Catalina Island is like a dream. An island just 21 nautical miles off the California coast with endless outdoor and Swimrun possibilities. A rugged island with a 650- meter vertical drop from the highest point to the sea. Lots of bays, pebbled beaches and crystal- clear waters abundant with fish.

In the early spring the island is green, the wild flowers are blooming and the contrasts are beautiful.

Catalina Island sounds far away but it is actually very accessible. From Los Angeles international airport it is a short car ride to Long Beach, one of the ferry ports, where you catch the ferry and within 90 minutes you are on the island. This means that you can arrive in Los Angeles early afternoon and be on the island in time for dinner. A new favourite place in the world.

If you have never been to Catalina, then the place itself is worth the trip. It is an Swimrun heaven, close to the mainland surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. The West Coast of the island is wild. Along the course you will meet many friends, especially the bright orange Garibaldi fish.

Catalina is where the buffalo roam free. Where the two beautiful little communities are enclosed and where nature is so much bigger than man.

World Series:

This race course will be up to the highest of ÖTILLÖ swimrun standards. It will be hard and magnificent.

The World Series course has everything; lots of vertical climbs and descents, lots of swimming, fantastic trailrunning, lots of wild nature, no people and an abundance of fish on the swims. It is hard to say if it is a runners course or if it is a swimmers course, we think it is a swimrunners course.

A total of 37,9 km with 7 swims of which the longest is 1 600 metres. A total of 7 600 metres of swimming. Do not take the swims lightly.

The race starts and finishes in the small hamlet of Two Harbors towards the west end of Catalina Island. We will transport all the racers to Two Harbors with a chartered ferry from Avalon and back. Spectators will be able to get other sea transportation back and forth.

The race will start with some running and swimming sections around Two Harbors with a visit to the USC Wrigley Marine Research Centre before going up into the hills towards the West end with breath-taking hills and views. After almost going to the Westernmost tip you will run and swim in and around coves coming all the way back to a finish in Two Harbors on the beach. Along the course we will have cut-off points for those not fast enough to make it before dark.

Make sure that you are a strong swimmer and a strong hill runner to be able to enjoy this course and the incredible views. It will be a massive race.