UTMB Group has announced that it will hold its first Canadian World Series next year in Whistler. The newly created Ultra Trail Whistler event marks the 40th World Series event for the 2024 season and is scheduled to take place from Sept. 28 to 29.
The series will include three race distances: 100 kilometres, 50 kilometres and 25 kilometres, with the longest of these categories featuring over 5000 metres of elevation gain. Trail runners can expect to race uphill along the Fitzsimmons Mountain Range.
"We are thrilled to serve as co-host of the Canadian stop on the UTMB World Series circuit," said Whistler Blackcomb COO Belinda Trembath in a press release. "The world’s best trail runners will get to experience the natural beauty, stunning mountain views, and world-class terrain of the unceded territories of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation – something our community is fortunate to be able to do every single day."
Race director Christine Cogger added: “I am excited to welcome runners from around the world to experience the playground that is Whistler Blackcomb and the Sea to Sky trail network. We are grateful for the Lil’wat and Squamish people’s collaboration and use of their beautiful land, and we hope our runners appreciate it as much as we do.”
Priority registration for UTMB Index holders commences on Oct. 30, 2023, with general registration opening Nov. 1.
The announcement comes roughly half a year after the beloved Whistler Alpine Meadows (WAM) trail races were controversially cancelled. The 2022 WAM event generated nearly $717,000 in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the municipality of Whistler.
