Find the Right Course and Category for You: Enjoy Orienteering at All Levels at Kainuu Orienteering Week!
Published: 21.04.2026
Summer and Kainuu Orienteering Week (KOW) 2026 are approaching – it’s time to turn our sights toward the magnificent terrains of Suomussalmi. Whether you are a top-level athlete, veteran of the competition categories, a fitness orienteer or a recreational participant in open courses, or a young beginner heading into the woods for the first time, KOW offers the perfect way for everyone to enjoy the forest and the sport.
The event offers a wide range of courses, and we want to ensure that every participant finds a challenge that suits them. To make your choice easier, we have compiled comprehensive introductions to the course types and characteristics, with a special focus on children's categories, master classes (veterans), and Open (recreational) courses.
You can learn more about the different course types through the links below. Although the articles were written based on last year’s landscapes, the same principles and category styles apply this coming summer in Suomussalmi – though this year, the terrain features fast-running pine forests, making it more runnable and the navigational tasks slightly more straightforward.
Explore the main features of each category:
Children (Competition categories):
- Ages 8–10: Introduction to String Courses (RR)
- Age 12: Moving towards more challenging controls
- Ages 13–14: Speed and skill
Adult Competition Categories:
Open Categories (Recreational/Fitness orienteering):
- How to find the right course in Open Courses
- Children's Open categories: Orienteering for the youngest in the family
Coming Soon: A Deep Dive into the Elite Categories!
This year, we want to provide even more detailed information for the top competitors. We are currently preparing a brand-new feature focusing specifically on the Elite categories (H/D16–21E).
What’s in store when the world’s best athletes hit the trails in Suomussalmi? What kind of technical and physical challenges have the course setters designed to test the elite? Stay tuned – this article will be published soon!
Welcome to the 58th Kainuu Orienteering Week, June 28th – July 3rd, 2026 in Säynäjä, Suomussalmi – the Forest Challenges and the Scenery Rewards!
Tip: Remember to register early to secure your spot in the most versatile orienteering week of the summer! Lower entry fees are valid until May 31st, 2026.
Don’t forget also:
- Kainuu MTBO Week (Mountain Bike Orienteering), June 28th – July 3rd in Suomussalmi
- Kainuu Trail Hossa National Park (Finland) trail running event on Saturday, June 27th, 2026
