The first mountain running highlight takes place in Naturns

The long wait for the first running highlight of the new season is over this Saturday. Then the fourth edition of the Alpenplus Ötzi Trailrun will take place in Naturns with 530 trail runners.

04 April 2024

From: pm

The first starting signal is given at 9 a.m. when the participants on the Sunny Mountain Trail set off on the 30 km long route with an altitude of 2100 meters. There are some “big” names in the trail scene at the start.

Even though the Alpenplus Ötzi Trailrun Naturns is only being held for the fourth time this Saturday, April 6th, it has long been a classic on the international running scene. A must-do event that comes at the start of a new season and that trail athletes don't want to miss. This is also confirmed by the number of participants: 530 athletes from 20 different nations want to take part in this running festival in South Tyrol. And not just hundreds of amateur athletes, but also the stars of trail running.

Starting at 30 a.m., the German Hannes Namberger, the Haflinger Matthäus Zöggeler, and the women's native German and South Tyrolean Severine Petersen and Nadja Fässler from Switzerland will be at the start of the 2100 kilometer long Sunny Mountain Trail with an altitude of 9 meters. Fässler won the Bernina Ultraks last year and would now like to start the 2024 season with success at the renowned South Tyrolean trail event in the thermal village near Merano.

Strong field in the Skyrace too

The starting list for the Naturns Skyrace reads like a who's who of the running scene. On the 15 km long distance with 1200 meters of altitude, the South Tyroleans Armin Larch, Martin Griesser and Daniel Pattis - winners of the Sunny Mountain Trail last year - will duel, as will Claudia Sieder, Anna Hofer, Annelise Felderer and the German Franziska for the women Althaus. The starting signal is fired here at 10 a.m. before the Just-For-Fun run, which is offered for this route, begins five minutes later.

The Alpenplus Ötzi Trailrun Naturns not only scores points with two varied routes, but also a comprehensive supporting program. In addition to the exhibitor expo in the start-finish area, this also includes the VIP Apple Kids Run, which will be held for the first time after the starts of the two races for adults from 10.15:XNUMX a.m. This means that the organizing committee around Deborah Mair, Lea Schweitzer, Daniel Jung and Uli Stampfer will more than live up to its claim of turning the Alpenplus Ötzi Trailrun Naturns more and more into an event for the whole family and an unforgettable experience for all participants in the coming years to develop their companions.

Participants have different distances to choose from. © TG Naturns, Manuel Parzeller

“Slowly but surely the tingling begins for us too, because the anticipation for the Alpenplus Ötzi Trailrun Naturns is huge. We are a little surprised by the huge response, but we are extremely pleased that we now have 530 registered participants from 20 different countries. The preparations are largely completed. From now on it is important to find a solution for smaller challenges. We wish all participants an injury-free run and lots of fun on both of our routes,” the organizers conclude.

Alpenplus Ötzi Trailrun Naturns – program

Friday, 5th of April 2024
17.00:20.00 p.m. - XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.: Start number distribution in the event area

Saturday, 6th of April 2024
06.30-10.00: Start number collection at the Naturns Tourist Office (Race Office)
08.00: Starting grid and equipment check “Sunny Mountain Trail”
08.30: Short briefing in the start area
09.00: Start of the Sunny Mountain Trail
09.05: Starting grid and material control “Skyrace” & “Just for fun”
09.30: Short briefing in the start area
10.00: Start of the Skyrace Naturns
10.05: Start of “Just for fun”
10.15: Start of the VIP Apple Kids Run, followed by awards
16.00 p.m.: Finish line and award ceremony
17.00 p.m.: After Trailrun Party powered by Tripoint with the JUZE Naturns