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La spesa per la partecipazione é di 40 euro e le iscrizioni si effettueranno online dal sito ufficiale della gara. A partire dalla prossima edizione sono stati stabiliti criteri per la partecipazione in modo che, gli atleti che vi prendono parte, possano fronteggiare le difficoltà della gara : il partecipante deve aver portato a termine una gara simile di almeno 15 km o aver terminato una maratona su strada 42,2 km (in 4:00 ore per gli uomini e 4:30 ore per le donne). Inoltre il tempo massimo valido per portare a termine la gara, scende quest' anno alle 10 ore.

Lo “SKAI OLYMPUS MARATHON” é l'unica gara di corsa montana di risonanza internazionale. Il 2007 gli atleti stranieri che vi presero parte costituivano il 10% del totale di 385 atleti partecipanti. Per il 2008 la Commissione Organizzativa, calcola che il numero degli atleti stranieri sarà raddoppiato. Per la prossima edizione, ha già dichiarato la sua intenzione a partecipare il noto Nepalese, atleta del mountain running, Dacchiri Dawa Sherpa, Svizzero Christophe Jaquerod anche la Francesa Corinne Favre, mentre é attesa prossimamente la richiesta di partecipazione anche di altri atleti conosciuti.

Lo “SKAI OLYMPUS MARATHON” si svolge dal 2007 con l'appoggio del canale televisivo Greco ΣΚΑΙ (Skai), il quale mostra una particolare sensibilità alle questioni ambientali e la cui popolarità é in continua ascesa tra il pubblico greco ( www.skai.gr). Lo SKAI appoggia l' OM siccome l'Olympo costituisce un simbolo mondiale unico di eredità culturale, come unica é la sua natura che viene protetta come Parco Nazionale della Grecia. L' OM segue le orme del cammino dei credenti dell'antichità, che ogni estate salivano sulle cime della montagna per offrire i sacrifici a Zeus e agli altri Dei.

El coste de inscripcion es de 40 euros y se realizaran on-line desde la pagina web de la maraton (www.olympus-marathon.com). La maraton tendra criterios de seleccion de atletas para asegurar que los mismos sean capaces de responder a las demandas de la carrera: el participante tendra que haber terminado una carrera similar de al menos 15 kilometros o haber terminado una Maraton de carretera de 42,2 km (en 4 horas para los hombre y 4.5 horas para las mujeres). Al mismo tiempo, el tiempo total para completar la Maraton del Olympo, se ha reducido a 10 horas.

La Maraton del Olympo patrocinado por el canal de Television Skai es el unico Maraton de montana conocido fuera de las fronteras de Grecia. En el Maraton del 2007 los atletas extrangeros contabilizaron el 10% del total de 385 atletas. Para el Maraton de 2008, la organizacion prevee que la participacion de atletas extrangeros se duplique. Ya ha sido confirmada la participacion del famoso atleta Nepales, Dacchiri Dawa Sherpa, del Suizo Christophe Jaquerod, el corredor francés famoso Corinne Favre, y se esperan otras apariciones de conocidos atletas en la proxima edicion de la Maraton.

La Maraton del Olympo se celebra desde el 2007 con la colaboracion del canal griego de television Skai (www.skai.gr), el cual da una gran importancia a los temas de ecologia y ha experimentado un aumento considerable de expectadores en la ultima temporada de television. El apoyo de el canal Skai a la Maraton se basa en la importancia del Monte Olimpo como simbolo unico y global de herencia cultural y natural. El Monte Olimpo es catalogado como Parque Natural por su autenticidad en flora y fauna. La Maraton sigue las mismas rutas que los antiguos griegos seguian cada verano a las partes mas altas de la montana para depositar sus donaciones al dios Zeus y el resto de los dioses del Olimpo.

