Ski Orienteering

Ski Orienteering is an endurance winter sport combining navigation and cross-country skiing. Courses are designed to test athletes’ physical strength and navigation skills. Skiers make route choices based on the quality, gradient and distance of the ski tracks, all of which can be determined from the map. Ski-o participants tend to stick much closer to trails than in foot orienteering, but map reading and route choices must be made at higher speeds.

EMPO organizes several ski orienteering events each winter, weather permitting. Some are held around Albany and others further north in the Lake Placid area. In addition to these club meets, two larger competitions, the Empire State Games and the New York State Championships, are held each winter. Our meets are open to all and usually attract additional competitors from New England, Ontario and Quebec.