El Cruce this year will celebrate the 12th edition. The format is a three day stage race from Chile to Argentina covering 30 – 40km per day.
Like other multi stage races such as the Marathon des Sables or The Coastal Challenge, runners will sleep in a ‘camp’ each evening. The camp is an important element of multi day racing as bonds are made and memories forged.
Event dates are 8-10th February for individual runners and 7-9th February for teams.
The ‘solo category‘ in 2013 has an impressive field assembled. It will be without doubt quite a race… Adam Campbell, Iker Karera, Max King and Francois d’Haene take on previous winners Gustavo Reyes and Nelson Ortega.
The ladies race has Frosty (Anna Frost) hopefully toeing the line feeling refreshed after a winter of recuperation. This won’t be an easy race for her though… the presence of Emma Rocca, Oihana Kortazar and previous race winners Rosalia Camargo Guarischi and Cristina de Carvallho will mean that a battle ‘royal’ will be played out over the three race days.
This years race sees runners race around the theme of a volcano for each stage. Apparently they will go around, up or down to make a loop. Given the name of ‘Through the Volcanoes‘ the race is billed as a tough three days. The three stages are as follows:
Villarica Volcano near Pucón, Chile.
Quetrupillan Volcano between Chile and Argentina.
Lanin Volcano
With plenty of vertical kilometres this race will certainly suit Iker Karera, Anna Frost and Oihana Kortazar but will Francois d’Haene after his success at UTMB and his top placing at Transvulcania in 2012 push for the win or will the speed kings Max King and Adam Campbell make a difference over the three days.
The Andes are a beautiful mountain range. Combined with three days of running and camp life in the evening, the 2013 edition will be a race to remember.
A recipe for success – the world’s top athletes, a dream location, three challenging events.
Two important firsts are announced by the International Skyrunning Federation today: the 2014 Skyrunning World Championships will include the ultra distance for the first time and Chamonix, the most iconic outdoor sports arena, will host the events at the end of June, 2014.
January 30, 2013
Chamonix, France, offering the most famous and spectacular mountain panorama, will stage the second Skryunning World Championships at the end of June, 2014.
Three distances will be disputed:
– The short, steep Vertical KM – 1,000 metres skywards – by night. A timed race, it will test your VO2 max to the limit.
– The Mont-Blanc Marathon – the 42 km course starts in Chamonix and finishes at 2,016m altitude, gathering 2,511m elevation gain and 1,490m on the downhill, this beautiful trail offers some of the best scenery of the Mont Blanc massif.
– The Mont-Blanc 80KM – an exclusive, new course to be inaugurated this year, it features a challenging 6,000 metres of vertical climb along ridges, over snow fields, crossing into Swiss territory and traversing glaciers in a point to point loop from the town of Chamonix.
The races are open to both individuals and teams. Individual World titles are at stake in each discipline as well as a combined title, based on the best results of two out of three races. Countries will be ranked according to the best results of three men and one woman in all three disciplines.
Held every four years, the Championships represent the second edition since the inauguration of the ISF in 2008 and the first time that the ultra distance is included.
In occasion of the first Skyrunning World Championships in 2010, winners of the individual titles were Urban Zemmer (Italy) and Laetitia Roux (France) for the Vertical Kilometer®; Kilian Jornet (Spain) and Laetitia Roux (France) for the SkyMarathon®, and the combined titles went to Nicola Golinelli (Italy) and Laetitia Roux (France). The country ranking was headed by Italy, followed by Spain and France for a total of 13 nations.
The bid for the 2014 Skyrunning World Championships has been awarded to the experienced and highly competent local organiser, the Club des Sport Chamonix, which manages year-round major international sports events.
Marino Giacometti, ISF President, commented: “We’re proud to present the World Championships in Chamonix and, with the support of the Club des Sport, we’re confident the events will be a perfect showcase for skyrunning and draw the best in the world for some intense competition.”
In 2013, the Vertical KM and the Mont-Blanc Marathon will feature on the Skyrunner® World Series calendar for the first time, an occasion to gather the world’s top athletes and thousands of participants for a preview of what is to come in 2014 – a competition to set your heart racing – starting right now!
Programme, race and entry details will be published at a later date. In the meantime see herefor details of the 2013 events. Subscribe to our newsletter for all the news and follow us on twitterand Facebook for updates.
Imagine an Island in the Indian Ocean: mountains, rainforest..a population passionate about trailrunning, a race going on it’s 20th edition. We are on the Island of La Réunion, A Trail Running Island – enjoy !
“In the High Country” is a super-exciting mountain running film starring Anton Krupicka. Filmed and Produced by Joel Wolpert with the support of Ultimate Direction, this film will take you where you’ve never been before. Anton Krupicka’s running has evolved from trails to mountains to free-soloing. Filmed over a season “In the High Country” — thin air, river baths, and itinerant mountain living. A new short film from the Wolpertinger coming Summer 2013.
