Sellaronda Skimarathon 2015 - presentation

The Sellaronda Skimarathon blows out twenty candles. The white marathon, which will be staged on Friday, 20 March from Selva di Val Gardena, was presented at Dynafit in Bolzano. "With Kilian and Pivk the 3-hour wall can be broken!"

The Sellaronda Skimarathon blows out twenty candles. Presented at Dynafit in Bolzano, the white marathon that will be staged on Friday, 20 March from Selva di Val Gardena. "With Kilian and Pivk the 3-hour wall can be broken!"

This morning at the prestigious Dynafit headquarters in Bolzano, the 20th edition of the Sellaronda Skimarathon was presented. There will be 1200 Sellaronders who will take on the 42 kilometres and over 2700 metres of positive height gain to conquer the four Dolomite passes, the Gardena, Campolongo, Pordoi and Sella. On Friday 20 March at 18:00, what is considered the Formula One of ski mountaineering will start from Selva di Val Gardena.
Doing the honours was Oscar Angeloni, Dynafit Event Manager "I have to thank the organisers for giving us the opportunity to present such an important event at our venue. Dynafit is very keen on the collaboration with the Sellaronda Skimarathon because this race represents the ultimate expression of speed with sealskins, and is therefore a fundamental part of our DNA".
Before handing the floor over to Oswald Santin, coordinator of the Sellaronda, Paolo Mutton called to the stage four athletes who have made history in the Skimarathon, Fabio Meraldi, Roberta Pedranzini, Francesca Martinelli, and Hansjörg Lunger. Fabio Meraldi symbol of ski mountaineering and skyrunnig by winning the first five editions wrote the history of the Sellaronda Skimarathon. Meraldi recalled how Diego Perathoner's idea of bringing athletes to run along the slopes of the Giro dei Quattro Passi came about.
The coordinator of the Sellaronda, the mountain guide Oswald Santin, in his speech highlighted some key aspects of this adventure, which will start next Friday from Selva di Val Gardena.
"We were amazed at the speed with which the registrations closed," said Santin. "We did not expect such a large number of registrations and this means that we are a great race. In October in only seven days we reached the maximum quota of registered teams. One thousand two hundred Sellaronders, representing 14 nations, will start from Selva di Val Gardena. Furthermore, the women's registrations are a great satisfaction for us. In recent years the pink quotas did not go beyond 2-3%, now we are at almost one hundred and fifteen women registered, 39 female pairs and 37 in the mixed pairs. What also amazes me is that we have a waiting list that almost exceeds the number of teams regularly registered".
"Between these registered teams - we are still missing the top-skiers, who will send in their memberships as soon as the Pierra Menta is over. Pectoral number one has already been awarded to last year's winner Tadei Pivk. The Friulian will race with Spanish phenomenon Kilian Jornet Burgada. It is very difficult to go under three hours, but I am sure that Pivk and Kilian will be able to do it if everything goes well. As far as the technological aspect is concerned, the organising committee coordinator explained that the Sellaronda Skimarathon is up to date. "We have a very functional registration management system, and we have also confirmed live streaming for this edition. The cameras will follow the last two steps live, from the studio in Selva di Val Gardena, as well as broadcasting the recorded stages of the start, there will be speeches with authoritative guests."
"A final point on which I want to dwell - concluded Santin - is on the regulations. I want to reiterate that Sellaronda has studied a very punctilious and precise set of rules, which is difficult to find in other ski mountaineering events. It is not possible to be out and about in the mountains with the risk of the temperatures dropping drastically while having a third layer of light clothing in your rucksack, such as a k-way. This is the third edition that we are asking athletes for a heavier jacket to bring to the race. As in past editions, there will be three internationally renowned judges monitoring the smooth running of the race. An illustrious guest was present in the audience, and after taking notes from the words of the great ski mountaineering champions, Silvio Fauner, Olympic champion and absolute star of Italian Nordic skiing took the stage to explain why he decided to sign up for the Sellaronda. "I signed up almost as a joke," Fauner said, "last summer, during the bike rides, with Oscar Angeloni we thought it would be nice to take part in the Sellaronda together. So it was! After so many years of hard work I still want to get involved, but I only do it for fun and above all I no longer check the stopwatch'.
To look to the future, one must not forget the history that made the Sellaronda Skimarathon great. The two senators Valerio Lorenz and Olivo Michelluzzi recounted the anecdotes and most beautiful experiences as Sellarondisti.
Appointment in Selva di Val Gardena set for Friday 20 March at 18.