Discussion: Smoking Orienteers?

In another thread I mentioned some things that were banned (in some countries) at orienteering events and one of these was smoking so I set up a quick poll to see what percentage of orienteers smoke. (it appears to be anonymous but I won't guarantee it)

I suspect the results to be heavily skewed towards non-smoker but wondering how many ex-smokers are amongst us.

Poll

Results

PS sorry if this has been done before but a search provided no results.

Smoking what?

Nikolay, the response options in the poll are:

- current smoker
- illicit substances only
- ex-smoker
- never smoked

My response doesn't seem to be counted...

Valerie - I'm sorry but I just set it up on a freebie site so I'm not sure why. Hope it's at least semi-reliable.

This is one of the things I watch out for at orienteering events as we are involved with anti-smoking programs.
I can count on one hand the number of smokers I have seen at bush orienteering events, and that was surreptitious inside their vehicle. Park-street orienteering is more likely to attract the general public and we see more there, but still a relatively rare occurrence when compared to other demographics.

In nearly 40 years of orienteering I think I've only seen one man out in the woods with a cigarette in his mouth. He has since passed away but I will never forget the sight of that unshaven little man with a friendly grin, few teeth and an unlit cigarette butt somehow sticking in the corner of his mouth. His name was Walter, he came to Canada from the Ukraine and I bet he had more life experiences than most of us will ever have. No one would ever try to change Walter by saying he should not have that cigarette.
Currently of all the Canadian orienteers I know only one who smokes cigarettes. Probably not many smoking anything else, either.

I once saw someone at a Czech 5-Days having a smoke in the pre-start box (and this year saw someone in the same country smoking as they walked to the start).

I can only recall seeing one person smoking at an Australian event in the last 20 years.

I've seen photographic evidence of someone lighting up while on the course at the Bazaar sprint in Istanbul....

As in "smokin' down the finish chute"?

if the voting site isn't working I found that google docs worked alright for an online poll

...a friendly grin, few teeth and an unlit cigarette butt...he came...from the Ukraine...

We've got one of those Ukrainians in our club too. And he is a good orienteer...beats me every time anyway. And gives me that grin when I ask if he still smokes.

Perhaps anti-smoking fanatics have made not smoking a bit too PC in North America...? I find it curious that some people fuss about someone in their vicinity smoking...and then go out, gun their SUV in everyone's face, and drive off at 12 mpg.

At the age of 75 or 80 or whoknows, the man with the friendly grin and missing teeth ran his first marathon. After congratulating him, I asked how difficult it had been. "The running was easy, going seven hours without a smoke.....that was the hard part".

I didn't think 12mpg SUVs were politically correct either? Or are they back in again with the fall in world oil prices?

I saw a couple of guys smoking once at an event in Canada. It was back in 2002 during the Asia Pacific Championship in Alberta. The heat was incredible and the fire risk immense. I was really pissed at the smokers since we had "no smoking" signs everywhere. But it was a bit awkward to ask them to stop - they were after all the firemen that we had hired in case any one started the forest on fire.

I know a couple that smoke and race but they aren't regulars. Personally, my parents smoked for years then gave it up cold turkey when I was young. I've never had the urge. Makes no sense to me.

On another note, I was once passed in an adventure race by a guy drinking a beer.

AZ's comment reminds me... I think the most recent smoker I saw at an O' meet was an EMT (medic).

Athletes from the "good old days.."

I've never seen any competitors smoke at our events, but some of the JROTC commanders do. It annoys the hell out of me to have them standing around registration puffing away like oblivious idiots while people get ready for an athletic event.

Only 3 results, does that mean PPL who respond to the message aren't completing the poll?

If you see an orienteer smoking, you should assume they are on fire and react appropriately.

Hey Jim did you try the poll.

I suspect it's broken.

I think the freebie poll I set up is a dud or maybe it has a sample limit of three. (might be limited due to the current worldwide economic downturn)

Feel free to set it up somewhere else if you think it worthwhile, and post the link and I will edit it into the OP.

when i was at oringen this year i was surprised to see so many people smoking. they had seemed to set up an unofficial smokers area just out side of the main arena each day...strange enough it was always near the little kiddies start area.

I heard that a top level Norwegian man was (and still is?) a reported smoker. I hesitate to drop names becase I do not know this first hand. I believe he was on track to be an M60+ by this time. ~PG's age group?

There's a top US orienteer, US Team member in fact, who smokes a lot of cigars.

(Trail-O, that is.)

I heard that a top level Norwegian man ....

You're referring to Per Fosser, I assume. I've seen him smoking away (though I think it was after running his course, not before. Tthat was maybe 20-25 years ago, when he was 40ish. I don't know if he was smoking when he younger. He was 5th in WOC in 1970, gold medal in relay. Also a fine mapper. I think I first met him in '77.

PG>> I have heard that he was a smoker while running as well. But I think he stopped smoking a season or two when he was at the very top. Have seen some other smoking orienteers in Scandinavia as well, but it is very rare.

Leepback,

Did the poll, twice, made no difference to the result

Back in the 70's many top Scandanavian orienteers were taking little bits of concentrated tobacco -they called it snus - and putting it in the sides of their mouths. I think it gave them the nicotine rush without the negative effects on their lung capacity.
Not sure what it did to their mouths, throats or breath.
I think it is sold under the brand name Skoal here in Canada but I've never seen anyone using it.

gordhun>> A lot of orienteers still do that. It is tobacco they put under the lips. It has grown a lot in popularity the last 10 years or so, as people use it as a substitute for smoking. I think it is illegal to sell everywhere in Europe except Norway and Sweden..

I thought it used to be called snuss, don't know if it still is.

PG>> You are right. It is called "snus".

Vat's the use
to chew the snus
if you don't intend
to svallow the yuice?

Smoking orienteers?
How do you fit an orienteer into a cigarette paper?

Did an off the cuff survey at a LOST social once and suprised at how many reformed puffers were there over 50% - not seen anyone smoking at a OAWA event for a few years but they may be hidden?

I once woke up in a rainy AR in the Yukon to find that one of my socks was completely burnt and my helmet was still smokin'
(... and beer comes off the forbidden list once you're out of contention .. ;-) )