Mohamad Ahansal – Transvulcania 2013

Posted on May 10, 2013 by talkultra

Mohamad Ahansal with translation from Niandi Carmont, Transvulcania 2013 – copyright Ian Corless

Mohamad Ahansal needs no introduction to followers of the Marathon des Sables. Just three weeks ago, Mohamad clinched his fifth victory in the iconic multi stage race. Tomorrow, May 11th, he lines up against the best in the world. He says. “I plan to run hard on the uphill as I am not great on the downhill”.

Mohamad placed top 5 in the 2010 edition of Transvulcania and if he is fresh after ‘MDS’, I personally feel that he may well be the dark horse of this years race…. watch this space.

YouTube HERE

Many thanks to Niandi Carmont for providing translation.

Links:

Transvulcania 2013 – HERE
Skyrunning – HERE

Transvulcania 2013 – Banana plantation visit

Posted on May 9, 2013 by talkultra

Runners in the 2013 Transvulcania La Palma visited a local banana plantation this afternoon. Fun and informative…. did we get a glimpse of the men’s podium?

Kilian Jornet – Transvulcania 2013

Posted on May 9, 2013 by talkultra

Kilian Jornet Transvulcania 2013 – copyright Ian Corless

Salomon athlete, Kilian Jornet needs no introduction…. last year he raced Transvulcania and placed third behind Dakota Jones and Andy Symonds. In the final stages of the race he suffered in the heat. This year he has arrived in La Palma a little earlier to acclimatise, however, he has used a very similar approach to 2012 and has only recently just stepped off ski’s.

I caught up with Kilian after an excursion to see a banana plantation, he says he is ready, however, he does seem concerned about the heat! Today has been a very warm day and temperatures look likely to rise over the next 48 hours.

YouTube HERE

Links:

Kilian Jornet – HERE

Salomon Running – HERE

Transvulcania 2013 – HERE

Skyrunning – HERE

Anton Krupicka – Transvulcania 2013

Posted on May 9, 2013 by talkultra

Anton Krupicka Transvulcania 2013 – copyright Ian Corless

Anton Krupicka missed the 2012 Transvulcania La Palma and he said, “I’ll be back” and he is. He had an early season injury and missed Tarawera to be safe but he now says he is fit and ready to go…

YouTube HERE

Links:

Anton Krupicka – HERE
New Balance – HERE
Transvulcania – HERE
Skyrunning – HERE

Joe Grant – Transvulcania 2013

Posted on May 9, 2013 by talkultra

Joe Grant Transvulcania 2013 – copyright Ian Corless

Arc’teryx athlete, Joe Grant chats with Ian about his recovery from the Iditarod Trail Invitational and about he is excited to once again to return to La Palma.

Joe has the advantage over much of the competition to have experienced the Transvulcania course before. In 2012 he raced well to place just outside the top 10. He hope to improve on that this year….!

YouTube HERE

Links:

Joe Grant – HERE
Arc’Teryx – HERE
Transvulcania 2013 – HERE
Skyrunning – HERE

Timothy Olson – Transvulcania 2013

Posted on May 9, 2013 by talkultra

Timothy Olson Transvulcania 2013 – copyright Ian Corless

Timothy Olson has been on the island of La Palma for nearly two weeks now and he has loved every moment exploring. Early in 2013 he placed second behind Sage Canaday at Tarawera in New Zealand and just recently he raced at Lake Sonoma. A few niggles with his knees have caused some concerns in recent weeks but we all hope that he is in full health on Saturday.

YouTube HERE

Links:

Timothy Olson – HERE
The North Face – HERE
Transvulcania 2013 – HERE
Skyrunning – HERE

Adam Campbell – Transvulcania 2013

Posted on May 9, 2013 by talkultra

Adam Campbell, Arc’teryx Transvulcania 2013 – copyright Ian Corless

Arc’teryx athlete Adam Campbell talks to Ian ahead of the 2013 Transvulcania La Palma. He discusses the race course, the competition and Arc’teryx.

