Cottbus becomes a geocaching mecca: German championship attracts 19 teams!

Cottbus becomes a geocaching mecca: German championship attracts 19 teams!

Cottbus will be the center of the geocaching community next weekend when the 19th German Geocaching Championship takes place on the grounds of the ESV LokRaw boathouse. A total of 19 teams from different regions of Germany will face exciting challenges over these two days, while the defending champions from Lausitz themselves are not allowed to take part. Falk Pinkwart, who organizes the championship and shone as German champion last year, put the event together with his team.

Each team consists of five people and comes from cities such as Berlin, Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg. Tension and anticipation are in the air as 18 of the 43 teams that applied have qualified for the final. An additional team was given the chance to participate via wildcard. To ensure fair competition, a 50 kilometer exclusion zone was drawn around the venue. Over 50 helpers are on duty to ensure that the conditions do not differ for all teams.

Unique challenges and exciting locations

Geocaching is more than just a scavenger hunt. It requires good orientation and team spirit. The participants have to navigate through eleven stations in Cottbus, which are arranged in historical places and idyllic places. A challenge will be the climb to the Spremberger Tower, whose 131 steps have to be conquered. In addition, the Cottbus city library will provide a special range of puzzles on the day of the competition. The participants have to solve complex tasks that require not only logical thinking but also creativity.

The championship has taken place annually since 2003 and is very popular, with the exception of the Corona years. There are now around 431,600 geocaches known in Germany, and there are over three million worldwide. There are an estimated 100 to 150 geocachers active in Cottbus itself, including many pensioners who dedicate themselves to this exciting hobby.

Community involvement

What is particularly worth mentioning is that on the day of the competition, the winners receive small medals in the form of coins. The championship represents the fun of geocaching and brings a variety of people together. It is an opportunity for the community to network and develop new creative ideas together. A preparatory meeting supported by the organizers took place on November 8, 2024 in the ESV LokRaw clubhouse, where the participants were also able to exchange ideas about barbecue facilities and other organizational aspects.

The anticipation for the event is great. The geocachers are ready to demonstrate their sense of direction and team spirit. Who will be able to wear the coveted medal at the end? The weekend in Cottbus will show the answer to this. Anyone interested is warmly invited to follow the exciting competitions on site and get their own impression of this unique treasure hunt. Further information can be found on the websites of RBB24 and Nordkurier. If you want to get active, you can also find out more on the Geocaching.com platform.