The Lion Roars in Winter

Rob / 04.02.2004

The Lion Winter Challenge, the first of this year’s European Championship qualifying races, takes place at the start of March. The organisers are calling it the greatest winter race in Europe, and promising, “An extreme experience, extreme tiredness, and extreme weather!”

The venue is in Southern Poland and the course goes through the most difficult and demanding mountain routes of Kotlina Klodzka including Snieznik mountain. Teams will be out for 4 days, covering some 250km in temperatures that may not rise above zero, and will be much colder at night. It’s non-stop and unsupported as well, so there will be no respite. No wonder Polish teams have a reputation as tough competitors!

The top Polish teams are there, including Speleo, lead by Artur Kurek, and they will face special challenges, including caving and something called ‘underground and groove’, and rope ascending with bikes! The standard disciplines also include cross-country skiing.

The full 250km course is called the ‘Extreme Race’, but there is also a 36 hour ‘Speed Race’ for pairs over 100km. It’s the Polish idea of a sprint event and, not surprisingly, has a much bigger entry.

For teams looking to race in winter and for European Championship places there are still places available, and for a 4 day race the price at 350 Euros is remarkably cheap. And even if the weather is cold, the Polish welcome will be a warm one.

Full details are on the race web site, which has everything translated into English as well.