fav running shoes.

Saucony Ride for long trail runs

Inov-8 Roclite 275 is the go to for O but currently trying out the VJ Xtrm2s

8: Race day nutrition before and after a run

Before: Sultana Bran

After: Choccy milk

9: What would you say to someone who’s thinking about starting out in orienteering?

Make an effort to talk to everyone at events, orienteering has a big social side for most people, and we’re not very scary (I think)

Anna Babington

1: Your club and how long you have been a member?

I’m a member of PAPO in Christchurch and I’ve been a member for around four years!

2: What is your greatest personal orienteering win?

Making JWOC this year was super exciting for me!

3: Fav training area

Anywhere in Lake Rotoiti

4: Name an orienteering legend to follow.

Katherine Babington

5: What do you do when you’re not at the orienteering?

I play & coach football during the winter and I run

6: A fun fact about you?

Katherine and I are the first twins to be in the team

7: Fav running shoes.

Crocs (in sports mode)

8: Race day nutrition before and after a run

Before I like to eats lots of bananas (at least two) + big breakfast and, after, a big lunch with lots of protein and carbs

9: What would you say to someone who’s thinking about starting to get out orienteering?

Get stuck in! In NZ, we have an awesome community who’s always happy to help out. It’s not about already knowing everything but about being open to learning and giving it your all!

Zefa Fa’avae

1: Your club and how long you have been a member?
Nelson club 8 years
2: What is your greatest personal orienteering win?
NZ long distance champs 2016 2nd
3: Fav training area
Canaan downs
4: Name an orienteering legend to follow.
Matt Ogden
5: What do you do when you’re not at the orienteering? 
Skiing, Climbing, kite surfing, art, watch kung fu panda
6: A couple fun facts about you?
Town hall 12  
7: Fav running shoes.
Crocs
8: Race day nutrition before and after a run 
Eggs before, choky milk after
9:  What would you say to someone who’s thinking about starting to get out orienteering? 
Tell them that orienteering is 80% reading the map. Run slower and read the map

Kaia Jorgensen
1: Your club and how long you have been a member?
PAPO and Tisvilde Hegn since ‘04
2: What is your greatest personal orienteering win?
When I beat Ryan Moore on the white leg of the national relay champs!
3: Fav training area
Something with cool native bush.
4: Name an orienteering legend to follow.
Torun Joergensen
5: What do you do when you’re not at the orienteering? 
Running, hockey, uni and sleeping. 
6: A couple fun facts about you?
My first language was Swedish
7: Fav running shoes.
My double spiked innovates
8: Race day nutrition before and after
Fruit squirt and a banana before a run and something yummy after as a reward.
9:  What would you say to someone who’s thinking about starting to get out orienteering?
Don’t worry if you get lost, everyone does sometimes!!!