2016 Skyrunning
| Scandinavian victory at the Arctic Vertical |
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On the third leg of the Skyrunner® Vertical Series, Norway’s first international Vertical Kilometer® saw some of the world’s top runners line up in a field of 117 for one of the toughest courses to date, set on the island of Tromsø in the Arctic Circle. It was a home win for Norwegian Stian Hovind-Angermund in a fast 35’20” on the stunning “sea to sky” course to the summit of Store Blåmann at 1,044m altitude. Sweden’s Emelie Forsberg, skyrunning super-star and here, also race organiser of the weekend’s events with Kilian Jornet, took the win in 43’41”, just one second ahead of Norwegian Yngvild Kaspersen. Spain’s Maite Maiora was third.
The highly competitive men’s field saw Angermund followed by Switzerland’s Remì Bonnet and Pascal Egli in the lead, together with Slovenian Nejc Kuhar and Norwegian Thorbjorn Ludvigsen. Nejc Kuhar maintains his ranking leadership while Emelie Forsberg moves up to lead the women’s division. At least for the shorter races, the skill of the Scandinavians and Swiss, are showing their dominance. A new era of skyrunning heroes?
Race results Men 1. Stian Hovind-Angermund (NOR) - 35’20” 2. Remi Bonnet (SUI) Salomon - 35’42” 3. Pascal Egli (SUI) - 36’05 ” Women 1. Emelie Forsberg (SWE) Salomon - 43’41” 2. Yngvild Kaspersen (NOR) - 43’42” 3. Maite Maiora (ESP) La Sportiva - 45’10” Provisional Vertical Series Ranking Men 1. Nejc Kuhuar (SLO) La Sportiva: 282 points 2. Remi Bonnet (SUI) Salomon: 218 points 3. François Gonon (SUI) SCOTT Sports: 200 points
Women 1. Emelie Forsberg (SWE) Salomon: 272 points 2. Laura Orguè (ESP) Salomon: 266 points 3. Therese Sjursen (NOR): 254
Anticipation mounts for Sunday’s Hamperokken SkyRace® classed by the ISF as an Ultra due to the extremely technical course and the 4,400m elevation gain. It starts at sea level and reaches two peaks at 1,238m and 1,404m altitude over extremely steep rocky terrain including some exposed scrambling sections. “Just” 45 km long, the finishing time for the winner (Eirik Haugsnes) was 6h38’30” in 2014.
As Official Watch of the 2015 Skyrunner® World Series and European Skyrunning Championships, the Hamperokken SkyRace® represents an occasion to win a luxury Alpina Horological Smartwatch for the winners of the Alpina Smart Time Prize. The formula is based on timing at the highest point of the race, in this case Hamperokken at 1,404m altitude. A bonus, together with an exclusive algorithm is given to younger and older competitors putting everyone at the same level, irrespective of the final race results. Join us for Sunday's action! |
