Mountain-X – Putting the Fun Back into Multi-Day Racing

Rob Howard / 13.03.2008

The first Saab Salomon Mountain-X race last year was a huge success, despite some very wet weather. The new stage-race multi-sport concept, with a different discipline and a trail run each day, proved popular with all the athletes who enjoyed the chance to get together in the evenings and the fact the course planners could choose the very best locations for each sport.

The trekking on Alpine ridges, technical downhill riding, white water canoeing and hydro-speeding on the Isere river, and the fantastic exposure of the via-ferrata course all combined to make a memorable week of competition.

In 2007 the race attracted most the top teams in the world, drawn by the pedigree of the organisers (who previously ran the Raid Gauloises and Raid World Championships), and by some big prize money ... but the Saab Salomon Mountain-X is not a race that’s the preserve of top teams only. In many ways it’s the perfect race for teams looking to try an international competition and the organisers are encouraging teams to enter by setting a points scoring system which will allow all levels of experience to be competitive … and by offering an amazingly low entry fee until the end of April.

The price of €1000 per team (3 athletes + 1 support), is €500 cheaper than last year and includes all the campsites, provision of some equipment and evening meals. At only 25% of the cost of some other 5-day races it’s a bargain! Yet there is $120,000 US in prize money and the race will be the first event of its kind filmed in HD too.

Tim Lloyd, team manager of last year’s winners, Team Saab Salomon (UK) is convinced the new race is going to gain in popularity;

\"My main impression of the Mountain-X was how sociable and friendly it was with everyone camped together each night between stages. It wasn\'t anything like the grind of the long expedition races. There was enough time between the stages to enjoy the alpine camps and the company of all the other teams.