04.06.2014
VI International Festival Red Fox Elbrus Race 2014 took place at the foot of Mount Elbrus
Photo: Konstantin Dikovsky, Aygul Lotfullina, Yulia Davydova, Irina Kurmanayeva, Nikita Skorokhodov
The VI International Festival of extreme sports Red Fox Elbrus Race organised by Red Fox Company with the support of Government of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, Emercom of Russia and International Skyrunning Federation took place from 3d to 11th of May.
For the first time the Festival Red Fox Elbrus Race was conducted in 2008. Revival of sports competitions on Elbrus which in the 80th years were selection for forming of teams for the Himalayan expeditions became the idea of the Festival. At the same time the organizers began to work for inclusion of high-speed run to the Elbrus Peak in a World Series of Skyrunning Marathons gaining huge popularity in Europe and all over the world.
Thanks to the efforts of the Russian Skyrunning Federation with the director of Festival Red Fox Elbrus Race Evgeny Kolchanov at the head the Vertical Kilometer® and Vertical SkyMarathon® - Mt Elbrus became the stages of 2012 Skyrunner® World Series that provided a great attention of world leaders of skyrunning.
This year the Festival saw a record number of participants involved. More than 350 sportsmen from 16 countries (Russia, Italy, Mongolia, Indonesia, Japan, Australia, USA, Czech Republic,
Belarus, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Latvia, Poland, Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan) took part in one or more of 7 disciplines.
The main event of the Festival - the high-speed ascent to the West Peak of Mount Elbrus (Vertical SkyMarathon® - Mt Elbrus, 5642 m) - broke records of number of participants too. 197 sportsmen started in two classes of the high-speed run (from Azau glade and from the «Barrels» (3780 m)).
***
For the second time the Italian Marko de Gasperi was the best skyrunner of the Red Fox Elbrus Race, the second place was taken by the leader of the Russian national team Vitaly Shkel.
But the attention of audience and journalists was riveted not only to the Peak of Mount Elbrus these days. For the first time in the history of Festival the ski-mountaineering competition took place in three (instead of two) disciplines - vertical race (that assumes only lifting without descents), individual and team races.
In vertical ski-mountaineering race the debutants in this sport caused a stir. The leaders of the national skyrunning team Vitaly Shkel and Nadezhda Korolyatina took the prizes.
Arrival of female ski-mountaineering leaders from Kamchatka Larisa Soboleva and Ekaterina Osichkina didn't raise doubts that they will appear on a podium.
The second day of the Red Fox Elbrus Race 214 and individual ski-mountaineering race began with rain and over three thousand meters height with snow.
But these weather conditions didn't prevent the racers successfully to overcome the difficulties of the route. The average time of its passing declared at a briefing was 5 hours. The leaders came to the finish less than in two and a half hours. Yuriy Kurganov pulled out a victory at Ilyas Achabaev close to the finish gate and became the winner. The third prize-winning place for Ruslan Kulmukhametov. Among women the palm of victory belongs to Larisa Soboleva.
Team ski-mountaineering race and the Victory Cup for military forces brought together the best athletes from different regions of the country and leading ski-mountaineerers of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, internal military forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and Emercom of Russia.
Every year the organizers prepare new interesting routes for the athletes. This time new sites of a distance between Krugozor and Mir stations were chosen. General height difference made 1980 meters for men and 1730 meters for women. One of stages of this race was put by the technical director of the ISMF, world champion in ski-mountaineering of 2008 Alexander Pelisye.
The leaders Ilyas Achabayev and Ruslan Kulmukhametov overpassed quite difficult distance in 2 hours 53 minutes.
The technical director of the International ski-mountaineering Federation Alexander Pelisye paid attention to complexity of the route: "Well done! In Europe don't run at such heights!"
Ilyas Achabayev: "We went evenly, good trainings help me, descents were hard, but I can't qualify it as very complex distance. There was a breakaway from the rivals. Probably if they were close it would be more interesting contest. But the most important thing is that we come back live and healthy. Of course, we are glad that the Victory Cup was returned to the internal military forces".
Ruslan Kulmukhametov: "I am happy with a season. I prepared so much: I had the trainings on roller skis, took part in biathlon races and competitions of military. I try to train more and keep on top of the European athletes. But the most crucially it's a great pleasant for me to be here, in the mountains, on Elbrus".
