Slovenian Mountaineering Orienteering Competition Velenje 2026

The Slovenian Mountaineering Orienteering Competition (SPOT) Velenje will attract more than 300 competitors from all over Slovenia to the surroundings of the youngest Slovenian town on 16 and 17 May 2026, where they will compete in various categories for the title of national champions. The two-day competition, in which the best teams from individual regional leagues (Savinjska, Rogaška, Gorenjsko-dolenjska, Podravska liga and Smrekovec league) will compete, is organised by Planinsko društvo Velenje and the Youth Commission of the Alpine Association of Slovenia (PZS).

Mountaineering orienteering, which has a tradition of more than 70 years in Slovenia, represents a combination of knowledge, experience and the use of technical devices for movement in nature. The purpose of learning orienteering is for the individual to acquire knowledge with which they can independently and confidently master movement in the mountain world. Mountaineering orienteering competitions are one of the most popular methods of learning orienteering, which is also promoted by the PZS Youth Commission. They differ from other orienteering tests in that they also check participants' mountaineering knowledge and skills, such as knot tying, knowledge of rocks, flora and fauna, first aid and other contents of mountaineering school. Competitors, who compete in teams of three to five members, are divided into six categories: A - pupils up to 6th grade of primary school, B - pupils from 7th to 9th grade of primary school, C - youth up to 18 years, D - members over 18 years, E - members over 45 years and F - families (at least one parent or grandparent and primary school children), they can also compete in three open categories G, H and I.

The Slovenian Mountaineering Orienteering Competition Velenje 2026 in the surroundings of the youngest Slovenian town is organised by Planinsko društvo Velenje with the assistance of the Orienteering Board of the PZS Youth Commission. Competitors will have to demonstrate, in addition to honed orienteering knowledge, general mountaineering knowledge, knowledge of protected flora and fauna and good physical fitness, also practical knowledge of mountaineering school material and additional material on the Šaleška Mountaineering Trail, younger categories also on the history of mountaineering, older ones on Planinski vestnik, the first training ground Gonžarjeva peč and the use of technical equipment during winter mountain visits. This year's SPOT will be attended by 70 teams from 26 mountaineering associations. More than 300 competitors from all over Slovenia will compete for the national champion title in mountaineering orienteering with a compass and map in hand, while 40 volunteers will ensure the smooth running of the competition.

The competition for categories C, D and H will start on Saturday, 16 May, at 11.00 at the car park at Plastika Skaza in Selo pri Velenju, with mountaineers facing a night competition in the evening.



The highlight of the orienteering event will be on Sunday, 17 May, as all 70 teams will be at the competition venue. At Podružnična šola Šentilj, the organisers will greet the competitors at 9.30, followed by the start of teams in categories A, B, E, F, G and I, while competitors in categories C, D and H will already be on the course after an early start.



The finish for all teams on 17 May will be at Podružnična šola Šentilj, where the closing ceremony with the awarding of recognitions will take place around 17.00. The top three teams in categories B, C, D and E will participate in the Balkan Championship in mountaineering orienteering in the autumn.



The contact person at the competition venue will be the president of PD Velenje, Barbara Kelher, reachable at 040 307 929.

Welcome to the orienteering hustle and bustle!