Mixed Relay takes Centre Stage at WUC Ski Orienteering

TULA – The mixed relay scheduled for Sunday was generating expectations and certainly did not disappoint any of the attendants at the River Woods competition venue in Aleksin, Tula – Russian Federation. The 3^rd day of competition saw teams pair up their student-athletes and compete for the coveted medals.

The first team across the finish line for the mixed relay was Norway, in 35:35s – Jørgen Haugen MADSLIEN and Anna ULVENSØEN (both students at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology). The silver medal was won by team Finland with 36:05s – Tero LINNAINMAA (Tampere University of Applied Sciences) and Sonja MÖRSKY (University of Eastern Finland). Much to the delight of the home crowd, the bronze medal went to the Russian Federation, with 37:07s – Aleksandr ZLOBIN (Siberian Federal University) and Natalia IGNATOVA (Perm National Research Polytechnic University).

The official results were made up by (4) Czech Republic, (5) Bulgaria, (6) Belarus, (7) Estonia, (8) Sweden, (9) Slovakia and (10) Japan.

Interview with Stanimir BELOMAZHEV (27 years old), two-time champion of our Championship, student at G.S. Rakovski Military Academy (Sofia, Bulgaria)

 Stanimir BELOMAZHEV (BUL)

• What do you think about our Championship and its organization?

I like this Championship very much. I am so glad, that I managed to win gold medals at the 1^st FISU World University Ski Orienteering Championship in the history of student sport. I have got a lot of experience of taking part in international competitions and I can say that this Championship was organized in accordance with all the requirements. I loved the competition arena set-up and the courses.

• When did you start orienteering?

I have been doing ski orienteering since the age of 12. And I also love ski racing.

• What do you think about ski orienteering being a part of student sport?

This is a very important step towards the future development of our sport. I hope, one day it will be a part of the Winter Olympic Games. It is extremely important to raise awareness and popularity of this sport among the students and to create the atmosphere of friendship and mutual understanding.

Interview with Sonja MORSKY (24 years old), the owner of the complete sets of medals at our Championship, Pharmacy student at the University of Eastern Finland, Major (Kuopio, Finland)Sonja MORSKY (FIN)

• What do you think about our Championship and its organization?

I was pleasantly surprised by such a high level of organization. I have been to Russia before and I know that here they take the organisation of such events seriously. Everything is great: the medals, the maps. I do love everything.

• When did you start orienteering?

I have already been doing ski orienteering for 14 years.

• What do you think about ski orienteering being a part of student sport?

It is wonderful that ski orienteering is now a part of student sport. I hope and I am sure that it will soon be in the Winter Olympics Programme.

Live Streaming & Results

Live Streaming Sprint Distance Competition.

Live Streaming Pursuit Distance Competition.

Live Streaming Mixed Relay Competition.

Live Streaming Middle Distance Mass Start Competition. 

Online results and GPS tracking can be found here.

(Source: WUSOC 2016)