Elbrus Ski Monsters Expedition Race 2019

The Elbrus Ski Monsters Expedition Race in ski mountaineering opened the sports program of the 2019 Red Fox Elbrus Race.

Author of photo: Chegodaev Oleg

The competition takes place on Europe’s highest peak – Mt. Elbrus 5642 m /18,510 ft – in the Caucasus Mountains, one of the most rugged mountain ranges in the world and definitely one of the most beautiful places in all of Russia.

9 teams from Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Hungary got off to start of the race of the ISMF European Series at an altitude of 2350 meters, on May 2 at 5 a.m.

Author of photo: Chepakin Andrey

They were going to reach the most difficult distance in extreme weather conditions.

It was raining at the start of the race. The forecast promised a strong wind at a speed of 55 km/h on the top of Mt. Elbrus (5642 m).

Author of photo: Chepakin Andrey

Nevertheless, the strongest athletes - the real "monsters" - were ready to challenge the elements and pass this hard route with a total vertical ascent of 4500 m.

Author of photo: Chepakin Andrey

Elbrus Ski Monsters Expedition Race takes place on the slopes of Mt. Elbrus for the second time. This is exclusive expedition style team race leading the athletes to the top of Europe – the summit of Mt. Elbrus (5642 m). In terms of its format, the race has no equal anywhere.

This year the race is included in the official calendar of the International Ski Mountaineering Federation as one of the races of the ISMF European Series.

The race route goes by places of historical and geographical interest on Mt. Elbrus.

Author of photo: Chepakin Andrey

Unfortunately, due to inclement weather conditions and for security purposes, the summit was closed for participants. The team of high altitude referees decided to reduce the race distance. Athletes passed the route to the Pastukhov Rocks (4,800 m), turned around and finished at the Mir station (3,450 m).

Author of photo: Chepakin Andrey

The Elbrus Ski Monsters Expedition Race is a real extreme challenge: the route leads over the glaciers, difficult slopes, with hard climbs and speed descents.

Some athletes noted that at an altitude of 5,000 m in the CP4 area on the Pastukhov Rocks in their hands literally frost was growing. Storm wind and severe cold were the main obstacles for the teams.

However, the struggle of the sportsmen was intense.

The Russian team of Evgeny Markov and Vasily Khrychev immediately took the lead.

Author of photo: Chepakin Andrey

Together with the participants, the race was also attended by the president and general manager of the International Ski Mountaineering Federation Armando Mariotta and Roberto Cavallo.

Author of photo: Barabonov Roman

The guests of honor of the 2019 Red Fox Elbrus Race expressed their gratitude to the organizers for the professional and safe organization of the race.

The president of the International Ski Mountaineering Federation Armando Mariotta:
“I am here for the first time and I am very satisfied, because I had a look to this race, it is beautiful well organized. Thank you for the people of Red Fox and the people that are working here!”

Roberto Cavallo, general manager of the ISMF: “The conditions were not so good today, but we saw that the competition was very good. Very hard for differences of altitude. So it is a very big race, not usual to ISMF. We are very satisfied to be here and to see this competition.”

This year Russian teams won the top of the medals!

Medals were distributed as follows:

1. Еvgenij Markov and Vasilij Hrychev (Russia) - 06:38:49