ITALY'S MARCIALONGA ALREADY ON TRACK

Over 4000 ‘Bisons’ are running fast towards the 38th Marcialonga, scheduled for January 30th, 2011. Participants to the famous Italian ski-marathon through the Fiemme and Fassa valleys in Trentino region, are friendly nicknamed ‘Bisons’, cause when they move down the ski tracks, they look like a herd of …wild and coloured cows. It’s understood that it is a joke, however, with more than five months to the start, only 2500 bibs are yet to be booked and the ‘herd’ of skiers gets more and more crowded every passing day.

The entry limit for next year’s competition is set at 6500 participants and once the maximum number has been reached, entries will close. Last year’s race was ‘sold out’ three months ahead of the start. Something as a rush to the last bib appears more than predictable during the months to come.

Norwegians take lion’s share so far, with 1.891 athletes – 1.430 men and 461 women – already registered. On the second place seats Italy with 1.060 entries, specifically 920 men and 140 women, and third are the Swedes with 675 skiers. Overall, 28 different countries are already represented in the starting list of the 2011 Marcialonga.

As always the ski-marathon will be on the two courses of 70 Km (starting from Moena and finishing in Cavalese) and 45 Km (the ‘Marcialonga Light’ from Moena to Predazzo), at the foot of the majestic Dolomites.

While the Marcialonga headquarter at the ski jumping stadium in Predazzo gets refurbished in view of the 2013 Nordic Ski World Championships, the Marcialonga OC and its team has now moved to Piazza SS. Apostoli in the town centre. Marcialonga renewed web site is on line at www.marcialonga.it

In less than a month, on September 5th, the Marcialonga Running event will be on, along the 26km course that runs from the heart of Moena (the new start line will be located in Piazza Sotegrava) to Cavalese, ending on the same Viale Mendini where the Cross Country winter race finishes. As of today, over 900 runners registered to the race and last year’s record of 1.500 participants could be beaten.

Every Marcialonga event aims to be as much sustainable and environmentally friendly as possible. The OC, along with local institutions and partners, are perfectly aware of how precious natural resources are, and act consequently, avoiding or reducing any impact on the environment.

Info: www.marcialonga.it