Running brand inov-8 have announced a new race that will challenge runners to race down what is claimed to be the world’s toughest ski slope. The Streif, on the Hahnenkamm mountain in Kitzbühel, Austria, is regarded as the ultimate challenge for downhill skiers on the world cup circuit with blind drops, daredevil jumps and an gradient of 80%.
The inov-8 Descent Race will take place in October 2018 and will see runners set off at 30 seconds intervals from the ski start-house at the top of the Hahnenkamm mountain. Ski gates will guide the way for runners, who will weave down the 350m route before entering the finish area.
The fastest 30 runners in both the men’s and women’s categories will qualify for the final run where, as in skiing, finalists will start in reverse order at minute intervals. The fastest will be crowned downhill champions.
Ahead of entries opening this Sunday (April 1), inov-8 product and marketing director Michael Price said: “Inov-8 was forged in the Lake District fells of Great Britain 15 years ago and we have always loved the thrill of running fearlessly down steep fells. Now we’re bringing a taste of British fell running to the Austrian Alps with the pioneering inov-8 Descent Race.
“We’re hoping that runners from across the world will come to Kitzbühel and join us in experiencing what will be the ultimate downhill running thrill.”
The inov-8 Descent Race will take place on Saturday, October 6. Entries open on Sunday. See www.inov-8.com/descent