On the second Saturday and Sunday in June (June 8 and 9), the National Orienteering Championships took place in Mikulášovice, with support from Mikov. Although “orienteering” sounds like it’s just a leisurely walk, the opposite is true. In reality, it’s a demanding sport that requires endurance, speed, strength, and knowledge.
It’s essentially a run through nature on a course about 4 kilometers long. Before a competitor reaches the finish line, they must complete several tasks. First and foremost are tasks requiring physical fitness, such as crossing a rope bridge, throwing at a target, or crawling. However, there are also skill stations along the course, which include tying knots, estimating distances, or running by azimuth. And competitors will also encounter purely knowledge-based tasks—such as identifying plants or hiking trail markers.
Since Mikov offers pocket knives suitable for hiking, outdoor knives, and military kniveson the Czech market , supporting this sport is a natural fit. But we have more reasons to help. Of all the participating towns, Mikulášovice is probably the smallest. Nevertheless, it has won three national championship titles and numerous other podium finishes. This is no coincidence. Behind it lie years and years of systematic work with children and youth. And supporting the local community with an emphasis on sports and youth engagement is a priority for Mikov.
Hosting the national championship in Mikulášovice—even for a relatively small sport—is no easy task. It takes hours and days of work by dozens of volunteers. Thanks in part to them, all championship participants went home satisfied. And Mikov packed a special “Rybička” just for them to take home. It will serve as a memento and perhaps even an incentive for them to return someday—this time at their own pace, free from the stress of competition—to explore our beautiful natural surroundings and perhaps even visitthe Museum of Knife-Making Traditions, which features a specialty Mikov knife shop.