We look forward to welcoming athletes and teams from your country to the prestigious Skyrunner® World Series – the eight-race skyrunning championship, now in its fourth year. We take this opportunity to present a new event, the SkyRaid® World Championship - to be held on August 5, 2007 in Bergamo, Italy. Travel, accommodation and entry will be paid for 10 national teams (comprising three members each, one team from each country). SkyRaid® World Championship Bergamo, Italy - August 5, 2007 The FSA presents an exciting, great new sports event - the SkyRaid® World Championship - to be held in Italy on August 5. Three-man (single gender) teams, will compete in a relay totalling 84 km with 5,000m vertical climb. The winning time over the three courses is estimated to be around nine hours – a time a normal trekker would take seven days to accomplish! The SkyRaid® World Championship will be held in the Bergamo area of Italy and, apart from a strong local contingent, will attract teams from at least 20 nations across the world for a total of 300 participants. A successful test run was held this year on September 24 to verify the technical and safety aspects of the three disciplines: SkyMarathon, SkyRace and SkyClimbing. Due to heavy fog, the five teams however, didn’t manage to beat the 8 hour 52 minute personal record set in 2005 by local runner Mario Poletti, who, together with the rest of his team and the Bergamo section of the Italian Mountaineering Club (CAI), will manage the SkyRaid® course logistics. The organization of the event will be managed by Giovanni Bettineschi, president of Promoeventi Sport, while international entries will be handled by the FSA. Entry, travel and accommodation expenses will be covered for ten international teams. 2007 FSA International Events Buff® Skyrunner® World Series 2007 SPAIN: Maratón de Berga, Serra de Queralt, Berga, May 20 ITALY: Maratona del Cielo 4 luglio, Corteno Golgi, Brescia, July 1 ANDORRA: Vallnord SkyMarathon, La Massana, Andorra, July 22 ITALY: Dolomites SkyRace, Canazei,Trento, July 29 FRANCE: Mongenèvre SkyRace, Trail du Chenaillet, Mongenèvre, August 12 MALAYSIA: Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon, SkyMarathon, Borneo, August 25-26 JAPAN: Mt Ontake Buff SkyRace, Nagano, September 2 SPAIN: Maratòn Alpina Zegama-Aizkorri Guipuzcoa, Basc Country, September 23 Skyrunner World Series® Championship: five best results in 8 races. Prizes € 10.000 www.fsa-sky.org or www.buffskyrunner.com Skyrunning European Championship, Valposchiavo, Switzerland, June 10 www.international-skyrace.org SkyRaid® World Championship, Orobie Alps, Bergamo, Italy, August 5 www.fsa-sky.org France SkyRace de Serre Chevalier, Serre Chevalier, July 8 La 6000D, SkyRace, La Plagne, July 29 National race calendar: www.vo2.fr Italy Trofeo Kima, SkyMarathon, Val Masino, Sondrio, August 19 Sentiero delle Grigne, Lecco, September 16 National race calendar: www.fsa-sky.org/ita Spain Maratòn Alpino Madrileño, Puerto de Navacerrada, June 17 Maratòn Alpina Zegama-Aizkorri Guipuzcoa, Basc Country/Spain, September 23 National race calendar: www.fedme.es, www.feec.org Switzerland Zermatt Sky Marathon, Zermatt, July 7 Course de Sierre-Zinal, SkyRace, Zinal, August 12 International Jungfrau Marathon, September 8 USA Barr Trail Mountain Race, Manitou Springs, CO, July 15 Pikes Peak Marathon, SkyMarathon, CO, August 18/19 National race calendar: AATRA www.trailrunner.com Rest of the World GREECE: Olympus Marathon, June 24: www.olympus-marathon.com JAPAN: Fuji Mountain Race, Fujiyoshida, July 27: iadfuji@city.fujiyoshida.lg.jp.jp MEXICO: SkyMarathon Iztaccíhuatl Volcán, Edomex, December 16: www.atletismoenmexico.com VENEZUELA: National race calendar: www.fevme.com

The overjoyed winners of this year's four-country-race across the Alps are Ettore Girardi and Silvano Fedel from the Italian Trentino. The were able to outdo their winning 2005 performance and keep well ahead of their competitors in the men's category. Also on top of the podium, though in the Masters category, were the German-Austrian team of Thomas Miksch and Christian Stork who clocked in not too far behind the leading men. The invincible Irene Senfter and Annemarie Gross from South Tyrol secured the highest spot on the podium among the ladies, whereas the North Tyrolese Magdalena Schiffer and Markus Friedl dominated the Mixed category. Their terrific race performances raises the athletic benchmark for next year's GORE-TEX™ TRANSALPINE-RUN by a notch or two.

