Rogaining

Sport

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caption = Competitors at a checkpoint
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nickname = rogaine
first = Australia
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mgender = Mixed
category = Outdoor
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Rogaining is the sport of long distance cross-country navigation [N. Phillips and R. Phillips, "Rogaining Cross-Country Navigation", Published by Outdoor Recreation in Australia, 2000, ISBN 0-9593329-2-8] . Championship Rogaines are 24 hours long, however Rogaines can be as short as 3 hours . Teamwork, endurance, competition and an appreciation for the natural environment are features of the sport. Rogaining involves both route planning and navigation between checkpoints using a variety of map types. In a Rogaine, teams of 2-5 people choose which checkpoints to visit within a time limit with the intent of maximizing their score.

Comparison with Orienteering

It is closely related to orienteering and many people enjoy both sports. For all participants, compared to an orienteering meet, a rogaine:
#is a much longer event, usually 6, 8, 12 or 24 hours
#is a team sport (important for safety, given the long duration)
#has checkpoints (controls) assigned point values reflecting the distance from other checkpoints and the technical difficulty (terrain, navigation) of visiting them (similar to a point score orienteering event)
#requires each team to plan the order in which to visit checkpoints, so route choice is a very important element

For event organizers, a rogaine differs from an orienteering meet in that:
#it requires a far larger map area, but not necessarily a highly customized orienteering map
#a 24-hour rogaine benefits from being scheduled during a full moon, and needs an organized food service and space in which participants can sleep

History

Rogaining can trace its roots back to 1947 when the first of many events with some of the features of rogaines was organized by the Melbourne University Mountaineering Club. These events led to the birth of the sport of rogaining in April, 1976, in Melbourne, Australia. The sport was named, rules were adopted and the world’s first rogaining association was formed (the Victorian Rogaining Association). Growth of the association and the sport occurred rapidly over the next decade.

The word rogaining is derived from the names of three of the founders, Rod Phillips, Gail Davis (nee Phillips) and Neil Phillips (RoGaiNe, hence 'rogaining', 'rogainer' etc) who were all members of the Surrey-Thomas Rover Crew which organized the world's first rogaine. The name was formally adopted by the Victorian Rogaining Association at its inaugural annual general meeting in August, 1976 and accepted by Scouts Australia and University bushwalking groups to give the new sport an identity in its own right.

ROGAINE is also a backronym for "Rugged Outdoor Group Activity Involving Navigation and Endurance". The word however predates this definition; it was originally coined as the first few letters of the founders' names (Rod, Gail and Neil). [cite book
title = Which Way's North?
publisher = Victorian Rogaining Association
date = 2002
pages =
url = http://vra.rogaine.asn.au/Resources/whichwaysnorth.pdf
format = PDF
accessdate = 2007-05-17
pages = p 5 ]

World championships are held every two years, with the country chosen two years in advance by the [http://www.rogaining.com/ International Rogaine Federation] .

*1st World Rogaining Championship: Australia, about 200 teams
* 5th World Rogaining Championship: Czech Republic, 202 teams
* 6th World Rogaining Championship: Arizona USA, 380 participants from 15 countries and 33 U.S. states.
* [http://www.nswrogaining.org/AboutEvents/Events/06WC/index.htm 7th World Rogaining Championships] : New South Wales, Australia; 691 participants (311 teams), 125 from overseas

Basic play

Teams of two to five members visit as many checkpoints as possible in the time allowed. Checkpoints are scored differently depending on level of difficulty in reaching them; therefore teams choose a strategy (for example, to visit many low score checkpoints). Teams travel entirely on foot, navigating by map and compass between checkpoints in terrain that varies from open farmland to hilly forest. A central base camp known as a "hash house" provides hot meals throughout the event and teams may return at any time to eat, rest or sleep. Teams travel at their own pace and anyone from children to grandparents can experience the personal satisfaction that comes from cross-country navigation at their own level of competition and comfort. Team members stay within earshot of each other. The length for a championship Rogaine is 24 hours, but shorter variations such as 6, 8, 12 and 15 hour events are also held (sometimes concurrently with a 24 hour event). Depending on the terrain, experienced rogaining teams can cover more than one hundred kilometers over the 24 hour period. There have also been longer events (dubbed "Endurogaines") lasting 48 and 50 hours. In their native Australia, Rogaines are usually held every month during weekends near full moons, with annual state championships and an annual national championship. They require dozens of volunteers to run, including course setters and caterers and are often attended by hundreds of participants. A competitive 24-hour rogaine requires a map area of around 250 km² (~ 100 mi²), for relatively flat terrain; terrain with significant climb may require far less or far more area, depending on the placement of checkpoints.

Variants

Other forms of rogaining are popular, particularly in Australia during the months when normal rogaines are not held because of the weather. Popular variations include:

* Metrogaine - An event of usually around 6 hours and held in predominantly urban areas.
* Cyclogaine - Usually run for 6 hours in areas with trails suitable for mountainbiking.
* Snogaine - Held in areas that are snowbound and participants may either snowshoe or ski to reach checkpoints.
* Paddlogaine - A rogaine on a water covered area, such as a set of interconnected lakes, participants can generally use any human powered watercraft they want.
* Pubgaine - A much shorter (2-3 hours) social event held in urban areas where all the checkpoints are pubs.

References

ee also

*Orienteering

External links

* The [http://www.rogaining.com/ International Rogaining Federation] has a more complete history of the sport.
* The [http://www.nswrogaining.org/AboutEvents/Events/06WC/index.htm/ 7th World Rogaining Championship] was held in October 2006 in Australia.
* The [http://8wrc2008.rogain.ee/ 8th World Rogaining Championship] will be held in September 2008 in Estonia
* The [http://rogaine.asn.au/ Australian Rogaining Association] is the peak body for state rogaining associations in Australia.
* The [http://www.rogaine.org.nz/ New Zealand Rogaining Association] is the peak body for rogaining in New Zealand.
* The [http://www.vra.rogaine.asn.au/ Victorian Rogaining Association (Australia)]
* The [http://wa.rogaine.asn.au/ Western Australian Rogaining Association (Australia)]
* The [http://www.qldrogaine.asn.au/ Queensland Rogaine Association (Australia)]
* [http://www.setantaorienteers.org/rogaine.html Rogaine Ireland] is an annual event in Ireland, held in June.
* The [http://www.rogaining.jp/ Japan Rogaining Association (Japan)]