The Bokami Západných Tatier is a very extreme Ski Mountaineering Race, bringing local (Slovakian, Czech and Polish) and European top ski mountaineers and sky runners together in order to race for 3 days across the Western Tatra’s for 2018. This is certainly an extreme race, one which our own race director attended in 2017 for his first taste of SkiMo Racing. Having caught the bug some what and having a half descent winter in the UK for this season, Charlie and his race partner, Angus McKendrick of Silva UK, will return to Slovakia to finish what they both left unfinished in 2017.

At the ‘Lake Distirct Sky Trails’ HQ at the heart of Sky-Running central in the English Lake District, Glenridding, the LDST Team see SkiMo Racing as the winter expression of summer Skyrunning in the UK, Europe and the rest of the World. Fast paced, extremely technical, uber fast descents, lung bursting ascents, technical rock sections, rock climbing in some instances and more.

Our race director Charlie say’s; “With that in mind and the fact both races are sponsored by the same company, Dynafit, we thought we would like to entice and grow our European following and offer the Female and Male winning pairs a chance to come and race on our terrain and experience some of the most iconic and technical running the Lake District has to offer. We were warmly welcomed as the first British pair to race in the Bokami in 2017 and are really looking forward to pitting ourselves against the epic course these guys provide for us as racers. Although we have seen some Polish runners crossing the divide in the 2015 version of the LSU and we now have runners from Greece, Malaysia, Ireland, America, New Zealander, Belgian, Australia, The Netherlanders, Norway, Romania, Austria and France entered across the races to create a truly international field. We are looking forward to welcoming the winning pairs from the Bokami to the Lake District. Although the Lakeland Fells are smaller in height, the Tatra’s and the Lakes share many similarities. “

With only a few days to go before preparations are underway for the start the 1^st day’s racing for the Bokami SkiMo race and everything is all go on their part, whilst back in the Lakes we are pulling everything together to become fully organised for our epic weekend of ‘pure’ skyrunning in the English Lake District.

With all eyes on the UK this year it is even more important that the Lake District Sky Trails team bring the best races possible for the build up to later in the year, when the Ourea Events crew (the team who bring you the epic Ring of Steal, Ben Nevis Ultra and Glencoe Skyline) build up to host the Skyrunning World Champs for 2018.

Charlie, the RD for LDST, was also quoted saying; “ We are so excited about the Scafell Sky Race this year as it has been identified as the qualifying race for the Skyrunning UK Squad, so all focus will be on the ‘SSR’ this year. With this in mind and a few course changes for the better, the ‘SSR’ will literally blow runners minds as to the technicality and beauty the Lakes have to offer.”

Entries are still available in both races, but they are filling up fast, so don’t delay to book your entry. Remember, the Lakes Sky Ultra requires stringent vetting for scrambling and climbing ability, where as the Scafell Sky Race is open to all who feel they can pit themselves against 40km+ and 3000m+ of ascent.

Statistics:

Lakes Sky Ultra – 56km & 4500m+ ascent, Terrain: Technical, Course: Extreme

Scafell Sky Race – 40km+ & 3000m+ ascent, Terrain: Technical, Course: Highly Technical underfoot

Words by Mountain Run

Photos Guillem Casanova/guillemcasanova.com and Paul Mitchell/ wildmanmitchell.com/ and Steve Ashworth - http://www.steveashworthmedia.com/