Notwithstanding the leading teams of each category, respect and recognition are in due order for all race participants, irrespective of rankings. Their overwhelming perseverance and camaraderie enlivened the international spirit of the GORE-TEX™ TRANSALPINE-RUN 06. As racers gave their very best across seven imposing mountain ranges, they redefined the boundaries of what is humanely possible.

A fine stretch of weather that lasted most of race week, supported their heroic efforts and afforded mind-blowing mountain vistas all along. These experiences were only topped at day's end by the hospitality in the eight stage towns that welcomed and hosted the racers during this ultra-trail run. Many thanks and congratulations once more to all involved! We'll be back next year with the third GORE-TEX™ TRANSALPINE-RUN (September 1-8, 2007).

The stages of the 2006 GORE-TEX™ TRANSALPINE-RUN touched down in Oberstdorf (D), Steeg (AT), St. Anton (AT), Ischgl (AT), Scuol (CH), Mals (IT), Schlanders (IT) and finally in Latsch (IT).

GORE-TEX™ Transalpine-Run the arguably biggest challenge for runners and mountain athletes. The data say everything: all athletes have to master more than 13.887 altitude and 243 kilometres on varied forest roads, hiking trails and paths in eight days, before they cross the finish line in the sunny Vinschgau in Italy. Day stages from 947 to 2.364 meters elevation gain and between 6 and 42 kilometres distance demand the full strength from the athletes. The course of the GORE-TEX™ Transalpine-Run lead through some of the most beautiful alpine terrains with spectacular mountain panorama through four countries across the Alps. It will start from the first location Oberstdorf to Steeg in the Lechtal. The course continues to St. Anton at Arlberg, Ischgl in the Paznauntal, Scuol in the Unterengadin, Mals and Schlanders in the Vinschgau up to Latsch in front of the gates of Meran. If the challenge of 150 miles and 46,000 feet of vertical in 8 days seems daunting, it is but still can be done - even by you! Dedicated experts have put together great stages that will get pros and amateurs alike into the flow. Running across the Alps without missing a beat certainly is an accomplishment worth writing home about. Doing it in a team of two seems even more meaningful. Not just to be on the safe side but because sharing the experience is doubling the pleasure. Bonding is a big part of running, isn't it? Whether you're an (ultra) trail runner, an ambitious hiker, or Nordic walker - there are plenty of different race categories to sign up for.

Visit website at: www.transalpine-run.com

Reviving the tradition of the ancient faithful who used to climb the mountain of the gods at the beginning of every summer, the Olympus Marathon remakes every June history, by taking to the difficult but beautiful paths of Olympus the faithful of this sport. The runners depart from the sacred site of Dion and reach the highest peaks of the mountain, where the winter snow still covers the slopes of Greece’s highest mountain. They reach their destination at Litohoro after descending the whole height. The incredibly difficult, 44km long itinerary is a unique travel in time and through amazingly beautiful scenery. This year too, the crop of runners was exceptional. Last year’s champion, Nikos Kalofyris, as well as the extraordinary compatriot Alexis Gounko, came to compete with a famous athlete who traveled from Switzerland to experience this race, Christophe Jaquerod, one of the biggest names in the world in mountain running. Present also was the female champion of endurance races, Irena Maliborska and many others from Greece and abroad.

The unusually cold weather of this spring made the work of the organizers more difficult. In addition to normal preparation, they had to open a safe path at the highest level, in the thick layer of snow which still covered the abrupt slope, to ensure that the runners could pass in full safety. On the day of the race, tens of volunteers, climbers from the region but also members of the Red Cross, stood guard at the difficult and key points of the itinerary to offer their services to the runners. In addition, twelve refreshment stations offered food to strengthen their superhuman effort. Of particular importance was also the signaling of the itinerary which was done several days before in order to help the orientation of the runners and inform them of their precise location at any time. Departure was given a little after 6 a.m. on Sunday 25 June, at exactly sunrise, at the ancient site of Dion. The runners formed a small river when they poured on the road leading to Olympus slopes, four kilometers further in. From the very beginning, the main champions were ahead, and at the 6th kilometer, at Orlia stream, where the runners entered the heart of the mountain, the distance between those and the rest started to grow. Kalofyris broke away from Gounko and Jaquerod, and few runners formed a group behind them. A cloudy weather protected the runners from the sun. However, a high humidity quickly exhausted many of them. While the race continued and the runners were reaching higher altitudes, the cloud coiled around the summit and left them in the imposing silence which turns alive the stories of the ancient tradition. A unique ascent for Greece, starting at the level of the sea and reaching 2700 meters in persisting snow, brought the runners to the limit of their strength. At the Mouses plateau, about halfway the race, Kalofyris was almost ten minutes ahead of Jaquerod, passing CP-7, at the 21ο kilometer, in barely 2 hours and 41 minutes! Behind, Jaquerod seemed not able to follow the unbelievable rhythm, yet, five full minutes in front of Gounko, himself in 3rd position. In the descent till the rest area Prionia, at the 31st kilometer, the situation became more balanced. At an amazing rhythm, the Swiss champion cut down to barely three minutes his gap from the Greek champion, firing up the interest of the public who had gathered at the finish line in Litohoro town and were hearing the minute-by-minute information.