Music
‘Seeding’ by Tyler Keene
logacrossthewasher.bandcamp.com
“Rim of the Well’ by Rim of the Well
stevemullinsmusic.com/bands/the-rim-of-the-well
Color Grading and Titles by Coat of Arms
coatofarmspost.com
Andy Symonds and Ricky Lightfoot very much pioneered the Salomon Fellcross, as the inside of the shoe says ‘Designed in the Alps‘. They tested the shoe and made tweaks to the design that would ensure that a shoe came to the market that was perfect for the job!
In 2013, a Fellcross 2 is certainly on the cards but fresh from the Outdoor Retail Show in the US the Salomon Fellraiser has emerged. Due SS 13?
Low to the ground? The Fellraiser is lower to the ground and apparently more flexible than previous models in the Salomon range. A 7mm drop (tbc) with a supposed12mm of cushioning at the front and 19mm at the back, this shoe will certainly become popular on muddy and gnarly trail. It has aggressive traction and a contragrip outsole with a fast drying and lightweight upper.An EVA midsole should provide great feel and enhance quick transition from one foot to the other.
UPDATE 1st Feb
Many thanks to Gripmaster who has been testing these shoes, he has confirmed the ‘drop’ at 6mm with forefoot cushioning at 6mm and rear cushioning at 12mm. He says “the new profile is quite cool, better on rock than the fellcross 1, so more usable in the alps that way..”
Is this ‘the new‘ Speedcross? Who knows… it certanly seems as though it is an offering in the ‘Speedcross’ arena. Certainly, the lower drop, if confirmed, will be appealing. But I have already seen new colourways of the Speecdross 3 for 2013 so this almost certainly will be an addition to the Salomon range.
It’s also lightweight, current stats are showing 230g for a UK8.5 (tbc)
Of course until I get my hands on a pair of shoes, look at them and test them, I can provide no more information. Rest assured, news will soon follow.
“So with those two big back to back days complete, I’m now just a smidgen over 250 kilometres from Bluff. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about the finish now. I’m starting to visualise the end, and think about the day I wake up and don’t need to run. That is starting to appeal more and more. This has been quite some journey, and my body is starting to get rather weary.”
Yes, Jez has just 250km to go to set a new record for covering ‘The Long Pathway‘ in New Zealand, Teararoa.
Despite some sickness he has battled through and as he says above, the end is in sight.
Many congratulation Jez on what has been an epic journey.
I’m starting to visualise the end, and think about the day I wake up and don’t need to run.
I remember it well, two days before Cavalls del Vent in 2012 I was in the race hotel in Berga having dinner with Terry Conway, Emelie Forsberg and Philipp Retier.
Midway through the meal, Kilian Jornet joined us. Just the day before he had been in Barcelona for testing.
If you have seen the recent Summits of my Life movie, ‘A Fine LIne‘ you will see Kilian undertaking part of this test.
We discussed over food how this test had gone… Kilian seemed happy, he said that he had managed to last longer than previous tests. An improvement! You can see the results here:
Copyright Kilian Jornet/ Seb Montaz
Spirometry
Lung capacity: 5.3 L VEMS: 4750 Tiffenneau: 88.28 PEFR: 10,63
Transgrancanaria is a race that has been held on the island of Gran Canaria since October 2003. In the Transgrancanaria participants must cross the island on foot passing through several aid stations where they can replenish their water and food supplies, also giving the organisation a chance to monitor the competitors’ progress.
The Transgrancanaria is the pioneer of this kind of event in the Canary Islands. Arista, the organizer of the race, have placed Transgrancanaria as one of the main highlights on the national , European and now, the World stage.
The Transgrancanaria is held in the first week of March and has four different races, making accessible to everyone:
Transgrancanaria: DISTANCE: 119km. Elevation: + 7.000 m. 31 Hours.
South-North Transgrancanaria: DISTANCE: 83km. Elevation: + 4.700 m. 24 Hours.
Media Transgrancanaria: Distance: 42km. Elevation: +- 4.000 m. 14 Hours.
Transgrancanaria Starter: 24km Ascent: +- 1.800 m. 10 Hours.
The first edition of Transgrancanaria in October 2003 had a total of 65 participants, and over the years has grown to more than 1400 athletes, walkers, joggers and nature lovers from more than 20 countries that have decided to take the challenge of crossing the island on foot in less than 31 hours. On this route participants can find rain, sun, mud, dust … but above all they will enjoy direct contact with nature. The course is the same for everyone and will be fully marked to avoid errors.
The Transgrancanaria not intended only to test the elite, but is an event for everyone, which is why you have 31 hours to do it. The first competitors will finish in daylight and the last will finish in darkness, however all will pass through the aid stations ensuring the competitors’ safety and comfort.
The North Face Transgrancanaria 2013 will be on 1st, 2nd and 3rd of March and will have four races: Starter, Marathon, Advanced and Transgrancanaria. The main race (Transgrancanaria) being one of the highlights in the national and European racing calendar.
