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ETOC 2014
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nimimerkkiTuomo
6.5.2014 klo 22:37Kuten nyt jo tiedetään, Suomi menestyi loistavasti Portugalin EM-kisoissa. Minulla oli suuri kunnia edustaa maatamme elämäni ensimmäisessä kansainvälisessä arvoturnauksessa. Opin paljon! Työstän parhaillaan blogia reissustani, sen löytää täältä: etoc2014.tumblr.com -
nimimerkkiAnna
7.5.2014 klo 08:05Nice!! -
nimimerkkiKari P
7.5.2014 klo 14:03Mukavasti kirjoitat ja kuvaat kisoja moninaisine kokemuksineen ja sattumuksineen joukkuekaveri ! -
nimimerkkiTuomo
17.5.2014 klo 17:34Sain vihdoinkin blogin loppuun kisojen osalta. Sehän ei keskity pelkästään itse kisoihin, vaan on enemmänkin matkapäiväkirjamainen. Kisapäivinä loppuiltapäivät ja illat (tiimipalavereja lukuunottamatta) olivat vapaa-aikaa, joka toimi hyvänä vastapainona itse kisoille. Se oli todella tarpeen ottaen huomioon, että hommat eivät asina sujuneet kuin Strömsössä. Kisoista ja Setúbalista jatkoin neljäksi päiväksi Lissaboniin, jonka tapahtumista pyrin jatkamaan blogiani lähiaikoina.
etoc2014.tumnblr.com -
nimimerkkiPepi
18.5.2014 klo 00:52Lopulta ihan aurinkoistakin juttua. Kunhan selviytyy ensin osoitteeseen tulleesta pikku lyöntivihreestä ...
Kiitos. -
nimimerkkiTuomo
18.5.2014 klo 19:53Aivan: etoc2014.tumblr.com -
nimimerkkiTuomo
22.5.2014 klo 19:50Joaquim Margarido Portugalin TrailO-porukasta tavoitti minut FB:n kautta. Hän kyseli näkemyksiäni ETOC 2014:stä sekä yleisesti lajista. Kirjoitin hänellle seurraavasti, vastaten suoraan hänen esittämiinsä kysymyksiin (toivottavasti en päästellyt sammakoita suustani):
I’m Tuomo Markelin, born 1968 in Helsinki, Finland where I’ve lived ever since. I’m quariplegic due to a skiing accident in 1986. I have a masters degree in economics and business administration and am currently self employed.
My first experience of TrailO was in 2008 when I decided to try it out after hearing about it from my friend and team mate Ken Gammelgård. I did not have any orienteering background but the sport sounded interesting. And sure enough it sucked me in and gradually I took part in more and more events and learned more. I haven’t had any major success yet, being part of Team Finland in Portugal this year is the high point of my “TrailO career” so far.
I’m very proud to have been chosen to represent Finland in ETOC 2014. The fact that there are not that many Paralympic Class competitors that take part in most of the national events in Finland made it possible. Let’s face it: I’m still in the beginning of my TrailO journey. But I’m learning more and more and this year’s ETOC provided me the most valuable lessons so far.
ETOC 2014 was scheduled so early this year that it left little room for actual practice since last season. See, we have this little problem: snow. It effectively covers most of the details of the terrain so It’s no use to go out and try to make a course. We did manage to have two TempO training days, but that was it. There are some virtual training courses in internet but I haven’t found them very useful so far. So, the model race was very valuable!
I entered ETOC expecting to receive lots of experience, not medals. And that’s exactly what I got. It was my first international championship event. But most of all I experienced how it feels to enter a (important) race in non-optimal conditions (you can read more from my blog: etoc2014.tumblr.com). The thing with the results that pleased me most was the moderate “come back” in PreO, Stage 2. It showed me that there was a learning curve for me even within a race.
I am very proud and humbled by the fact that I belong to the best national TrailO team in the world. I have the world’s most skilled competitors next to me to learn from – and they are always willing to give advice. Jari, Antti, Pinja, Pekka, Lauri… wow, they are good! They take the sport seriously but without losing their humor. They have definitely earned their medals and I’m glad to be able to celebrate with them!
Since I’m new to the international championship races, I’m not able to compare ETOC 2014 to other events of such scale (I wasn’t even present at the WTOC 2013). I found all the PreO courses very good, it was refreshingly new kind of terrain for me. TempO was harder, which was highlighted by the fact that I wasn’t properly focused for the race (yes, those event center – race course transportations were nerve racking). The counting of the results was a bit slow and the official dinner would have been enjoyed more were it held on the final day, as initially programmed. Overall, especially taking into account that the championships were organized mostly by volunteers, ETOC 2014 was a success. It takes passion, which you obviously had plenty of. Thank You!
And, ah, Portugal! Without ETOC and you guys I would have missed the whole country. It was my first time and I got to see Setúbal (and it’s surroundings) and Lisboa. Two quite different places. Setúbal and the country side were very idyllic and peaceful whereas Lisboa is a crowded urban city. I liked the contrast. More of my experiences in my blog (I’m still working on the Lisboa part).
TrailO is a young sport with still quite a narrow competitor base. As a new sport it’s still evolving fast, thanks to very enthusiast participants. In Finland one major issue lately has been the “zero tolerance”. Should it be used or not? If yes, at which extent? Should it be unambiguously defined in the IOF rules or should it be left more for the individual race organizers to take advantage of as they see best? And this is just one question. Others will surely rise up in the near future. In ten years time TrailO will develop a lot. I hope this development will also bring a wider audience!
As for my future in TrailO, I will definitely keep developing, too. Unfortunately, I’m not able to make it to WTOC 2014, It’s solely (if I would even be selected) a financial matter (I need two assistants with me and The Finnish Orienteering Federation – nor other relevant organizations – doesn’t have the funds to support my travelling costs). I might drive to Denmark for the Nordic Championships in September. Otherwise I’ll compete as much as I can in Finland this year. After that I’ll see what 2015 brings along.
Tuomo Markelin