MSIG Lantau 50 - Asian Skyrunning Championship
Asia’s Trail Running Stars All Set To Blitz MSIG Lantau 50
Press Release / 03.12.2017
Hosted in Hong Kong for its third year, the much anticipated Asian Skyrunning Championships – MSIG Lantau 50 has attracted some of the speediest trail runners from the region. Stars who have confirmed their participation include Nepal’s Mira Rai, Malaysian Mohamad Affindi Bin Nudin, Sandi Menchi of the Philippines, Taiwan’s Chou Pin-chi and Chou Ching, and Korean Heeseong Noh, etc.
Flagging off from Tung Chung, Lantau Island on Saturday, December 3, the elite athletes will be tested on a tough and technical 54 kilometre course that is renowned to be one of the most difficult in Asia. Going over many of the island’s highest peaks, including Lantau Peak (934m) and Sunset Peak (869m), the course boasts a total elevation gain of 3,500m.
Mr. Marino Giacometti, President of International Skyrunning Federation, shared his thoughts during his speech at today’s press conference, “I’m happy to see more than 9 nations’ Skyrunners sitting here, participating in MSIG Lantau 50 – Asian Skyrunning Championship. MSIG Lantau 50 is without a doubt a very reputable race that we are very happy to end this year’s Skyrunning season with. I’m sure tomorrow’s event will be amazing, and good luck to all the elites!”
Spainish Cristofer Clemente, champion of 2016 Skyrunner World Series – Ultra, is challenging himself once again in MSIG Lantau 50, “I am glad to be on the Lantau course once again. The weather and terrians of Hong Kong are similar to my hometown, and I usually have my regular cycling and running training on the mountain, so I would say the biggest challenge to me would be the 8 hours time difference between Hong Kong and Spain.”
Claimed National Geographic’s 2017 People’s Choice Adventurer of the Year, Nepalese Mira Rai showed her excitement towards tomorrow’s MSIG Lantau 50. “I always love the stunning sceraries within the trail since I was a kid and I am very thankful to have the chances to be the national representatives and participating in different races around the world. Although trail running is a very challenging sport, especially with the stairs and uphill course in Hong Kong, it’s the most interesting and attrative part of the sports! Trail running and participanting in the 2015 MSIG Sai Kung 50 has changed my life and I am really glad to see trail running become more and more popular sports in different countries!”
Ada Tsang Yin Hung, the first Hong Kong female who stepping foot on the summit of Mt. Everest, is also joining MSIG Lantau 50 – Asian Skyrunning Champ. She found trail running very meaningful, not only to physical and mental health, but also to her attitude towards life, “You never know what will happen next while running on the trail, maybe you would fall and get hurt, or you can see the spectacular scenery next second. That’s also why I’m so into running in mountains.”
Flagging off at 6.30am, the 54km course will head from Tung Chung to Ngong Ping, along the Keung Shan ridge down to the Shek Pik area and back over Lantau and Sunset Peaks, before contouring around and down to Pak Mong, and finally heading back to Tung Chung for the finish at Man Tung Road Park.
Two other distances will be offered: a 16km course contouring the ridge from Sunset Peak to Pak Mong, and a 27km course going over Lantau and Sunset Peaks, and tracing the same finish as the 54km race to Tung Chung.
The event is organized by Action Asia Events and is possible thanks to the generous support of presenting sponsor MSIG Insurance (Hong Kong) Limited and supporting partners: Action X Store, International Skyrunning Federation, China Skyrunning Association, Hoka One One, C3fit, Bonaqua, Hong Kong Plantronics, Camelbak, Coca Cola, AroundDB, Royale International, East Bali Cashews, Joint Dynamics, International Trail-Running Association, UTMB Qualifier and Action Asia Foundation.
SleepMonsters
