Kima Extreme Skyrace® hits triple digits

Kima Extreme SkyRace® ©Francesco Bergamaschi

Trofeo Kima, Saturday 24 August: One big event that’s open for everyone. Entries for the iconic Trofeo Kima sold out in record time, with 350 eager athletes (19.5% women) from 27 different nations now preparing to toe the start line for late August’s 52 km of skyrunning on the Sentiero Roma in Northern Italy. As of now, the not-for-profit race organisers in Valmasino are shifting their focus to the weekend’s other events: the Kima Trail, Minikima, and Extrême Skyrace, which has now hit triple figures for early entries.

Extreme by name, extreme by nature: the Extrême, which incorporates a substantial amount of the final part of the official skymarathon route, has high ambitions after its debut staging, which was won by Luca Del Pero (2h58’42”) and Giulia Compagnoni (3h40’40”). This 27.5 km race is no walk in the park, with close to 2,000 metres of elevation gain (1,890 to be exact), passing Passo Barbacan at 2,570 metres above sea level as its highest point. Race bags are guaranteed for the first 250 entries.

THE ROUTE: It starts and finishes in the classic location at the Casa delle Guida in Filorera, with athletes heading along the bike path to San Martino before passing the Lo Scoiattolo campsite and crossing the Bregolana dirt road. From here, you cross the river and climb towards Bagni Masino through the stunning, well-preserved pine forest nature reserve managed by Ersaf, Lombardy’s Regional Board for Agriculture and Forestry Services. With eight fairly runnable kilometres in their legs, fireworks will begin on the way up to Rifugio Gianetti, looping into the final few sections of the original Trofeo Kima race as the Extrême takes in Passo Barbacan – the seventh of the seven Alpine passes found on the Grande Corsa sul Sentiero Roma – before descending towards Rifugio Omio and Bagni Masino. After sprinting through San Martino, it’s not far until runners can catch their breath over the finish line in Filorera.

THE BALLOT: As stated in the rules, the start field is limited to 300 athletes, with 250 rae bags being distributed to those enter early. Athletes must be 20 years or older on the day, have a valid medical certificate for competing, and proof of having completed a skyrace in 2022/2023.  There’s one cut-off time at Rifugio Gianetti of 3h30’—if an athlete is unable to meet this cut-off time, they will have to retire from the race and be accompanied by the staff from the checkpoint. The entire distance has a maximum time of seven hours.