Riga Autumn Legend Rogaining takes place in early November

Original publication date: 03.10.2025

On the second weekend of April, those interested in orienteering enjoyed the surroundings of Ķīšezer and Jaunciem in the Riga Spring Legends rogaining, but now after half a year the Legends rogaining will return to the capital again. This time at a different venue - Grīziņkaln, which is a well-known place for the participants of the popular running series “Izskrien Rīgu”, some of whom also start in the legend rogainings. By the way, at the end of July this year, the "Izskrien Rīgu” series was held in Grīziņkalni.

Legend has it that in the 18th century, Tsarina Anna's doctor moved to Riga and built the Griesenberg manor in the middle of the marshes on top of a sand dune. At the beginning of the 20th century, a park was established here, where the workers living here gathered for rallies. It was also here that the boys of the Vārnu Street Republic fought against the Tulian Empire of Lauku Street. During the First World War, all the buildings burned down, except for the Gardener's house, which is still standing today, protected from fire by carvings of dragons. In Starpkaru Latvij, the abandoned Grīziņkalnas was renovated with a new stage, rose garden, swimming pools and playgrounds. The park was popular not only with vacationers, but also with sappers for their training and even nudists. After the global financial crisis, Grīziņkalns resembled a ghetto: drunkards, street girls, children without a future. Only one thing will be able to save them - street sports.

The competition center will be located at the “Ghetto gaumes” venue in Grīziņkalni. The competition area will stretch from Sarkandaugava, where the people of Riga just had a competition center for the Orientation Night, which was attended by a large number of people, all the way to the South Bridge, where Ķengarags begins. Uz Sarkandaugavu will have to go through Zemitani and the many cross lines of Čiekurkalns, but on the way back you will be able to enjoy Andrejsala, Osta, Brasa, and also Skanstes region, where the “Izskrien Rīgu” season ended at the end of August. Checkpoints will also be in Klusaja center, Old Riga, Tirgus district, the most colorful area of ​​the suburbs of Latgale, as well as in the vicinity of Vagonpark. As there will be quite a lot of railway crossing.

In some distances, exciting battles for the overall victory, as well as the prized places, are expected. If last year it was a very windy day, when everything that was not tied down flew through the air, then this year promises to be calmer.

The organizers offer the usual team distances to the participants according to their abilities and wishes - 6h Garmin and 4h Isostar, but the others will be with other sponsors - 2h TVNET+ rogaining distance, 2h Magnesia rogaining race and 3h Gerble MTB distance. You can register for membership and find out more information on the website rogainings.lv.

This year, an innovation has been introduced - the TVNET+ Enterprise Challenge Award, the purpose of which is to determine the best enterprise teams in rogaining, to promote the collective cohesion, endurance and mutual cooperation of enterprises. There will also be “Leģendu klubu balva” with a very good reward at the end of the season. You can read more about the news at rogainings.lv

In Rogaining competitions with 2 to 4 participants, the team includes both athletes and orienteering enthusiasts who are already masters of these competitions, as well as lovers of an active and sporty lifestyle who like to spend their free time in the fresh air and be active. That's why several families also use this option, because rogaining is a very democratic activity in its essence, since the participants can choose the distance and the number of checkpoints suitable for their abilities.

You can find more information about the event on the website: http://rogainings.lv.