Ivan Rybakov: "I'm happy with result. My achievements improve from race to race. It was technically very difficult distance, especially on descents. There was no participant who wouldn't fall. We sank into the snow many times, especially on the second ascent. I thought that the sportsmen from Kamchatka will catch up with us. It was on descent. But during the lifting we left upward again".
The main starts of the Festival gained the careful attention: Vertical Kilometer® - Mt Elbrus (2014 Russian National Skyrunner Series®) and high-speed run to the Elbrus Peak - Vertical SkyMarathon® - Mt Elbrus, 2350-5642 m.
Russian National Skyrunner Series®: Vertical Kilometer® - Mt Elbrus
The sportsmen from Irkutsk Vitaly Chernov (Red Fox Team) and Elena Kravchenko (Red Fox Team) became the winners of Vertical Kilometer. Vitaly passed the third almost all route after Vitaly Shkel and Italian Marko de Gasperi and outstripped the rivals for only some seconds before the finish.
The similar results are in women offset too. It is necessary to note the young 14-year-old ski-mountaineerer Ekaterina Osichkina who wasn't included in the main protocol of results of age but came to the finish of the first. Her time - 54 minutes 3 seconds.
All participants of the Vertical Kilometer noted the high level of complexity of the distance in comparison with previous years.
"It was much more difficult than two years ago. It is a lot of snow and probably I have not such good acclimatization. It was absolutely impossible to run. It's very hard to breathe. And I understood that my rivals are very strong" - Marko de Gasperi commented. The famous skyrunner didn't hide a smile having learned that his time record of 2012 isn't broken by Vitaly Chernov.
"I gave all the best. But I'm happy, - Vitaly tells. - I was adjusted on a victory. I understood that the first place will be played between the three leaders. I kept for Vitaly all route. And the finish skills of athletes defined the result".
The victory of Elena Kravchenko was a surprise for her: "I decided that I will run on the forces, evenly. On preliminary trainings I was intended just for this time. Snow was the obstacle, in some places there were the snowdrifts".
Zhanna Vokueva (International Salomon Team) showed the second best time: "I tried to understand whether I will be able to run in general. I climbed and listened to myself. And I'm very happy with result! The difference with last year is only 6 seconds".
Certainly the great attention was gained by Vitaly Shkel who was one of the prime claimants for top honors of the Vertical SkyMarathon®: "The weather conditions didn't allow to run. There was not any hope for a good result. I passed the route not at the end of tether, I had the reservoir of strengths. Vitaly Chernov surprised me at the finish, well done!"
In total 205 men and 50 women took part in the Vertical Kilometer - the record number of athletes. They tested new system of electronic control of results. Each participant received the chip and on the finish the result was fixed right after passing of an electronic frame with sensors.
***
Vertical SkyMarathon® - Mt Elbrus, 2350-5642 m
The record number of athletes took part in the most difficult stage of the Festival Red Fox Elbrus Race 2014. In "Sport" class 86 athletes have started from Azau glade, in "Classic" class from "Barrels" - 111 sportsmen.
The "gold double" in the main discipline was made by the winner of 2013 Oksana Stefanishina (Sochi).
Marko de Gasperi (Italy) became the winner of the Vertical SkyMarathon® - Mt Elbrus in "Sport" class among men. In amateur offset first place was won by Vladimir Belyay (Belarus) and Svetlana Malova (Saratov).
The participant of the Festival two years ago Gasperi didn't expect his victory: "Beautiful and very difficult route, I knew what for me waits and prepared for the ascent. I had to gain the lead from the start, to show my skills. I know what a strong rival is Vitaly Shkel. Vitaly try to catch me up and I told myself "ok, will show your skills". And I succeeded to keep advantage. But I'm not sure that it would turn out if we run to the peak. I am a lucky, isn't it?"
Due to hard weather conditions the judges changed the rules: skyrunners were turned back at the height of 5200 meters and the finish was on "Barrels". It didn't allow Vitaly Shkel to run away from a competitor Gasperi: "It is a pity that peak is closed. I almost caught up with Marko but it's unreal to struggle with him on a descent".
Since a saddle the weather was so bad that participants didn't regret when them turned back. However this obstacle helped some athletes to improve the result. With a smile upon the face Oksana Stefanishina came running to the finish: "It's a great that the finish was below, it was easy to run and I managed to have a rest. I thought that there will be a fight during the descent but it was succeeded to come off."
