Orienteering is very popular in Hämeenkangas. The dry, sandy and sparsely wooded pine forest offers good visibility and the possibility to move quickly from one checkpoint to another. On the other hand, in many places there are only few easily recognisable landmarks, which challenges the orienteer’s reading of the terrain and the map. The elevation variations of the esker landscape add to the difficulty of the routes. The special terrain and snow conditions in Jämi also provide an excellent setting for ski orienteering.
There are two active, local orienteering clubs in the Jämi area: the Kankaanpää Orienteers and the Ikaalisten Nouseva-Voima. Both clubs organise several orienteering events, competitions and training sessions in Hämeenkangas and the Jämi area every year. The clubs organise fitness orienteering events in the area, with different levels of trails for all ages. You can come to the courses either by appointment or on your own. The clubs also work closely together to improve the conditions for the sport in the area, for example through joint mapping projects.
The organizing rights for the 2030 Jukola relay have been granted to Jämi. The organizing clubs are Rastikarhut (Pori), Ikaalisten Nouseva-Voima and Kankaanpään Suunnistajat. The Jukola and Venla relay was last time in Jämi in 2004.
Alongside the arrangement of the Jukola relay, the particular areas of Hämeenkankas have been banned from orienteering. Those people who intend to attend the Jukola relay in Jämi are not allowed to move and stay in the prohibited training area with any map. For the time being, the use of the ski trails is allowed for the orienteers of the Jukola relay. The rules of orienteering governing body require banned areas, and compliance with them is also monitored. More information about the arrangement of the Jukola relay and the banned area is available from the organizing clubs and from the Jämi Jukola website, which will be launched later.
An important annual orienteering event in Jämi is the Orienteering Marathon, which has become a late autumn highlight for orienteers of all ages and levels. The Marathon was organised for the first time in 2007. The gathering of just under a hundred people has grown over the years into an anticipated event for several hundred orienteers. There are races from 12 years old to 85 years old. Anyone can take part in the fitness series. You can choose a course from five kilometres to 25 kilometres. The Orienteering Marathon will still be held in Jämi in the fall of 2025, but in the coming years the event will be moved elsewhere with the arrangements for the Jukola relay.
In Jämi you can independently orienteer on the fixed tracks or MOBO trail. Fixed tracks are permanently placed in the terrain, which you can run in the order and at the time that suits you best. Maps of the fixed course are sold by Lomahotelli Jämi and local orienteering clubs. MOBO orienteering and stamping is done with the MOBO app that can be downloaded to your phone.
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