Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Yukon Orienteering Association (YOA) is doing things slightly differently this summer and Quaranteering was introduced.

Orienteering is largely an individual sport once an athlete is in the woods, making it possible to participate in the sport while respecting the physical distancing restrictions set out by the Yukon Government.

Erik Blake said the YOA was able to continue hosting events with the support of Orienteering Canada.

“Orienteering Canada set out parameters to follow the health and safety policies of your jurisdiction,” said Blake. “We are able to run because we tick the boxes of limiting gatherings and mitigating community transmission.”

On the yukon.ca website, there are guidelines for sport and recreation organizations to follow, they are:

• physical distancing of two metres;

• regular hand washing;

• stay home when sick;

• not gathering in groups of more than 10;

• limit travel to communities; and

• self-isolating when required by CMOH orders and recommendations.

Although orienteering was not named in the recommended activities for community and individual sport, it most closely resembles athletics which is allowed full training but must avoid running in “slipstream with others.”

So what has changed for the local orienteers? Instead of bi-weekly courses that are set up and taken down, the courses will be semi-permanent and be in place for a week so people can complete them at their leisure.

There is also no electronic timing.

“There is no electronic timing because we’d need a person to staff the download station,” said Blake.

“We are putting the flags out and people can post their results to the web. Or, they can use the smartphone app UsynligO (“Invisible O in Norwegian) that will track your position. The app really lends itself to this.”

With this system, participants will not need to touch the controls as they normally would.

Instead, they just have to get within two-or-so metres, said Blake.

There are still the typical four courses rated by difficulty; novice, intermediate, advanced and expert, said Blake.

To be able to run the courses people must register as a Yukon Orienteering Association Member. This is to ensure, Blake said, that everyone is covered under the Orienteering Canada insurance policy.

Once registered orienteers will be given the location to a cupboard so they can pick up the map for that week’s course.

“That is the one point of contact,” said Blake. “It gets disinfected daily.”

The COVID-19 pandemic also hasn’t stopped the YOA from hosting their junior programs - although they are modified slightly.

The program has been designed for an accompanying adult and junior(s) within the same household to do the course together.

The adult doesn’t need prior orienteering experience, they just need to be comfortable going into the forest with their child.

Blake said although the coaches will not be with them in person, Zoom calls can be organized to answer any technical orienteering questions one may have.

Since Quaranteering was implemented, Blake said the Yukon Orienteering Association has gotten positive feedback.

“We’ve had people say that they prefer it this way,” said Blake. “It takes the pressure off to complete the course that day.

“We are excited about the feedback and that we are able to conform with the guidelines that are set out.”

Blake said they are seeing strong results posted through the different maps, just in time for the Yukon Championships that will begin today.

The long-distance will be held first, the course will be up for a week before giving way to the next distance.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a fluid situation and Blake said the YOA will be able to handle further restrictions if implemented or proceed further if restrictions relax.

“We will continue to monitor the situation,” said Blake. “Right now we are doing fine with our COVID planning.”