The member of Russian national skyrunning team Nadezhda Korolyatina climbed the fourth during the ascent and on descent she saved two places: "During the ascent I was very tired but on descent it is necessary to use every chance". As a result Nadezhda came the second to the finish.
Comments of participants:
Denis Provalov, the 2nd place in amateur class: "I take part in many competitions but only in few places you can find so good atmosphere like on the Red Fox Elbrus Race. I don't know who makes the main contribution - Red Fox company, Evgeny Kolchanov or participants -but it is clear that people put their hearts into the organization. About the race: I decided won't fight on descent. It is not my cup of tea. But the race is excellent!"
Vladimir Belyay, 1st place in amateur class: "Actually from the start we have the similar speed. When he told me that he is Denis, I asked: "Provalov"? He told - "yes". I read the interview with him and in many respects it's his desert that I take part in Festival the second year. He inspired me. To be a competitor for Denis put in good heart. We climb together helping once in a while. It was very pleasant".
Ilyas Achabayev, the member of Russian national skyrunning team: "It was hard. Especially after team ski-mountaineering race that took place yesterday. I am glad that the finish is not on the peak".
Svetlana Malova, 1st place in amateur class: "It was easy to run down, very good route! It is a pity that there was no good weather, but I derived not less pleasure in this format too. I am very glad to a victory".
We appreciate all official sponsors and info partners of the International Festival Red Fox Elbrus Race VI
General sponsor
Sponsors:
Info partners:
1. «Metro» newspaper
2. «Mountains» magazine
3. «Smena» newspaper
4. «Vokrug Sveta» magazine
5. «Populyarnaya mekhanika» magazine
6. «Cosmopolitan» magazine
7. «Discovery» magazine
8. SA Extreme magazine
9. «Strela» newspaper
10. «Vertical World» magazine
11. Portal strana.ru
12. VIM MAGAZINE (inflight magazine of VIM AVIA)
13. «Marsh Brosok» magazine
14. «Bol'shoy Sport» magazine
15. NTV+ TV channel
16. «Zvezda» TV channel
17. Russia Today TV channel
18. Portal ski.ru
19. Portal risk.ru
20. Portal mountain.ru
WE WAIT FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS AND GUESTS NEXT YEAR AT THE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL RED FOX ELBRUS RACE VII!
The VI International Festival of extreme sports Red Fox Elbrus Race organised by Red Fox Company with the support of Government of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, Emercom of Russia and International Skyrunning Federation took place from 3d to 11th of May.
For the first time the Festival Red Fox Elbrus Race was conducted in 2008. Revival of sports competitions on Elbrus which in the 80th years were selection for forming of teams for the Himalayan expeditions became the idea of the Festival. At the same time the organizers began to work for inclusion of high-speed run to the Elbrus Peak in a World Series of Skyrunning Marathons gaining huge popularity in Europe and all over the world.
Thanks to the efforts of the Russian Skyrunning Federation with the director of Festival Red Fox Elbrus Race Evgeny Kolchanov at the head the Vertical Kilometer® and Vertical SkyMarathon® - Mt Elbrus became the stages of 2012 Skyrunner® World Series that provided a great attention of world leaders of skyrunning.
This year the Festival saw a record number of participants involved. More than 350 sportsmen from 16 countries (Russia, Italy, Mongolia, Indonesia, Japan, Australia, USA, Czech Republic,
Belarus, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, Latvia, Poland, Austria, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan) took part in one or more of 7 disciplines.
The main event of the Festival - the high-speed ascent to the West Peak of Mount Elbrus (Vertical SkyMarathon® - Mt Elbrus, 5642 m) - broke records of number of participants too. 197 sportsmen started in two classes of the high-speed run (from Azau glade and from the «Barrels» (3780 m)).
***
For the second time the Italian Marko de Gasperi was the best skyrunner of the Red Fox Elbrus Race, the second place was taken by the leader of the Russian national team Vitaly Shkel.
But the attention of audience and journalists was riveted not only to the Peak of Mount Elbrus these days. For the first time in the history of Festival the ski-mountaineering competition took place in three (instead of two) disciplines - vertical race (that assumes only lifting without descents), individual and team races.
In vertical ski-mountaineering race the debutants in this sport caused a stir. The leaders of the national skyrunning team Vitaly Shkel and Nadezhda Korolyatina took the prizes.
