The new Skyrunner® Extreme Series launches Saturday in Tromsø, Norway. The land of the midnight sun, wild landscapes, fjords and glaciers will welcome runners competing in the weekend’s Vertical Kilometer® and Tromsø SkyRace®. The events are organised by the most famous skyrunning ambassadors, Kilian Jornet and Emelie Forsberg.
Athletes from 15 countries will participate in the two events which kick off Friday with the second edition of the Blåmann Vertical Kilometer®.
All eyes will be on Norwegian Stian Angermund, gold medallist at the recent Skyrunning World Championships and race record-holder. He will be challenged by Series leader Ferran Teixido from Andorra and Italian Hannes Perkmann among others.
Clear favourite in the women’s field is Spaniard Laura Orgué, currently ranked second in the Series. After injury earlier this year Orgué, 2015 Vertical and Sky Champion, is back on form with a silver medal in the World Championships. Pushing the pace will be Norwegian Yngvild Kaspersen, currently ranked 7th, she was second in the race here last year.
The “sea to sky” Vertical is a mere 2.7 km and climbs to the summit of Store Blåmann at 1,044m, the highest mountain on the island of Kvaløya in Tromsø. The race records to beat are 35’20” by Stian Angermund and 43’41” by Emelie Forsberg.
Saturday’s Hamperokken SkyRace® was tailor-made by Kilian and Emelie to fit the skyrunning concept three years ago and has been instrumental in inspiring the new Extreme Series composed of three races, two of which count for the final ranking.
“We are excited to show these Arctic wild mountains in a pure skyrunning way. We designed the course with inspiration from the classis races like Kima. It’s an incredible contrast with the start in the middle of Tromsø city by the fjord and then you run to the mountains and it becomes wilder and wilder,” commented Emelie.
The Extreme Series is presented by Alpina Watches awarding the male and female winners of each race with an Alpina Horological Smartwatch.
The new tough and technical 53 km SkyRace®, counts a gruelling 4,600m vertical climb starting at sea level and summiting two peaks over extremely steep and rocky terrain. (The new course is 8 km longer and 200m higher than last year’s event.)
Last year’s surprise winner in the face of world-class competition was Londoner Jonathan Albon, an obstacle racing champion. He’s back for more and boasts the previous race record of 6h08’41”.
Fellow countryman Tom Owens represents the biggest competition for Albon. Owens took a silver medal at the World Championships and a majestic win at last week’s Sky Series’ Comapedrosa SkyRace® confirming his excellent form. Norwegian Rolf Einar, third here in 2015, is another contender to watch out for along with German Philipp Reiter, 5th and Eirik Haugsnes, also from Norway, who won the first edition.
The absence of Spaniards here can be attributed to the recent intensive racing in Spain, but also to the very different climate and extremely technical courses which are attracting not just Norwegian runners but athletes from as far afield as the Australia, USA, Japan and Russia totalling 15 different countries.
Joining Albon and Owens will be another Briton, Jasmin Paris – a skyrunning new entry and surprise bronze medallist in the World Championships Ultra. All three will compete in the Extreme Series. The previous race record is held by Emelie Forsberg in 7h09’54”. Joining the women’s field is Italian Martina Valmassoi taking a shot at the Extreme Series. Nepal’s Mira Rai, second last year, is absent due to a leg operation.
Both races are capped for safety and environmental reasons and are ecologically sustainable. Cool temperatures, gruelling terrain and stiff competition are the ingredients in store for a weekend of pure skyrunning ahead.
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