Alpinultras grows in quantity and quality for its second edition. Scotland to be its first international expansión, together with new permanent centers.
#Alpinultras 2017 was presented at Barcelona´s Museum of Sport, with the Catalonian goverment acting once again as host of the event. It is the second edition of this project dedicated to promoting the great ultraendurance traverses over high mountains.
The three main areas of the project are moving on fast, with the Alpinultras seal of endorsement as the common denominator now present at seven different traverses into five different alpine ranges, now including the scottish Highlands for the first time, in addition to the previous Picos de Europa, Catalan Pyrenees, Teide Massif and Aragon Pyrenees. Scotland was selected among other options assessed in France, Andorra and Italy due to its unique mountain ife and sports heritage and its long standing tradition for running into the mountains on true alpine style.
Only nine alpine runners surpassed the three great traverses that formed the Alpinultras series in 2016, completing over 323km of mountain steep trails at Emmona Ultra Trail (130k), UT Valls d´Aneu (93k) and Ultra Canfranc (100k). Among them, Sara Codina and Ion Azpiroz were present at Barcelona to share their experiences as series champions, and also confirmed their intention to defend its throne in the exciting season 2017, with a special tingling to go run longo ver the mountains of Scotland.
The Alpinultras 2017 series will offer a unique calendar of four alpine races, being necessary to complete at least three of them to achieve the coveted “Alpino” badge that only nine people achieved in its inaugural edition among the almost 2.000 that took part in its races. As you may see below, the tour travels through four different massifs over Europe, each unique in its heritage and race conditions.
The Ultra Trail Scotland by FYA will be a particulary challenging course over 70km. As reflected by Ion and Sara, all alpinrunners and race organizers are very much excited to move into Scotland, as a land well know for its rugged and gorgeous landscape as much as for its long standing heritage in the world of mountain sports. FYA race director Casey Morgan was already a direct witness as a runner himself at some of the Alpinultras in 2016. More details on this upcoming new event will be disclosed in the neaby future.
The Alpinultras permanent centers are the second great novelty for 2017, along with the international expansion. From spring on, special services will be operational in Esterri d’Aneu and Canfranc, which will work throughout the year. Creation and marking of trails network for walking and running; Local information center to the rider and mountaineer; Non-competitive events during the year and guided trips with the area’s local runners are some of the services that will be offered to promote year-round mountain regions that host Alpinultras.
The event ended with the union of forces, working together so that the crossings of high mountain and the towns that welcome them come to be a bit better known with each and every day throughout the year.
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MORE ON THE ALPINULTRAS PROJECT: Seal, series and permanent centers
The Alpinutras project is aimed at identifying and promoting the most interesting long distance traverses up in the high mountains which meet certain requirements and share values such as being organized by local entities, environmentally friendly, with a marked alpine carácter, and reaching a relevant altitude around 3.000 meters or more.
The Alpinultras seal of endorsement already covers seven traverses that range wide and far. They allow you to discover trails from the Catalonian Pyrenees like Rialp Matxicots 82km, to Spain´s highest peak at 3.700m following the 140k route of the Faro to Faro at Tenerife or the famous Puigmal Peak at 2.912m after the challenging ridges covered over 130km by Emmona Ultra Trail.
The Alpinultras series 2017 brings together a limited number among those traverses endorsed with the seal. Just four of them have been selected this year to come together and offer a true alpine challenge for the most passionate mountain runners to discover and enjoy new peaks and valleys: Desafío El Cainejo (MAY28 / 52km); Ultra Trail Valls d’Àneu (JUL29 / 93km) and Ultra Canfranc (SEP7/100km).
The Alpinultras permanent centers: Their target is to extend knowledge of one massif among mountaineers all through the year supporting them with a marked newtork of chosen trails, mountain info update at the base town an even local guides to share a run with, ranging from the race director himself to a national trail running champion living in town.
See you at the mountains…
INFO: Alpinultras
