Back for the 2nd edition, the first ever Ultra Fiord race received resounding success in Punta Arenas, Chile. The 2016 edition international Trail Running event will provide runners from around the world with the same amazing scenery and a high level of challenge in the extreme southern end of Chilean Patagonia.
The race will be held in the untouched fiords of Chilean Patagonia, Provincia de Última Esperanza (Province of Last Hope, a region characterized by thousands of kilometers of fiords, in South-Western Patagonia from 14 to 16 April 2016.
The distances include 100 miles, 100km, 70km, 50km, and 30km. Runners from across 24 countries have already signed up for the race as the registration is filling up quickly with most of the participants from Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Uruguay, France, Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Race founder Stjepan Pavicic is gratified by the race’s swift international growth with more than 50% of the participants coming from outside Chile. Although the 2016 course will be much similar to the 2015 race, several tweaks have been made to create a safer and more enjoyable race, with improved assistance at checkpoints and more stunning views along the way.
The 100 mile course in 2015 which in fact measured an actual distance of 108 miles has been reduced to 101 for the second edition. The flag off time has also been moved forward by 2 hours, so the race will begin at 10:00 p.m. on the 14 April instead of midnight. These changes are supposed to put the runners in the high mountain zone of the course approximately 3 hours earlier, significantly improving visibility and safety. Better photo opportunities are also available with the small adjustments made along the route. Additionally, a new 50 km distance category was introduced, giving runners more options for their level of competition.
Into the 2nd edition, the conservation and sustainable development remain at center stage for the organiser. Chilean Patagonia is home to unique eco-systems and untouched wilderness. Ultra Fiord aims to raise awareness for the need to conserve this land by presenting a stunning race course at the heart of the region. It also strives to positively impact Patagonia’s eco-tourism and encourage sustainable development within local communities.
Xavier Thevenard, two-time champion of the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc, won last year’s Ultra Fiord 70k with a time of 8 hours and 46 minutes, described the race as “super technical,” “wild,” and full of “mind-blowing landscapes.” He further said that it is not possible to understand what a runner really goes through during a trail without having lived it, especially a trail such as Ultra Fiord in Patagonia.
Runners will come face to face with one of the world’s wildest natural landscapes, shaped by the unpredictable weather conditions and challenging terrains. The race course will take them across rivers, mud, peat bogs, glacier-filled mountains and big rocks, pushing their limits through a unique experience that is both rewarding and self-transcending.
Here’s an awesome video summaries the great memories of the inaugural Ultra Fiord race.
The 2016 edition will allow runners from around the world to understand that wild experience for themselves.
Registration has already opened in August 2015 and will remain open until 31 January 2016. For more information visit the Ultra Fiord official site.
