Portugal counts two races on the world ‘skyrunning’ circuit
The inclusion of Louzan Skyrace, in Serra da Lousã, in the world circuit of this type of resistance to high altitudes, joining Ultra Skyrunning Madeira, can have a “giant” impact for the country and for the sport.
It will be on September 4 that Lousã will join an itinerary of 13 races, in 10 countries, which starts in France, on Sunday, and on the 28th of this month, in a ‘tour’ that goes to Mount Awa, in Japan, but also to tops in Austria, Andorra, Spain, Bulgaria, Norway, Switzerland and Canada.
As ‘repeaters’, only the Iberians, with two competitions for Portuguese and Spaniards, highlight the ‘skyrunning’ modality in the region.
“For us, basically, it’s the recognition of a work that started very long. We’ve been doing this type of races since 199, at least. organizes the competitions”, explained to Lusa Hugo Rodrigues, from the organization of Louzan Skyrace.
The race was created in 2018, but they did not expect it to ‘climb’ to the world circuit so quickly, which shows that it “has quality and deserves” promotion.
After 2019, after 2019, which would be a ‘year zero’, the covid-1 pandemic had the edition on hold, returning in 2021, a new departure, this time, drew international attention.
“For Lousã, in terms of tourism and publicity, it’s huge, and even for the country. (…) There are two competitions, with Madeira, and that brings visibility… it’s okay that it’s a specific audience, but interests Lousã, which is not about mass tourism, but more about nature”, said Hugo Rodrigues.
The world circuit, which closes in October in Spain with Gorbeia Suzein, for which only the best are qualified, is now around the Circuito dos Três Cântaros, in Serra da Estrela, between 2008 and 2010, in which Rosa Madureira prevailed, as one of the most successful Portuguese women on this stage.
Only originally to the highest mountains in the world, as rules and definitions of ‘skyrunning’ were initially changed to be able to reach more test sites and, inherently, to a base of even higher by the other extended, of the tests, which countries as the race can organize, as ultramarathon data, examples of vertical altitude, which means that countries can organize the track, for example, “vertical meters of altitude”, that is, in national soil, for example. Peak” series.
“The definition’ is even more linear than the ‘trail can be defined as a mountain, regardless of the distance or, because there are often no ‘nor maximum sky’, more technical specifications, which prove to be too ‘to be classified’ ‘sky’, and that make them physically more physically athletes”, describes Hugo Rodrigues.
Thus, at this moment “you have to reach the highest point of the mountain you are crossing”, using the crests of the mountains, and “the steeper the better to create difficulties that are overcome on foot, with the aid of sticks or even with the hands, the latter being another indispensable condition for an approved test.
In Lousã, the second-tier race “reaches 55% incline zones for a good few meters”, and “the climb up there is really dizzying”.
Before, the world’s ‘cream’ of the Madeira board in May, in a ’28’ world’ in May, “the tasting offer has across Europe that is portrayed to Lusa Rodrigo Rato, from the organization of Ultra Skyrunning Madeira”, proof of the First level.
The moment of “great indecision”, in the face of the war in Ukraine, also brings uncertainty about those enrolled in educational tests, especially in the archipe, much sought after for “big ‘extreme outdoors’ events” but with logistical challenges, for being ” always a complex shift”.
Lousã is also a reason for rejoicing for islanders, because “the more you have the primacy of excellence in Portugal, the better”, in a “small country, but with very diverse geography, extraordinary wealth and two archipelagos that are remarkable destinations”.
“I have the opinion that everything good that is done in Portugal is always beneficial for any event, any type of wonderful place. (…) The success of these competitions is when the participant comes home and talks about the wonderful place he was in. , and this applies to Lousã, Madeira, the Azores, Guarda, etc.
“Safety”, organizational excellence and “grassroots” work, with a focus on races for the youngest in the 2022 ‘menu’, are keys for Rodrigo Rato, who sees Portugal as a small “market” compared to other countries “with infinitely greater resources”, which requires “working together, without small farms or backyards”.
The children’s race almost takes on the role of ‘daycare on top’, as it has no entry costs and allows parents to “take their child to a different day”, whether or not they are also the older participants in the race.
Ultra Skyrunning Madeira has been taking place since 2014 in the municipality of Santana, in the heart of the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, with Pico Ruivo, the highest point on the island, and Pico Canário, as the main ascending areas.
After two years “which are not even worth talking about”, due to the covid-19 pandemic, Madeira will also experience a kind of “year zero, a fresh start”, and a balance between support and good organization in the face of a destination that “is now consolidated in the range of ‘outor’ sports”, in which many tourists participate as families and do too.