Swimrun Comes to Engadin 10 July
News Release / 27.06.2016
For the third edition of ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Engadin, a maximum number of 200 teams of two will take on the challenging course in a stunning Alpine setting. The race is held on strenuous alpine trails, between and through beautiful yet glacial cold mountain lakes, and passing the famous alpine village St. Moritz, as well as the picturesque mountain towns Maloja, Sils, Champfer, to finally finish in Silvaplana.
The total distance of the race course is 53 km of which 46,5 km are trail running (in your wetsuit) and 6,5 km are open-water swimming through seven mountain lakes for eight different swims (in your running shoes). The course is further spiced up with 1 450 meters of vertical climb! It will not be easy. ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Engadin is a good alpine equivalent and a difficult qualifier to the World Championship of Swimrun, ÖTILLÖ, the original swimrun race in the Stockholm archipelago, considered one of the toughest one-day races in the world (see further down for more information).
Teams representing 17 nations will battle it out to the finish line in Silvaplana, as the eight top placed teams qualify for a spot at ÖTILLÖ, the Swimrun World Championship, 5 September. The new format Swimrun is growing very popular as a sport worldwide and competitors are travelling to Engadin from all over Europe as well as from USA, Armenia, Uruguay and Russia. Some of the strongest teams in the sport, including runner up World Champion Daniel Hansson, competing with Simon Börjesson from Sweden and last year’s second placers in Engadin, Igor Nastic and Jean-Marc Cattori from Ticino in Switzerland, will push it hard in the front.
The second placed women’s team at Isles of Scilly, Rosemary Byde and Isobel Joiner from the UK will see tough competition in the Engadin local Natalia Muller (SUI) and her Swedish team mate Hanna Slotte. In the mixed category the winners at ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Isles of Scilly Martina Ågren and Oscar Davidsson are back in competition and will be interesting to follow. However, reigning women’s ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Champions will both compete in the mixed class; Annika Ericsson with Jakob Skott and Maja Tesch with German swimrun veteran Marcus Rössel.
But most importantly, the almost 400 competitors, as well as the 30 competitors for the 13,5 km sprint race on Saturday 9 July, are taking part to experience the fantastic spirit of swimrun racing; team spirit, preserving nature and spending a great time outdoors during a very tough course.
Follow the Race Live on 10 July
You can follow the race with live tweets, instagram and leaderboard on otilloswimrun.com/live or come see it on site in the beautiful Engadin Valley! Race HQ is at the Sports centre in Silvaplana.
