SYDNEY SUMMER SERIES

Newcomer Experience

BY IAN JESSUP, SSS CO-ORDINATOR PHOTOS - BEN CIRULIS AND FULLY RAD ADVENTURES

The Sydney Summer Series draws around 200 participants every Wednesday afternoon for 26 weeks during daylight saving. Now in its 31st season, it’s the entry point to orienteering for a lot of people in NSW. With the summer calendar almost over, we thought we’d check in with some recent converts to see what lured them to the SSS, what’s keeping them, and what’s next. Edie Chow, Monika Lee and Mattiijs Spierings are in their first and second seasons of the SSS and – like many before them – are now hooked. They’ve joined a club, are now doing adventure races and have dabbled in MTBO as well.

Monika Lee, 30 How did you find out about the Sydney Summer Series?

Through an adventure racing Facebook group.

What were your thoughts before, during and after the first event?

My first event was hilarious: no one told me that I had to come back in 45 minutes. My friend Edith shared the instructions and told me I could collect all checkpoints if I wanted to but failed to mention it was optional .… so I ran my heart out and collected every checkpoint which took me over 90 minutes. I also did not know that all checkpoints were on the trails and did some bush bashing for 15 minutes. I still loved it and my first event got me hooked.

What has converted you to becoming regulars?

I love the challenge. I’m always learning something new and also discovering new hidden bush trails which are so close to home every week. We then come back to these new trails with our mountain bikes or dogs and go for swims in local swimming holes.

Has your entry into orienteering inspired you to do other similar activities?

It’s been my ultimate goal to improve my navigation skills and harness my tracking ability to be able to compete in adventure racing. I really enjoy knowing where I am and tracking my surroundings. Once I’ve been to a place, I will know how to get back there even 10 years later. My eyes are like one of those Google Map truck cameras without the zoom lens. We just completed our first adventure race in the Blue Mountains and came third. Then we did the Wildside 8-hour adventure race and for both races we came first in the rogaining section (not overall), which shows our orienteering skills transferring across.

What would you say to a friend who is curious about ‘this orienteering thing’ that you do?

Gamified exercise and amazing race in your local bush tracks.

Anything else you’d like to say?

Edith and I are now forming and gathering a large team in NSW to compete across the A1 series in the coming years. We are doing weekly casual training sessions with mountain bike orienteering, pack rafting, trail running & attending Sydney Summer Series every Wednesday night. For those interested in joining us please contact us on our Instagram page @adventure_racing_maniacs

Edith Chow, 33 How did you find out about the Sydney Summer Series?

Through Monika, but I wish I found out about it earlier!

What were your thoughts before, during and after the first event?

The first one we did was Pymble, I think 2020. I didn’t have any expectations. I just wanted to find the controls (more so than winning) and I think that’s still the case today because I love the satisfaction of getting it right! I remember being wowed by how beautiful the area was, the secret bush tracks, but also stunned at how this was in our own neighbourhood but we never knew about it (I went to Macquarie Uni and grew up in the area so it was refreshing experiencing it in a new light). After the first event, we were hooked. We’ve been to nearly every one since! Also, initially I told myself I was just going to walk but after the first event, then the second and third, it went from walk to fast walk, slow jog, proper jog, run! You just can’t help yourself and the challenge feels great! I’ll also add too, the first few sessions I was going with another friend and we would joke about just hitting the pub and secretly getting the Uber to pick up all the controls (whilst Monika was running her butt off doing it properly) - but you can see how I’ve gone from being lazy to really working hard and getting right into it now J!

What has converted you to becoming regulars?

How it’s different every week, so discovering a new neighbourhood every Wednesday, new secret bush trail, waterfall, swimming spot. Then also discovering a new restaurant every week too because we go find a local place to eat at and debrief afterwards. It was also really fun as we progressively got better, to aim for a new high score every week. We finally reached 400 last season! This season Monika and Mattijs will aim for 500! Another great thing Monika started doing this season is comparing her route to the winner’s route. So it’s been great having the post-run analysis put up on Facebook for us to compare and learn from each time.

Monika 2nd from left and Edie 2nd from right.

Has your entry into orienteering inspired you to do other similar activities?

Yes! We signed up to the Max Adventure novice course in Blue Mountains in November 2021 and orienteering helped us so much. It’s really improved my fitness. I didn’t even exercise prior to orienteering. Like, nil, zilch. OK, maybe a bit of soccer. But anyway, after a season of SSS in 2020-21, I remember starting back in my soccer team and I could feel the difference in my fitness straight away! So after Max Adventure we signed up to Wildside 8-hour at Port Macquarie (Dec 2021) and now we plan on doing Gippsland 30-hour in VIC, Max Adventure again (the longer course) among others in 2022 (we have scoured the internet for all ARs coming up in 2022-2023 and created an AR calendar!). Orienteering has really been the stepping stone into opening up a new type of fitness that suits me. I thought the only way you could become fit was to go to the gym - and considering I fell asleep at a premium gym in Coogee once before - I didn’t think I could ever be one of those fitness babes you see on Instagram. But now I realised I was doing it all wrong!

What would you say to a friend who is curious about ‘this orienteering thing’ that you do?

I’ve been marketing it as a “magical treasure hunt in the forest” or I’d say, “come for a light jog and find some treasure on the way” ha-ha. Most of my friends are busy professionals, so I’d also say it only takes an hour (but I may inadvertently omit telling them about the extra hour of traffic - lol).

Anything else you’d like to say?

A big shoutout and thanks to the SSS organisers, the clubs and other affiliates, and especially the volunteers for the time and effort into creating something so fun, wholesome and inclusive for everyone! I also want to say everyone is super friendly which I love, and we appreciate all the tips we’ve gained (my faves – “don’t run faster than you can think” and “the map never lies”).

Mattijs Spierings, 42 How did you find out about the Sydney Summer Series?

Via friends

What were your thoughts before, during and after the first event?

I was curious as to how it would play out. During the event I was laser focused and having fun; after the event I was keen to go again and do better. I was amazed by the scenery of the suburbs we run in.

What has converted you to becoming regulars?

I like trail running. Adding the element of navigation and trying to make the best score out of your plotted course is really fun. Plus, you see very nice spots in Sydney.

Has your entry into orienteering inspired you to do other similar activities?

Yup, we are now hooked on adventure racing, too.

What would you say to a friend who is curious about ‘this orienteering thing’ that you do?

I would say “Come and join us and have a fun run, see for yourself”