The first Matterhorn Skyrunning Workshop designed to instruct the art and basics of skyrunning, has been introduced by the International Skyrunning Federation with a view to becoming an annual event.
A six-day full immersion in Cervinia, on the Italian side of the Matterhorn – one of the world’s most iconic mountains – is the selected location set for June 17-22, 2022. The base-line altitude of 2,000m makes it an excellent start for participants living at lower altitudes.
Leading the workshop are master-class instructors: Marino Giacometti, inventor of the sport and president of the International Skyrunning Federation, flanked by one of the world’s top athletes, Franco Collé, winner of the Monte Rosa SkyMarathon and three editions of the TorX, together with William Boffelli, three-time winner of the Monte Rosa SkyMarathon and member of the Italian ski-mo team. Rafael Aquino Leal, president of Skyrunning Brazil will assist the team thanks to his experience in some of the toughest skyrunning races.
“The town of Cervinia and the Matterhorn were the arena for the first skyrunners in the 90’s,” Giacometti said. “It’s now back to the future with this new workshop dedicated to the skyrunners of today. It’s a real pleasure to be part of it, and also as a potential first step to relaunch those historic races.”
Cervinia represents an important location in skyrunning history, where the first Vertical Kilometer® took place in 1994 and later, the first Skyrunning World Championships in 1998.
Collé, a Val d’Aosta local, commented, “I’m really pleased to participate in this workshop. To spend some days on the beautiful trails at the foot of the Matterhorn, to share my personal experience with athletes from other countries, and to practise real skyrunning…I couldn’t ask for more!”
“Taking part in this workshop represents a great personal satisfaction, not just sharing my own experience matured over the last years, but above all, as an occasion to deepen my knowledge and gain new experience,” added Boffelli.
The Matterhorn Skyrunning Workshop team is completed by local runner and hotel owner, Ludovico Bich and passionate skyrunner Yaniv Shoshan from Israel who, together with Bich, launched the project. He will bring a number of Israeli participants to the course to perfect their skyrunning technique. Joining the workshop will be top skyrunning photographer Ian Corless to capture the group’s adventures, accompanied by Abelone Lyng from Norway who has travelled far and wide perfecting her skyrunning skills.
The workshop is designed by experts to instruct participants on uphill and downhill running technique, running on different terrain, at altitude, on scree and snow, vie ferrate, the use of poles, crampons and harnesses, nutrition and the history of the sport. They will also share some secrets direct from those in the know.
The agenda includes outdoor runs on the original Vertical Kilometer® course from Cervinia up to the Oriondé Refuge at 2,802m and will touch on the Theodul Pass at 3,295m with spectacular views of the Matterhorn and across the glacier down to Zermatt.
Indoors, the workshop continues daily with lectures, presentations, videos and relaxing activities such as yoga, a spa and appetising meals based on the local Aosta Valley cuisine in the host hotel, Les Neiges d’Antan. The initiative is also open to participants’ partners who may not be aspirant skyrunners, but who want to share this unique experience enjoying all the facilities, indoors and out.
The Matterhorn Skyrunning Workshop will be carried out in English and is limited to 15 participants. For details and participation click here.
*Part of the VK course will feature in the Workshop activities and will be available for the #MYSKYRACE plan which provides a unique personalised preview of participant’s times.
