UTMB World Series Heads to Canada in 2024
First Canadian event will be Ultra Trail Whistler
Posted On: October 27, 2023 By :The UTMB World Series will be in Canada for the first time in 2024 with the announcement of the Ultra Trail Whistler on September 28-29, 2024.
Race distances of 100 kilometers, 50K and 25K will take runners throughout Whistler and its surrounding trails. The Ultra Trail Whistler by UTMB event will be the eighth event in North America. While it is the first event scheduled for Canada, there are six events also on the 2024 calendar in the United States. The current 2024 calendar for UTMB has events also in Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania.
“We are thrilled to serve as co-host of the Canadian stop on the UTMB World Series circuit,” said Whistler Blackcomb Chief Operating Officer Belinda Trembath. “The world’s best trail runners will get to experience the natural beauty, stunning mountain views and world-class terrain of the unceded territories of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation – something our community is fortunate to be able to do every single day.”
Across three distances, the event challenges runners to tap into their inner strength to conquer the Fitzsimmons Mountain Range. The 100K packs nearly 16,273 feet of elevation gain while the 50K course will test runners’ endurance as they take on over 11,020 feet of elevation. The 25km will offer 5,036 feet of elevation with each race through evergreen forest, mountain lakes and high alpine vistas.
“I am excited to welcome runners from around the world to experience the playground that is Whistler Blackcomb and the Sea-to-Sky trail network,” Race Director Christine Cogger said. “We are grateful for the Lil’wat and Squamish People’s collaboration and use of their beautiful land, and we hope our runners appreciate it as much as we do.”