The last section of the race, in the Enipeas gorge, did not change the sequence, Kalofyris increasing again his lead and arriving triumphantly at arrival, breaking his own previous record with an amazing 4 hours, 56 minutes, and 23 seconds. Kalofyris became the first runner to break the 5-hour time in the Olympus Marathon. Hundreds of people cheered the winner who looked vigorous in spite of the exhausting effort. The sequence did not change and second came Jaquerod who finished at 5.01.18. This is noteworthy for the Swiss champion was running this race for the first time, yet broke any previous record and came solid second. Third came Gounko at 5.10.26. For the women, the winner was the invincible Maliborska who finished 11th overall, breaking also her own previous record at 6.29.18. Second at 7.48.41 was Sylvie Pinon-Mouillard, Jaquerod’s coach, who also ran this race for the first time and 3rd finished Anneli Sodergards from Sweden in 8.04.53. We must also note the performance of 50-year old Dimitris Venetikidis who finished 4th overall at 5.43.21smashing the M50 category record, and the performance of 72-year old George Akrivou at 9.50.41, the oldest runner of this race. In total, 255 runners managed to finish in the 12 hours limit. The non-profit association “Olympus Marathon”, is the organizer of the race, which also prepared complementary activities such as a Children Race and live music, attracting a large crowd to the region for the whole week-end. Over 150 volunteers toiled to make the race a success, which reached way beyond Greece’s borders, and made it one of the most important races for mountain running. Moral and material help gave the local authorities, such as the Municipalities of Litohoro and Dion and the Provincial Authority of Pieria. The 4th Olympus Marathon will take place on 24 June 2007.

Redonnant vie a la tradition des anciens fideles qui grimpaient sur la montagne des dieux au debut de chaque ete, le marathon du Mont Olympe refait chaque mois de juin l’histoire en emmenant sur les difficiles mais merveilleux sentiers de l’Olympe les fideles de ce sport. Les coureurs demarrent du site sacre de Dion et atteignent les plus hauts sommets de la montagne, ou la neige hivernale recouvre encore les pentes de la plus haute montagne de Grece. Ils arrivent a leur destination de Litohoro apres en avoir descendu toute la hauteur. L’incroyablement difficile itineraire, long de 44 kilometres, est un voyage unique dans le temps et a travers des paysages feeriques. Cette annee encore, le groupe de coureurs etait exceptionnel. Le champion de l’annee derniere, Nikos Kalofyris, ainsi que l’extraordinaire athlete Alexis Gounko, sont venus se mesurer au fameux athlete qui etait venu de Suisse pour faire l’experience de cette course, Christophe Jaquerod, un des plus grands noms au monde dans la course de montagne. Presente egalement etait la championne d’endurance, Irena Maliborska, ainsi que d’autres athletes connus.