Arrival of female ski-mountaineering leaders from Kamchatka Larisa Soboleva and Ekaterina Osichkina didn't raise doubts that they will appear on a podium.
The second day of the Red Fox Elbrus Race 214 and individual ski-mountaineering race began with rain and over three thousand meters height with snow.
But these weather conditions didn't prevent the racers successfully to overcome the difficulties of the route. The average time of its passing declared at a briefing was 5 hours. The leaders came to the finish less than in two and a half hours. Yuriy Kurganov pulled out a victory at Ilyas Achabaev close to the finish gate and became the winner. The third prize-winning place for Ruslan Kulmukhametov. Among women the palm of victory belongs to Larisa Soboleva.
Team ski-mountaineering race and the Victory Cup for military forces brought together the best athletes from different regions of the country and leading ski-mountaineerers of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, internal military forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia and Emercom of Russia.
Every year the organizers prepare new interesting routes for the athletes. This time new sites of a distance between Krugozor and Mir stations were chosen. General height difference made 1980 meters for men and 1730 meters for women. One of stages of this race was put by the technical director of the ISMF, world champion in ski-mountaineering of 2008 Alexander Pelisye.
The leaders Ilyas Achabayev and Ruslan Kulmukhametov overpassed quite difficult distance in 2 hours 53 minutes.
The technical director of the International ski-mountaineering Federation Alexander Pelisye paid attention to complexity of the route: "Well done! In Europe don't run at such heights!"
Ilyas Achabayev: "We went evenly, good trainings help me, descents were hard, but I can't qualify it as very complex distance. There was a breakaway from the rivals. Probably if they were close it would be more interesting contest. But the most important thing is that we come back live and healthy. Of course, we are glad that the Victory Cup was returned to the internal military forces".
Ruslan Kulmukhametov: "I am happy with a season. I prepared so much: I had the trainings on roller skis, took part in biathlon races and competitions of military. I try to train more and keep on top of the European athletes. But the most crucially it's a great pleasant for me to be here, in the mountains, on Elbrus".
Ivan Rybakov: "I'm happy with result. My achievements improve from race to race. It was technically very difficult distance, especially on descents. There was no participant who wouldn't fall. We sank into the snow many times, especially on the second ascent. I thought that the sportsmen from Kamchatka will catch up with us. It was on descent. But during the lifting we left upward again".
The main starts of the Festival gained the careful attention: Vertical Kilometer® - Mt Elbrus (2014 Russian National Skyrunner Series®) and high-speed run to the Elbrus Peak - Vertical SkyMarathon® - Mt Elbrus, 2350-5642 m.
Russian National Skyrunner Series®: Vertical Kilometer® - Mt Elbrus
The sportsmen from Irkutsk Vitaly Chernov (Red Fox Team) and Elena Kravchenko (Red Fox Team) became the winners of Vertical Kilometer. Vitaly passed the third almost all route after Vitaly Shkel and Italian Marko de Gasperi and outstripped the rivals for only some seconds before the finish.
The similar results are in women offset too. It is necessary to note the young 14-year-old ski-mountaineerer Ekaterina Osichkina who wasn't included in the main protocol of results of age but came to the finish of the first. Her time - 54 minutes 3 seconds.
All participants of the Vertical Kilometer noted the high level of complexity of the distance in comparison with previous years.
"It was much more difficult than two years ago. It is a lot of snow and probably I have not such good acclimatization. It was absolutely impossible to run. It's very hard to breathe. And I understood that my rivals are very strong" - Marko de Gasperi commented. The famous skyrunner didn't hide a smile having learned that his time record of 2012 isn't broken by Vitaly Chernov.
"I gave all the best. But I'm happy, - Vitaly tells. - I was adjusted on a victory. I understood that the first place will be played between the three leaders. I kept for Vitaly all route. And the finish skills of athletes defined the result".
The victory of Elena Kravchenko was a surprise for her: "I decided that I will run on the forces, evenly. On preliminary trainings I was intended just for this time. Snow was the obstacle, in some places there were the snowdrifts".
Zhanna Vokueva (International Salomon Team) showed the second best time: "I tried to understand whether I will be able to run in general. I climbed and listened to myself. And I'm very happy with result! The difference with last year is only 6 seconds".
