ski race course, what is a spine

What is the Spine Race?

The Spine Fusion is a summer race run over the same route, introduced in 2017. The Spine Challenger and Spine Flare are shorter winter and summer races over the first 108 miles (174 km) of the Spine Race route, to be completed in 60 hours. The event was devised by Arctic expedition guides Scott Gilmour and Phil Hayday-Brown.

What are the disciplines in alpine ski racing?

What are the disciplines in alpine ski racing? What are the disciplines in alpine ski racing? Alpine ski racing is organized around six disciplines: Downhill, Super G, Giant Slalom, Slalom, Parallel and Combined.

What is the difference between the Spine Race and spine fusion?

Spine Race. The Spine Race is a winter ultramarathon held over a distance of around 268 miles from Edale, England, to Kirk Yetholm, Scotland, along the Pennine Way. Participants are allowed seven days to complete the course. The race has been held annually since 2012. The Spine Fusion is a summer race run over the same route, introduced in 2017.

What is Course setting in ski racing?

Course setting is an essential tool for the ski coach. Sometimes thought of as an art or even a philosophical statement, course setting is the decisive evaluation to the goal of ski racing. Essentially who can get from start house to finish line in the shortest amount of time.

How does the spine race work?

The Spine Race is a winter ultramarathon held over a distance of around 268 miles (431 km) from Edale, England, to Kirk Yetholm, Scotland, along the Pennine Way. Participants are allowed seven days to complete the course. The race has been held annually since 2012.

What distance is the spine race?

The Montane® Spine® Challenger is a non-stop, 108 mile race between Edale and Hardraw* with a time limit of 60hrs.

How hard is the spine race?

The Montane Spine Race is widely regarded as one of the world's toughest endurance races. A truly epic challenge that will test your physical resilience and mental fortitude. Racing non-stop along the most iconic trail in the UK, you will experience the full intensity and ferocity of the British Winter.

How do you qualify for the spine race?

Entry Criteria & Classification. Solo entrants must have cold weather experience from similar events such as the Rovaniemi, Yukon Arctic Ultra, 6633, Arrowhead, Iditasport, BTU Ice Ultra etc and have demonstrable cold weather skills and experience from their profession or past experience.

Do people sleep on the spine race?

During the race, competitors must carry a mandatory kit which includes items ranging from a sleeping bag to ice spikes. This means a racer can stop at any time to eat, sleep or rest along the side of the trail.

Is the spine race non-stop?

Spanning the entire Pennine Bridleway, the MONTANE® Spine Race is a challenging 268-mile, non-stop, winter, mountain marathon, based in the North of England.

How much does it cost to enter the spine race?

If I complete my entry prior to 1 September 2020 the total entry fee for the 2021 Spine® Race is £975. This contains a £475 non-refundable deposit which secures your entry. Entries after 1 September 2020will be valued at £1050.

Who holds the record for the spine race?

The current men's record is held by John Kelly (USA) 87:53:57. The defending 2022 champions are Eoin Keith (IRL) and Debbie Martin-Consani (GBR).

Who won the spine race?

Keith, a former course record holder, finished second in 2020 and 2019. In a classic hare-and-tortoise tale, Eoin Keith has won Britain's Montane Spine Race after numerous favourites were forced to drop out along its 430-kilometre course through the Pennines. His time was 92 hours, 40 minutes.

How far is the summer spine race?

The Montane Summer Spine and Summer Spine Challenger are the summer versions of the classic Montane Spine and Spine Challenger events. Racing up to 268 miles non-stop along the most iconic national trail in Britain; the Pennine Way.

What time does the spine race start?

The 2022 race starts at noon UK on Saturday June 18. The summer version of the Spine Challenger – the Montane Summer Spine Challenger – is a non-stop 60-hour, 108-mile race from Edale to Kirk Hardraw.

When is the Montane Summer Spine Challenger 2022?

Followed by our summer events the Montane Summer Spine, Montane Summer Spine Challenger, and Sprint from 18 June 2022. If you would like to learn more about our events or how to participate, please browse the website or use the contact section if you have any questions for us.

What is the toughest race in the world?

