09/08/2023 ããÿAt the 21stÿInternational Amateur Radio Union World Amateur Radio DirectionãFinding (ARDF) Championship in Liberec, Czech Republic, held August 27 throughãSeptember 2, 2023, USA competitors won a silver medal for an individualãcompetition, as well as two bronze team medals.ããARDF, also known as radio orienteering, is a multi-skill sport that involvesãrunning and navigation using only a map and compass.ããCompetitors use a 2-meter (144 MHz) or 80-meter (3.5 MHz) radio receiver toãlocate multiple transmitters hidden in a forest. The sport directly applies toãimportant activities such as search and rescue, wildlife tracking, airborne andãseaborne navigation, and communications. The competition at the championship inãLiberec involved mountainous terrain, intricate navigation challenges, periodsãof rain, and elite racing.ããThe USA fielded its largest team ever, including 21 athletes, with sevenãcompeting in a world championship for the first time. The (IARU) and CzechãRadio Club hosted the event in the mountainous region of North Bohemia, with 28ãcountries and nearly 400 racers attending.ããRuth Bromer, WB4QZG, won a silver medal in the W65 category during the 3.5 MHzã"foxoring" event that combines orienteering and transmitter (fox) hunting.ãNadia Scharlau, KO4ADV, and Natalia Leoni earned a bronze team medal in the W55ãcategory 144 MHz classic competition. Several USA athletes also finished withinãthe top 10 results in nearly all the classes, including two fourth - placeãfinishes by Scharlau.ããScharlau was thrilled with the results. "All our newcomers performed beyond ourãexpectations. The courses were extremely hard. We all got along and supportedãone another. Most importantly, almost everyone expressed their determination toãimprove and come back to compete again," said Scharlau.ããARRL's ARDF Committee Chair Charles Scharlau, NZ0I, who also raced, echoed theãpositive take on the USA team, stating, "They successfully navigatedãwell-designed courses on rugged terrain against a field of skilled andãexperienced competitors. The Czech Republic is an ideal place to hold the worldãchampionships. They have great maps, excellent venues, and they know how to putãon a world-class event," he said.ããThe USA Radio Orienteering Championship will be held in Michigan on October 7 -ã13, 2024. Team USA will select its team members for the 2025 USA Championship,ãand that team will travel to Lithuania in 2025 to compete in the 22nd WorldãARDF Championship.ããA complete list of the 2023 results can be found atãhttps://vysledky.ardf2023.cz/.[1]ããThanks to ARRL ARDF Committee and Event Director Joseph Burkhead, KE8MKR, forãthe information contained in this story.ããã[1] https://vysledky.ardf2023.cz/ãã---ã þ Synchronet þ Whiskey Lover's Amateur Radio BBSã