New Skyrun series

TrailRunMag 11.01.2013

Question: has trail running just grown grassroots style, Screen shot 2013-01-11 at 2.23.50 PMor has it exploded,   splattering dirt all over the running community like a pig in the proverbial?

It would seem the latter with new events now springing up every second week – witness the Up The Buff in Queensland (March), the Forrest Half in Victoria (June), the Baw Baw Trail Run Festival, also in Victoria (9-11 March), the new mid-distance Sydney Trail Run Series by Mountain Sports (on top of its shorter distance series already underway), and now news of a new mountain running series of five races throughout Victoria.

Okay, so the races themselves are not all new – the series consists of a string of long held favourite stand-alone events on the Vic calendar, those being Paul Ashton and Running Wild’s:  

  • Mount Buller Skyrun – 3 Feb & 27 October
  • Alpine Challenge – 16-18 March
  • Prom 100 – 27 April
  • Razorback Run – 23 November

Screen shot 2013-01-11 at 2.23.40 PMThe ‘new’ in the news here is that La Sportiva has hopped on board as naming rights sponsor (hell yes, we give credit to any sponsor who comes on board…they are supporting the sport we love, so hats off…), and the line up will now be known as the La Sportiva Mountain Running Series.

No news on what that means in terms of someone vying for a Series crown, but to knock off all these events in one season would be a huge achievement in itself.

Ashton reports that in addition to these classic ultra-distance races he is introducing a brand new mountain run event in October, a short course event offering three distances of 14/21/31km. To be held at the Lake Mountain Resort – recently in the news for hitting troubled financial waters with a new administrator brought in to hold fort and, by the looks, revitalise visitation to the mountain – The Lake Mountain Skyrun will explore some pretty fine territory (and hopefully do exactly what its new custodians want in bringing people up to the mountain).

Screen shot 2013-01-11 at 2.23.29 PMAustralia’s representatives for La Sportiva say they are excited about the future of trail running in Australia and their first foray into sponsorship of the sport.

“We are super keen to be working with Paul and supporting his ultra mountain running events. La Sportiva’s home is in the Dolomites and their core values and history is in the mountains. Our Australian Alps might not be Dolomites, but they certainly no walk in the park with events such as Paul’s Running Wild Classics. We see it as a great partnership and it will be an exciting year ahead.” says Matt Adams General Manager Expedition Equipment La Sportiva Australia, also adding “I’m training up to being able to run at one of the races this year!”

One, Matt? Only one? Step up, son…you’re part of the scene now…

Those interested in the Skyrun events can  check into and like Facebook at: www.facebook.com/LaSportivaMountainRunningSeries13.

More details on all of Running Wild’s events found at www.runningwild.net.au/