The Montane Spine Race is widely regarded as one of the world’s toughest endurance races. A truly epic challenge that will test your physical resilience and mental fortitude. Racing non-stop along the most iconic trail in the UK, you will experience the full intensity and ferocity of the British Winter.

Spine Race route

Participants start the 431km (268 miles) course – which has an overall descent of 36,729 ft – in Edale, a village in the Peak District of the UK. They then race along the Pennine Way National Trail before finishing in Kirk Yetholm in Scotland.

Facts, Tips & FAQ

Wind chills can reach as low as –20C during Spine Race, with winds regularly reaching 45mph on the 268-mile route. Past competitors have spoken about their physical and mental exhaustion as they were broken down by this brutal race.

How to qualify and enter for Spine Race

The Montane Spine Race is open to anyone with appropriate experience who wants to test their physical resilience and mental strength.

Fastest times & past winners

In 2019, fell and ultra-runner Jasmin Paris set the Spine Race course record with a time of 83:12:13. – becoming the first woman to win the race and beat the previous course record by an impressive 12 hours.

Who is taking part in Spine Race 2022?

The 2022 race features a number of Spine Race legends including previous winners Tom Hollins (2017), Eoin Keith (2016) and defending women’s champion Sabrina Verjee.

Spine Race kit list

All participants in the Spine Race must carry mandatory kit at all times. A full kit check takes place prior to the start, with additional checks throughout the route. Time penalties are applied if any mandatory kit is found to be missing:

Spine Event Calendar

The Montane Spine Challenger 2022 starts at 0730 UK on Saturday January 8, one day before the Spine Race and it covers the first 108 miles of the Pennine Way, starting in Edale and finishing in Hawes or Hardraw.

What is the most technical discipline in alpine skiing?

Slalom is the most technical discipline in alpine skiing. The gates are even closer together than in Giant Slalom and the turns are very fast and require quick changes in direction. The gates are usually cleared head-on by the skier which makes this discipline especially impressive.

Where is alpine skiing held?

The season traditionally starts in October on the Sölden glacier in Austria.#N#The Alpine World Ski Championships are held every two years and reward the best skiers in six events: Downhill, Super G, Giant Slalom, Slalom and Combined and a Mixed Nations Team Event.#N#Finally, alpine skiing has been an Olympic sport since 1936. The five disciplines are contested by both men and women in the Winter Olympic Games held every four years.

How fast can you go downhill skiing?

Top speeds can reach up to 100mph (160kmh), turns are super engaging and jumps of dozens of meters are common.

Day One only 268 miles to go

As expected the majority of the pack rushed off up the hill. Racing was not part of my plan. As a 57 year old plodder with nothing to prove I knew I could make it to CP2 and that anything else would be a bonus.

Day two - 45 miles done

Setting off just before dawn a new group had formed .We quickly got back into eating up the miles. I had learnt my lesson the previous day and resolved to run at my own pace and stuff my face all day. If any one else wanted to tag along at my pace, that was fine but I would not wait or pass any food stops.

Day three - about 90 miles done

Still dark and I fired up the gas stove for porridge and Ovaltine, whilst I re packed. I could hear others emerging from their bivi bags trying to get warm. Thank god for my tent!

Day four - 130 miles done

Up before dawn, and despite eating some cold leftover chips we found , starving again! Decided to fire up my stove outside - I did not want to set off any smoke alarms.

Day five

Around 3 am Jenn dramatically started to fall apart. I had not realized that she had just not been eating enough. Without food she did not have the energy to generate enough speed to keep warm. Once this cycle starts it’s difficult to reverse especially for a well trained runner with a minimum of body fat. The early stages of hypothermia set in.

Day 6 - 200 miles - somebody stop me!

I planned to be off by 7am. Russell Swift wanted to run with me but was not ready by 7. With three breakfasts inside me I could not wait. The German team where about two hours ahead and I was determined to catch them!

Day 7 - 222 miles done - 45 miles to go!

Russ Ladkins was carried in to the Bellingham CP by the medics. Russ had been ahead of us but had to quit when his digestive system shut down and he became crippled by cramps . Russ was put on a plasma drip with two of the medics watching over him while he tried to get some sleep. All this activity was happening in the bed next to me.