Saturday is race day. The preparations for the 22nd edition of Trofeo Kima are all falling into place
This coming weekend, the Northern Italian valley of Valmasino is getting ready to host Trofeo Kima, the first Italian round of the Merrell Skyrunner World Series, where the world’s most dedicated and ambitious skyrunners will be racing.
The legendary Trofeo Kima – 52 km in distance with 4,200 metres of vertical gain/descent and also known as the Grande Corsa sul Sentiero Roma – is not the only event taking place this weekend. Trofeo Kima’s start field of 400 experienced skyrunners will be joined this Saturday by the participants of the Kima Extrême Skyrace (27.5 km with 1,890 metres of vertical gain/descent), the Kima Trail (14 km) and Mini Kima (6 km). There are over 700 athletes signed up already across the distances, representing 33 different nations and entries are still open for the weekend’s three shorter races.
Given the encouraging weather forecast, the race organisers will go ahead as planned for the 22nd edition of Trofeo Kima scheduled for Saturday, instead of using their bad-weather-back-up. The same green light has been given for Kima’s younger sibling – the Kima Extrême Skyrace – which shares the final part of the main race – as well as the non-competitive 14km and 6km races. Elsewhere on the programme, there will be an obligatory briefing for Trofeo Kima and the Extreme Skyrace on Friday afternoon. New for 2024: Helmets are mandatory for safety reasons on the high-altitude section between Rifugio Ponti–Gianetti.
The race organisers are fully aware that it’s going to be an intense day with four events taking place simultaneously. Everything begins with the 400-strong start field for Trofeo Kima (6:30 start, Filorera), followed by the Kima Extrême Skyrace (7:30 start, Filorera), Kima Trail (9:00 start, Filorera) and finally the Mini Kima (9:15 start, Filorera).
TROFEO KIMA, THE RACE:
For skyrunners, Trofeo Kima is the sport’s most iconic event. Calling it mythical or legendary is no exaggeration. Now held every two years, Trofeo Kima has existed for 30 years, and inspired generations of mountain athletes to run higher, faster, more technical trails. The fact that Trofeo Kima sold out its 400 race entries in two hours despite imposing a rigorous entry selection that’s based on a runner’s previous performances and Alpine experience is testament to its enduring, global appeal. Those who weren’t quick enough to press submit have added their names to a long wait list.
This Sunday, close to 400 runners from 33 different nations will undertake the hardest test in the world of skyrunning.
WHAT LIES AHEAD:
52 technical kilometres with 4,800m of climbing across 7 Alpine passes above 2500m of altitude (the highest point being Passo Cameraccio at 2,950 metres above sea level).
For those looking to cement their names in the history books, it will be no walk in the park. While the original records for the race, which previously measured 50 km with 3,800 metres of elevation, are now logistically unbeatable: Marco Gatta 5h49’10” and Gloriana Pellissier 7h48’27”, the more current records for what has become a more technical and longer race – 52 km with 4,200 metres of elevation – belong to Spain’s Kilian Jornet (6h09’19”) and America’s Hillary Gerardi (7h30’38”). Gerardi’s time marks the international development and growth of women’s skyracing, thus this year’s event will see another strong women’s field.
WHO IS RACING?
The standout favourites for Saturday include Scotland’s Finlay Wild, who debuted at Trofeo Kima two years ago, finishing within seconds of Kilian Jornet’s record, and Spain’s Manuel Merillas, a previous podium finish at Kima and recent winner of the Grigne Skymarathon. Other names include Luison Coiffet (France), Jack Kenzle (USA) and William Boffelli and Daniel Antonioli (both Italian).
On the women’s side, expectations are high for a close run between record-holder and two-times-winner Hillary Gerardi, Karina Carsolio (Mexico), Elise Poncette (France), Kelly Wolf (USA), Johanna Åström (Sweden) and Henriette Albon (Norway). If you’re looking to put money on an outside, Italy’s Fabiola Conti has chosen Kima as her official comeback race.
ALL EYES ALSO ON THE EXTREME:
Much more than just a ‘side dish’ to Trofeo Kima, the Kima Extrême Skyrace is extreme by name, extreme by nature, covering 27.5 km with 1,890 metres of climbing, featuring an ascent to Rifugio Gianetti, the mythical Passo Barbacan (2,570 metres above sea level and the race’s highest point), followed by the descent down to Rifugio Omio.
Incorporating a substantial section of the official Trofeo Kima route, the current records were set at the inaugural event in 2022: Luca Del Pero (2h58’42”) and Giulia Compagnoni (3h40’40”). Entries are still open for this distance at www.trofeokima.org.
NON-COMPETITIVE BUT NO LESS BEAUTIFUL:
Less sky, more access: the 14 km and 6 km trail races in Valmasino are both still open for entries and you can even enter on the day up until 60 minutes before the respective starts. These two more mellower distances have a mix of top athletes and all other levels of enthusiastic mountain sports lovers, including families with kids. Find out all the details here: www.trofeokima.org
