TRAILO.IT - http://portugueseorienteeringblog.blogspot.it: JANA KOSTOVA
Jana Kostová is an athlete from Czech Republic. She is
37 years old, lives in Prague, is Assistant in a charity
foundation and participated for the second time in the
WTOC. You can see now what she has to say about herself
and trail orienteering in general.
For how many years have you done Trail-Orienteering?
Jana Kostová (J. K.) – Let's say, more or less
three years now. Intensively (laughs). I started doing
Orienteering when I was child, five or six years old.
Then, when I was twelve, I decided to play Volleyball
instead, but when I got on a wheelchair, which was six
years ago, I saw an opportunity to do Orienteering again
and I took it as a chance. I had always missed it a
little. So for me it was kind of a “return”.
What attracts you in Trail-Orienteering?
J. K. – It's an opportunity to get out and to
interact with nature, in the forests, although today it
was a little bit over the edge. For me it was really
demanding. But otherwise it's a great opportunity to get
outside, to spend some time in the nature. And it’s not
time consuming - because actually in the Czech Republic
we don't have trainings, so for me it means that I have
to take the weekend off, for instance once a month,
only. Which is perfect for me – I am otherwise busy with
family, having three and half year old twins.
Where do you compete the most?
J. K. – I go to events mainly in the Czech
Republic. Last year I went to France and to Sweden once
and this year I only competed in the ETOC in Sweden and
now the WTOC in Scotland.
How do you see the present moment of Orienteering in the
Czech Republic?
J. K. – The competition is getting tougher and
tougher, not only here but generally around the world.
In the Czech Republic we have around 10-15 competitions
per year, approximately, often trying to have two day
events to make it more effective. It’s a really
intensive experience. Course setters in the Czech
Republic are getting better and better. Even during
these last three years that I've been doing
Trail-Orienteering I can see how much they all have
improved.
And how about the number of competitors, is it improving
too?
J. K. – Not really that much, I could say.
There are people who could be really good at
Trail-Orienteering (usually doing foot-o) but they're
not really into it, unfortunately. Speaking about
wheelchair guys, there are not that many that would see
this sport as an opportunity and a challenge. They
usually try to find something more physically demanding
that involves more adrenaline. Still we have now around
15 people on wheelchairs who regularly attend
orienteering competitions here. Then, there are few who
can organise events here, and good events, but in my
opinion we would need a few more to make it a good
mixture of different styles, locations... and to enable
those course setters to compete, too. The number of
course setters here is almost the same during the last
two-three years. Recently, two or three new names showed
up, who could potentially join this little group but we
will see.
What would you say to people to persuade them to come to
Trail-Orienteering?
J. K. – That's a though one! (laughs) I really
don't know, in Trail-Orienteering it is more about
attitudes, heart. I think you can't really persuade
someone just like that with a few words. I think you
need to have it somewhere inside of you, you need to
like solving problems and going out, you need to be kind
of perfectionist… I can't see right now anything that
would persuade someone who never saw it, who never tried
it before. From the first sight it can seem boring, but
it is not!
In these World Championships, what was the best and the
worst for you?
J. K. – I generally liked both days, the
courses, the controls and everything was really
challenging. The worst thing was the second day's course
– speaking about the path condition because for me (and
my assistant...) it was really demanding, I had to work
hard to get from one point to another, and that was one
of the reasons why I thought about it a hundred times
before I returned on the path to double-check some
issues from a different angle. You know, my assistant
was really helpful but I didn't want to make him work
harder than it was necessary. For me it was one of the
worst experiences in this matter, I really tried to
avoid returning if possible ,which, on the other hand,
put me to think ahead. But then you start thinking about
the advantages walking people in the same category may
have…
TempO or Trail-O?
J. K. – Trail-O, definitely. I don't have that
much experience in TempO, I am not that good at it, so
for me TempO is like a Model Event, it's like training
for Championships.
And Portugal, in ETOC 2014? Do you expect to be there?
J. K. - I hope I will have an opportunity to
go there. Portugal was always on my list of countries to
visit. Unfortunately I didn’t have time by now to go, so
2014 is my time! Benfica Lisbon and Lisbon itself rings
the bell and I liked a lot a book by Erich Maria
Remarque, “The Night in Lisbon”, so you should do the
ETOC in Lisbon… (laughs)
Otherwise, I’m afraid I don’t know much about
Portugal (apart from general knowledge like location,
capital etc.) or your orienteering but I will be happy
to learn. From events such as ETOC, in general, I expect
precision in every aspect.
For how much longer are we going to see you in
Trail-Orienteering?
J. K. – For many years, I hope! I would like
to do it more and more. I don't have much time, but for
me it's a really great thing to do, I like it. And there
are still goals to reach, space to be better…
Joaquim Margarido