The North Face athlete, Sebastien Chaigneau 3rd in 2011 and winner in 2012 with a time of 12:54:19 will be returning in 2013 to hopefully dominate on this rough and tough course. He will have some competition though from Salomon athletes Ryan Sandes and ‘wonder kid’ Philipp Reiter.
The ladies race will have returning champ and The North Face athlete Lizzy Hawker(**updated 18th Feb Lizzy Hawker will no longer be racing, she is still recovering from a stress fracture) and Julia Boettger fighting for the win. UPDATE – Emelie Forsberg has now confirmed that she will be racing (17th Feb 2013)
Although some elite runners are still to be confirmed , just over a month before the start of the race, some of the most internationally renowned professionals shave secured an entry for March 2nd in Gran Canaria. Sebastien Chaigneau and other runners such as Ryan Sandes, John Tidd, Zigor Iturrieta or Portuguese Carlos Sa, are favorites to win the test.
Also included in the participation of the race is ultra legend, Italian Marco Olmo, who at 64 is still running in the most demanding tests and competing at the highest level. Like other elite runners as Aitor Leal, Llorens brothers, Philipp Reiter, Armando Teixeira, Fernanda Maciel, Nerea Martinez, Lizzy Hawker (not racing), Julia Boettger and Emelie Forsberg.
Published on Mar 20, 2012
Join us in celebrating 1st place wins for The North Face®athletes Sebastien Chaigneau and Fernanda Maciel at the 123km ultra-race of The North Face® Transgrancanaria – Gran Canaria, Spain, 2nd-4th March, 2012.
I will provide an elite start list for the mens and womens race as soon as possible. I am just waiting for this information from the race officials.
The originators of the two day mountain marathon have announced an expanded program of events for 2013 offering opportunities for adventure to rival any experience.
OMM began the discipline of mountain marathon as the KIMM way back in 1968. Over the years little has changed about the core event and the challenge it represents. Pairs pit their fitness and navigation skills against the course, other competitors and the elements to race across the wild areas of the UK over two days whilst being self sufficient.
The core event continues to be the largest of its type in existence and will again take place in the final weekend in October in Wales. Stu Hamilton, Events Director, said, “This time of year helps set the character of the event. No matter where we are you just don’t know what the conditions may bring. The teams therefore have to be ready for anything.”
In order to appeal to the rapidly growing community of up and coming adventurers and those who find road races, triathlons, ironmen etc yesterdays news OMM have launched a number of supporting events in the UK as well as a couple of truly inspirational international events.
OMM Iceland 25th – 26th May, The Blue Lagoon, Reyjavik. Entries open
OMM France 17th – 18th August, Jura Mountains. Entries open
Extrem Maraton – Denmark. 25th – 26th May. Entries open.
2013 sees the arrival of OMM Lite and OMM Bike in the Peak District on the weekend 18th May,
In order to protect the environment and the experience for the competitors the places are unfortunately limited. Entries for all events will be open by 31st Jan. If you are up for the challenge then go to the website www.theomm.com.
Thomas Dold once again confirms his prowess as the world’s number one skyscraper racer, despite his second place in the VWC final in Brazil won by Italian Fabio Ruga. Australia’s Suzy Walsham wins the race and takes the title.The King of skyscraper racing, German Thomas Dold, was crowned Vertical World Circuit Champion for the fourth time, despite coming a close second to Italian Fabio Ruga in the Corrida Vertical in Sao Paolo, Brazil on January 25. The ladies’ winner, Australian Suzy Walsham, also took the World Champion title based on ranking points scored in the eight-race Circuit.
Ruga, the man who beat the seemingly invincible Dold by a mere two seconds, reached the summit of the 140 metre builing in 3’04”, Dold was second in 3’06” and third, Belgian Omar Bekkali in 3’16”. The women’s times were 3’45” for winner Suzy Walsham, and Brazilians Criastina Marcia was second in 4’40’ and Alnmeida Ligia, third in5’19”.
Race winner Fabio Ruga, together with three hundred runners, raced up the 672 steps and 29 floors wearing a pair of Vibram® FiveFingers®– the “barefoot sports shoes”, winning Friday’s Vertical World Circuit final outright.
January 25th was the date chosen by the Corrida Vertical to celebrate Saõ Paolo’s foundation in 1554. On the same day, an annual “Skyrunning Day” has been introduced to create awareness of the health benefits of tower running to the sports-loving Brazilians.
Skyscraper racing, governed by the International Skyrunning Federation, is becoming increasingly popular: last year more than 7,000 runners from 30 countries took part in the Vertical World Circuit which unites some of the world’s most iconic skyscraper races in eight major cities across four continents – from the Americas to the heart of Europe and the Far East.
Look out for the 2013 Vertical World Circuit to be announced shortly by the ISF, where Brazil aims for a repeat performance as one of the major venues.
IAN CORLESS 