December 05

LA SPORTIVA ANDORRA SKIMO 2021: THE 10 REFUGES TRAVERSE.

Posted by Héctor Rubio on December 5, 2020 in ski, trail running spain | Leave a comment

LA SPORTIVA ANDORRA SKIMO: The Crossing of the 10 Refuges, skimo in its purest form. Our SKI section brings us today the ANDORRA SKIMO 2021, which despite the Pandemic of Covid-19 and thanks to the organizers goes ahead with all the means available so that the competition can be repeated one more year.

Last Tuesday, December 1, through a live streaming press conference from the Casa de la Muntanya, the organizers of the mountain ski race released the sixth edition of the Andorran competition, which will be held on the weekend of February 20 and 21, 2021 in the principality.

With special emphasis on virus prevention and containment, organizers will bet on an edition with fewer participants and more security, but with the same excitement, passion and incredible travel as ever.

LA SPORTIVA ANDORRA SKIMO

SKIMO2, SKIMO4, SKIMO, SKIMO10

As Joan Turne, director of the race, explained, the crossing of the 10 refuges returns with the four classic formats already present in previous editions, which allow to go around the country crossing the best and most incredible Andorran landscapes: The Skimo 6, the most popular test, linking Naturlandia and Grau Roig passing through the refuges of Roca de Pimes, Claror, Perafita, dels Orris, de l’Illa and Montmalús; Skimo 4, the technical and difficult test that unites Grau Roig with Ordino-Arcalís through the shelters of Siscaró, Coms de Jan, Sorteny and Rialb; The Skimo 10, a two-stage race that completes the skimo 6 and Skimo 4 courses; and skimo 2, a competition for the youngest, which joins the Puntal with Ordino Arcalís passing through the refuges of Sorteny and Rialb.

Photo: @grandvaliraskimo6

SKIMO2 (14km +1050m)

Only open for U-14, U-16 and U-18 categories, with 14 kms.

SKIMO4 (40km +3000m)

In the Skimo4, the goal is to mountain skiing and join the two valleys as well as the 2 resorts, Grau Roig Ski Resort and Ordino Arcalis Station, crossing the 4 Refuges. It will be held on Sunday 21st, with 40 kms and 3000 meters of accumulated elevation.

SKIMO6 (30km +2000m)

With the aim of uniting with mountain skiing the two ski resorts: Naturlandia and Grau Roig Ski Resort, crossing through the 6 shelters. It will be held on Saturday, February 20th on 30 kilometers and a cumulative altitude of 2000 meters.

SKIMO10 (70km +5000)

It is the queen race of the weekend, by teams of 2 or 3 people, going around with mountain skiing uniting the two valleys as well as the 3 ski resorts: Naturlandia, Grau Roig Ski Resort and Ordino Arcalis Station, crossing through the 10 shelters. With a total of 70 km. and 5000 meters of accumulated elevation and divided into 2 stages: the first stage will be held on Saturday, February 20 on 30 kilometers and the second on Sunday, February 21, on 40 kms.

COMPETITION AND SAFETY AGAINST COVID19

For a competition that in all its editions has had problems with excess or lack of snow, and that has not only managed to overcome them satisfactorily always, but has also been characterized by providing its participants with a unique and unforgettable experience, a global pandemic is nothing that cannot be fought against. To do this, all participating athletes must take an antigen test before collecting the bib number, in order to determine who is negative for Covid-19 and consequently can participate in the competition.

This test will pursue the realization of the race with the maximum sanitary guarantees, and will not exempt the participants from the obligation to wear mask both on departure, as on arrival, as at all the points of supply of the route (although it will not be necessary to carry it during the tour itself). Also, if an enrolled participant is positive for the test or is unable to attend because they are in pre-trial quarantine, 100% of the registration will be returned to them or will be offered an enrollment for the following year. Similarly, the organization has different action plans depending on the state of the pandemic.

REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS

The total number of registrations will also be reduced to reduce crowds: of the 1000 participants of the previous edition will be passed to about 600 skiers, divided into 100 teams for Skimo 6 and Skimo 10, 50 for Skimo 4, and 25 for Skimo 2. Even so, the organization does not rule out expanding the call for places if health indicators are favourable. Pre-registration can be made from December 10th at 21h and until the 16th at the same time, and on December 17 the draw will be made where the 600 participants will be chosen. During the 18th, 19th and 20th it will be communicated to the chosen teams that have won, and their participation will have to be confirmed by paying for the registration, which will have to be paid between December 20 and 21.

WHAT’S NEW 2021

One of the novelties of this year is that the organizers will offer 50 Gold registrations, which will group in a single pack all the services offered by the race: registration, accommodation, buses to and from the points of departure and arrival of the competition, massage and train.

The gift of the registration will be a Jacket of La Sportiva, and the medals for the finishers will be divided into three categories (gold, beach and bronze), depending on the time of completion of the tour. In addition, the organization will deliver a personalized mask to all athletes, which will have a different color depending on the test in which they participate, in order to distinguish the runners during stops in supplies and arrivals.
In addition, those responsible issued a call to all the people who want to volunteer, and thanked them for the incredible task that year after year they perform these. Whoever wants to do it can sign up through their website.

Sportiva will once again be the main sponsor of the competition for the sixth consecutive year. The leaders of the Italian brand reaffirmed their commitment to the Andorran race, especially in a year as complicated as the present, and stated that they are delighted to be part of a test as beautiful and special as La Sportiva Andorra Skimo. Pere Rullan, athlete of La Sportiva who has participated in all editions and has won three of them, declared that “the added value of Andorra Skimo are its landscapes, its route, which is unable to leave you indifferent”. French skier Latitia Roux said the competition is “more than a race, it’s a shared adventure.”