Adam loves competition and revels the opportunity to race the best in the world. His running goals are to seek out interesting challenges in inspiring settings. A lifelong traveler and racer, Adam’s new belief is: if you are going to be suffering, you might as well suffer somewhere beautiful!

YouTube link HERE

Links:

Adam Campbell – HERE
Arc’teryx – HERE
Tranvulcania 2013 – HERE
Skyrunning – HERE

Fernanda Maciel – Transvulcania 2013

Posted on May 9, 2013 by talkultra

Fernanda Maciel, The North Face – copyright Ian Corless

When I’m running on the top of the mountains or canoeing in the middle of the sea, I feel small as nothing…but yet I feel the highest sensation of freedom and peace, free spirit. I’m Brazilian, from the waterfalls and little mountains, Minas Gerais, my roots. I live in the Spanish Pyrenees’s mountains today, Coll de Nargó. I’ve worked as environmental lawyer, in recycle’s projects, international ONG Outward Bound (outdoor education), running Adventure Race… that means, working and teaching to protect the nature. My passion is for the forest, the mountains, the beaches and the rivers, to be there and take care of that. Move…positive.

I caught up with The North Face athlete, Fernanda Maciel less than 48 hours to the start of the 2013, Skyrunning Ultra, Transvulcania La Palma.

Location: Hotel SOL La Palma
May 9th

*apologies for the focus glitch at the end of the clip but I wanted leave the audio content as I felt it was important what Fernanda said.

Video on YouTube: HERE

Links:

Fernanda Maciel – HERE
The North Face – HERE
Transvulcania La Palma – HERE
Skyrunning – HERE

Transvulcania Press Conference

Posted on May 9, 2013 by talkultra

Press conference Transvulcania 2013 - copyright Ian Corless

Fernanda Maciel, Timothy Olson, Emelie Forsberg, Kilian Jornet, Nuria Picas, Anton Krupicka and Luis Alberto Hernando attended the 2013 Transvulcania La Palma press conference at Hotel Sol Palma on the morning of Thursday May 9th.

It was a buzz of activity as press from all over the world discussed the exciting prospect of the battles that would unfold on the beautiful trails of La Palma.

Timothy Olson, “I am just excited to be able to race in Europe. I have spent many days in the last two weeks running the trails here and it is fantastic. A beautiful island and beautiful trails”.

Anton Krupicka was in La Palma for the 2012 edition of the race but was unable to race. “I am thrilled to be back” he said, “I decided last year when I watched the race that I would return and test myself on this course. It’s a course that just makes so much sense and of course, it is beautiful”.

Fernanda Maciel Transvulcania 2013 copyright Ian Corless

As we all know, Anna Frost will not be running in the 2013 edition of the race. Fernanda Maciel, Emelie Forsberg and Nuria Picas all expressed sadness that the 2012 winner and course record holder would not be able to race.

Nuria Picas Transvulcania 2013 copyright Ian Corless

Emelie said, “Of course we are sad. I have raced and run with Anna so much. Not to have her with us is a great shame but a priority for Anna is that she gets well and thinks about running and running well into the future”.

Emelie Forsberg Transvulcania 2013 - copyright Ian Corless

Luis Alberto Hernando had some laughs with the press and Kilian Jornet at the prospect of running his first ultra against some of the best in the world. Kilian also smiled and teased his sparring partner. It will be great to see how this battle unfolds.

Luis Alberto Hernando Transvulcania 2013 - copyright Ian Corless

A common bond was expressed by all. Transvulcania is a beautiful race on a beautiful island. In just 48 hours runners will be spread all over the 83km’s of the GR131 between Fuencaliente and Los Llanos and we will be rewarded with two new champions.

Follow @talkultra on Twitter and Talk Ultra on Facebook for updates.