Euan Best: Navigating The World Stage

When you hear the words ‘orienteering’, images of maps, compasses, and forest trails might come to mind. For Grade 12 student Euan Best, however, the sport is about much more than navigation. It’s a test of endurance, focus, and composure under pressure. After competing at the Junior World Orienteering Championships in Italy, representing Tasmania and Australia on the world stage, Euan has experienced firsthand the highs and lows of racing against the very best young athletes from around the globe. 

His journey, from urban sprints to challenging forest courses, offers a glimpse into the dedication and resilience required to perform at an elite level and the lessons that extend far beyond the finish line.

Q. Can you tell us a bit about the Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC) in Italy? What events did you compete in, and how did they go?
A. I was fortunate enough to compete at JWOC over June and July in Italy this year. There are five events at JWOC: the Sprint Relay, Individual Sprint, Individual Long Distance, Individual Middle Distance, and the Forest Relay - each testing different skills. Sprint races are around urban areas (~13 minutes) focusing on speed and quick decision-making, while long and middle distances in forests test endurance and concentration (~75 minutes). Relays involve teams of three or four runners across urban or forest terrain. At JWOC an athlete participates in all five events. For my first international carnival, my focus wasn’t on results, it was just putting down runs that reflected my hard work. Over the five events, I had mixed results, with my best being 45th place in the middle distance.

Q. How was the experience of competing internationally? Were there any standout moments or challenges?
A. Competing internationally was a definite step up from national events! Much bigger scale, more formal procedures, and so many cameras to get used to! My standout moment was also my biggest challenge. In the Individual Sprint, it was 38°C, and I was the last Australian to start. Halfway through, I was sitting 7th place, the best any Australian had been since 2019. I maintained that position until the last three controls, when I accidentally punched the wrong control. I finished thinking I was in the top ten, only to be disqualified. Whilst this was a devastating moment, it was still great to have been able to put down an ‘almost’ perfect run, that held up against some of the best junior orienteers in the world and has given me the confidence to know I can place in the future.

Q. What was it like to represent Tasmania and Australia on the world stage?
A. Representing Tasmania/Australia was very exciting and nerve-wracking. It had always been a goal of mine to represent Australia so to finally have that experience was quite surreal. As the competition neared, I definitely noticed the nerves starting to creep in and I just had to back myself that I had done enough in the lead-up to prove why I had been given a spot on the team.

Q. You also competed at the European Youth Orienteering Championships (EYOC). How did that compare?
A. EYOC was similar to JWOC, except there were only three events (long, sprint, and relay) and four age categories (M16, M18, W16, W18). I was running M18 against some familiar names from JWOC and some completely new names. My plan was to just put down three solid runs across the three events and try not to get ‘the yips’ and have a repeat of the JWOC sprint. The terrain and courses were brutal, with steep climbs, low visibility, and complex sections. Across the three days, I placed in the top 20 in each event.

Q. What’s something you’ll take away from the trip, either as an athlete or personally?
A. Athletically, I now know I have what it takes to compete at the top levels. Personally, I’ve learned resilience and the ability to turn disappointment into motivation. Oh, and the Dolomites are spectacular, and tuna pizza is delicious!

Mrs Emily Wynn, Marketing Manager