In October, the 5+5 days event will be held for the second year in a row in Sardinia, on the southern coast during the first week and then in the north during the second week. Unique landscapes and moments of slow living, with friends or family, will be part of your everyday life.
Among the participants with us this year will also be Swiss champion Daniel Hubmann, who, together with his family, has chosen our events for many years. Curious to learn more and to show you his point of view, we thought we’d ask him to tell us about his experience. Here’s our chat with him. We look forward to training together with you!
- Daniel, you’re one of the most successful orienteers of all time, with 9 world titles and 6 World Cup overall wins in your career. Where do you feel you are in your career today, and what still drives you to race and travel for competitions?
I still love the challenge of an orienteering race and to find out what is still possible. The end of my career is getting closer, and it becomes harder every year to keep up with the younger athletes. But in orienteering, results are not always predictable. If I have a good day and master the challenges better than the others, I still have a chance – and that keeps me motivated.
- You’ve been a loyal supporter of Park World Tour Italia for many years. What made you choose our events once again, this year with the 5+5 Sardinia 2026?
Italy has always been one of my favourite countries to travel to because I love the atmosphere, the weather, the food, and the great variety of landscapes – from the mountains to the sea. And when you can combine all of that with exciting orienteering races and the special atmosphere of Park World Tour Italia, it’s always a pleasure to come back.
- This year you’re coming back to Sardinia with your family. What does it mean to you to combine racing and a holiday with the people you love? What do your daughters and your wife think of Sardinia?
For us as a family, it’s the perfect way to combine a holiday with orienteering. The event is not too big, and the distances between the start, finish, and parking areas are usually short. That means that, besides the race itself, we still have plenty of time to relax, go to the beach, or do other activities together. In Switzerland, we have school holidays at that time of the year, so it’s a great opportunity to enjoy some sunny and warm days before winter arrives.
- Sardinia offers historic town centers, but also forests and natural environments that are very different from one another. As an orienteer, what surprised you most about the Sardinian terrain?
Last year, we did some really nice orienteering in the coastal forests, with interesting contour features that made the terrain both challenging and fun. That was one of my highlights of the week. But for me, a week like this is also about adventure and discovering new places. One of the things I love most about orienteering is that it takes you far away from the usual tourist routes. You get to explore hidden corners and experience landscapes that many visitors would never see.
- How will you get to Sardinia this year — driving from Switzerland again? How do you rate PWT Italia’s logistics and organization, from arrival to accommodation to the staff on race day?
Yes, we’ll travel to Sardinia by car again. For us, it’s a very convenient way to travel: we can pack everything we need at home, drive for a few hours, and then take the overnight ferry to Sardinia. Once we arrive at the event, the crew is always very helpful, the atmosphere is friendly and familiar, and you see many happy faces. I also really like that you can book the accommodation together with the race entry. So you know you will meet some orienteering friends and families there, and the kids can play together.
- What would you say to someone who has never tried a PWT Italia event, perhaps thinking these races are “only for professionals”?
I would say that the 5+5 Sardinia 2026 is an event for everybody, and that the result is secondary. For me, it’s an orienteering festival where the most important thing is to enjoy the moment: discovering new and beautiful places and sharing experiences with friends and family. That’s what keeps us coming back to these events again and again.