Le temps inhabituellement froid de ce printemps a rendu le travail des organisateurs plus difficile. En plus de la preparation normale, ils ont du ouvrir un chemin dans la partie superieure, dans la couche epaisse de neige qui recouvrait encore la pente abrupte, afin d’assurer le passage des coureurs en toute securite. Le jour de la course, des dizaines de volontaires, montagnards de la region mais egalement membres de la Croix Rouge, ont fait la garde aux points difficiles et cles de l’itineraire afin d’offrir leurs services aux coureurs. De plus, douze stations d’approvisionnement avaient des aliments solides et liquides pour renforcer leurs efforts surhumains. D’une importance particuliere etait egalement la signalisation de l’itineraire, faite quelques jours auparavant, afin d’aider les coureurs a s’orienter et leur permettre de situer leur position a tout moment. Le depart a eu lieu un peu apres 6h du matin le dimanche 25 juin, au moment precis du lever du soleil, a l’ancien site de Dion. Les coureurs formaient un petit fleuve quand ils se sont deverses sur la route menant aux pentes de l’Olympe, quatre kilometres plus loin. Des le debut, les principaux champions etaient en tete, et au 6eme kilometre, au torrent Orlia, l’endroit ou les coureurs entraient dans le coeur de la montagne, la distance entre eux et le reste a commence a grandir. Kalofyris avait une petite avance sur Jaquerod, Gounko et les quelques coureurs du groupe de peloton. Un temps couvert protegeait les coureurs du soleil. Neanmoins, une forte humidite a rapidement epuise plusieurs d’entre eux. Alors que la course continuait et que les coureurs atteignaient les altitudes les plus elevees, les nuages ont etreint le sommet et les a enfermes dans un silence imposant qui redonne vie aux contes de l’antique tradition. Une ascension unique pour la Grece, debutant au niveau de la mer et atteignant les 2700 metres dans des neiges eternelles, a mene les coureurs a la limite de leur force. Sur le plateau des Muses, environ a mi-chemin de l’itineraire, Kalofyris avait pres de dix minutes d’avance sur Jaquerod, passant CP 7, au 21eme kilometre, en a peine 2 heures et 41 minutes! Derriere, Jaquerod donnait l’impression de ne pas pouvoir suivre le rythme infernal, et pourtant il etait cinq pleines minutes devant Gounko, lui-meme en 3eme position. Dans la descente jusqu’au point de repos de Prionia, au 31eme kilometre, la situation s’est retablie. Sur un rythme eblouissant, le champion suisse a ramene a trois minutes a peine sa difference avec le leader grec, rechauffant l’interet du public qui s’etait rassemble a l’arrivee et suivait les nouvelles diffusees par les haut-parleurs.

La derniere section de la course, dans la gorge de l’Enipeas, n’a pas change l’ordre, Kalofyris augmentant a nouveau son avance et franchissant triomphalement l’arrivee, battant son propre record precedent avec un impressionnant 4 heures, 56 minutes, et 23 secondes. Kalofyris est devenu le premier coureur a battre le temps des cinq heures dans l’ “Olympus Marathon”. Des centaines de personnes ont felicite le vainqueur qui paraissait plein d’energie malgre l’effort epuisant. L’ordre n’a pas change et second est arrive Jaquerod qui a fini avec 5.01.18. Ceci vaut la peine d’etre note car le champion suisse courait, lui, cette course pour la premiere fois, et pourtant il a brise tous les records precedents et est arrive bon second. Troisieme etait Gounko a 5.10.26. Du cote des femmes, la vainqueur etait l’invincible Maliborska qui a fini 11eme au classement general, battant elle aussi son propre record precedent a 6.29.18. Deuxieme a 7.48.41 etait Sylvie Pinon-Mouillard, l’entraineuse de Jaquerod, qui participait egalement pour la premiere fois a cette course, et 3eme a 8.04.53 etait Anneli Sodergards de Suede. Nous devons aussi faire remarquer les performances de Dimitris Venetikidis, 50 ans, qui est arrive 4eme au classement generale a 5.43.21, ainsi que de George Akrivou a 9.50.41, a 72 ans, le plus age coureur de cette course. Au total, 255 coureurs ont reussi a terminer la course. L’organisation de la course a ete realisee par l’association sans but lucratif “Olympus Marathon”, qui a egalement organise des activites complementaires, telle qu’une course pour enfants et un orchestre, attirant ainsi une foule importante dans la region pendant tout le week end. Plus de 150 volontaires ont oeuvre pour faire de la course un succes qui a depasse les frontieres de la Grece, et en ont fait une des plus importantes courses de montagne. Une aide morale et materielle a ete apportee par les autorites locales, telle que les Communes de Litohoro et Dion et le Gouvernement provincial de Pieria. Le 4eme marathon du Mont Olympe aura lieu le 24 juin 2007.