Certainly the great attention was gained by Vitaly Shkel who was one of the prime claimants for top honors of the Vertical SkyMarathon®: "The weather conditions didn't allow to run. There was not any hope for a good result. I passed the route not at the end of tether, I had the reservoir of strengths. Vitaly Chernov surprised me at the finish, well done!"
In total 205 men and 50 women took part in the Vertical Kilometer - the record number of athletes. They tested new system of electronic control of results. Each participant received the chip and on the finish the result was fixed right after passing of an electronic frame with sensors.
***
Vertical SkyMarathon® - Mt Elbrus, 2350-5642 m
The record number of athletes took part in the most difficult stage of the Festival Red Fox Elbrus Race 2014. In "Sport" class 86 athletes have started from Azau glade, in "Classic" class from "Barrels" - 111 sportsmen.
The "gold double" in the main discipline was made by the winner of 2013 Oksana Stefanishina (Sochi).
Marko de Gasperi (Italy) became the winner of the Vertical SkyMarathon® - Mt Elbrus in "Sport" class among men. In amateur offset first place was won by Vladimir Belyay (Belarus) and Svetlana Malova (Saratov).
The participant of the Festival two years ago Gasperi didn't expect his victory: "Beautiful and very difficult route, I knew what for me waits and prepared for the ascent. I had to gain the lead from the start, to show my skills. I know what a strong rival is Vitaly Shkel. Vitaly try to catch me up and I told myself "ok, will show your skills". And I succeeded to keep advantage. But I'm not sure that it would turn out if we run to the peak. I am a lucky, isn't it?"
Due to hard weather conditions the judges changed the rules: skyrunners were turned back at the height of 5200 meters and the finish was on "Barrels". It didn't allow Vitaly Shkel to run away from a competitor Gasperi: "It is a pity that peak is closed. I almost caught up with Marko but it's unreal to struggle with him on a descent".
Since a saddle the weather was so bad that participants didn't regret when them turned back. However this obstacle helped some athletes to improve the result. With a smile upon the face Oksana Stefanishina came running to the finish: "It's a great that the finish was below, it was easy to run and I managed to have a rest. I thought that there will be a fight during the descent but it was succeeded to come off."
The member of Russian national skyrunning team Nadezhda Korolyatina climbed the fourth during the ascent and on descent she saved two places: "During the ascent I was very tired but on descent it is necessary to use every chance". As a result Nadezhda came the second to the finish.
Comments of participants:
Denis Provalov, the 2nd place in amateur class: "I take part in many competitions but only in few places you can find so good atmosphere like on the Red Fox Elbrus Race. I don't know who makes the main contribution - Red Fox company, Evgeny Kolchanov or participants -but it is clear that people put their hearts into the organization. About the race: I decided won't fight on descent. It is not my cup of tea. But the race is excellent!"
Vladimir Belyay, 1st place in amateur class: "Actually from the start we have the similar speed. When he told me that he is Denis, I asked: "Provalov"? He told - "yes". I read the interview with him and in many respects it's his desert that I take part in Festival the second year. He inspired me. To be a competitor for Denis put in good heart. We climb together helping once in a while. It was very pleasant".
Ilyas Achabayev, the member of Russian national skyrunning team: "It was hard. Especially after team ski-mountaineering race that took place yesterday. I am glad that the finish is not on the peak".
Svetlana Malova, 1st place in amateur class: "It was easy to run down, very good route! It is a pity that there was no good weather, but I derived not less pleasure in this format too. I am very glad to a victory".
We appreciate all official sponsors and info partners of the International Festival Red Fox Elbrus Race VI
General sponsor
Sponsors:
Info partners:
1. «Metro» newspaper
2. «Mountains» magazine
3. «Smena» newspaper
4. «Vokrug Sveta» magazine
5. «Populyarnaya mekhanika» magazine
6. «Cosmopolitan» magazine
7. «Discovery» magazine
8. SA Extreme magazine
9. «Strela» newspaper
10. «Vertical World» magazine
11. Portal strana.ru
12. VIM MAGAZINE (inflight magazine of VIM AVIA)
13. «Marsh Brosok» magazine
14. «Bol'shoy Sport» magazine
15. NTV+ TV channel
16. «Zvezda» TV channel
17. Russia Today TV channel
18. Portal ski.ru
19. Portal risk.ru
20. Portal mountain.ru
WE WAIT FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS AND GUESTS NEXT YEAR AT THE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL RED FOX ELBRUS RACE VII!
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