UTMB World Series expands North American offering with Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB

May 2, 2023

Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB becomes the sixth event in United States to join UTMB World Series with other existing races in California, Colorado, Virginia and Utah

BIG BEAR LAKE, Cali. / CHAMONIX, France / TAMPA, Fla. /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Kodiak Ultra Marathons™ by UTMB® has become the latest trail running event to be added to the 2023 UTMB® World Series. Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB will take place in Big Bear Lake, California on October 13-15 and will feature distances of 10km, half marathon (21km), 50km, 100km, and 100-mile, with Running Stones offered at select distances for the UTMB® World Series Finals at UTMB® Mont-Blanc. The event joins a list of 36 prestigious trail running events from around the world that make up the premiere series in trail running.

With close proximity to Los Angeles, California, Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB also furthers the offering for runners to live their UTMB experience while exploring some of the best trails across the USA as the sixth UTMB World Series event in the United States, joining Desert RATS™ Trail Running Festival™ by UTMB® (Fruita, Colorado), UTMB® World Series American Major – The Canyons Endurance Runs™ by UTMB® (Auburn, California), Western States® 100-Mile Endurance Run (Olympic Valley and Auburn, California), Speedgoat™ Mountain Races by UTMB® (Snowbird, Utah), and Grindstone Trail Running Festival™ by UTMB® (Staunton, Virginia).

General registrations for Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB will open on May 10 at www.kodiak.utmb.world.

“It’s an honor to have Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB added as the sixth UTMB World Series event in the United States,” said Susie Schmelzer, Race Director for Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB. “It is a natural addition to the UTMB World Series. The event and Big Bear Lake have so much to offer runners, family, friends and spectators that meets the standards of the other great events that are part of this Series.”

Sitting at 7,000ft in the San Bernardino Mountains, the charming Big Bear village will host the start and finish for all five races, each offering their own unique running experience through high desert, sub alpine and semi-arid climates.

Racing for the 10th edition of Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB will kick off on Friday, October 13 when runners take on the 100-mile race. This distance is a looped course that circumnavigates Big Bear Lake. From the descent through the rarely crossed Siberia Canyon, to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain at nearly 10,000ft, the course is as challenging as it is beautiful.

On Saturday, October 14, the 100km course follows over half of the 100-mile course, while covering much of the beautiful Big Bear Valley. Runners in the 50km will enjoy the flowy single track of the Skyline ridge at 8,000ft before descending to the Village.

Finally, on Sunday, October 15, race weekend closes out with a 10km and half marathon (21km). The 10km runners will enjoy the beautiful trails with views of Big Bear Lake in the background throughout the run. The Half Marathon course ascends the Skyline ridge with views of San Gorgonio peak before descending back into town for the festival finish.

Big Bear Lake is Southern California’s four-season mountain lake escape. As the jewel of the San Bernardino National Forest and known for excellent fishing, snowboarding and skiing, hiking, mountain biking and so much more, Big Bear Lake is also easy to access from Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.

UTMB World Series events are the only place for runners to access the UTMB World Series Finals, held annually at the world’s biggest trail running event, UTMB Mont-Blanc. 36 events across Europe, Asia, Oceania, the USA, South America, and Africa are currently confirmed for the 2023 season, giving runners from around the world the chance to meet their extraordinary at exceptional events across the globe. Runners can view the full calendar of events and choose their adventures here.

For more information about the Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB visit www.kodiak.utmb.world and watch the event video here. For more information about the UTMB World Series visit www.utmb.world.

UTMB World Series 2023 confirmed events (as 28 April 2023)

• Tarawera Ultramarathon™ by UTMB® (New Zealand), 11-12 February
• Amazean Jungle Thailand by UTMB® (Thailand), 17-19 February
• Istria 100™ by UTMB® (Croatia), 13-16 April
• Ultra-Trail Ninghai by UTMB® (China) 14-16 April
• Desert RATS™ Trail Running Festival™ by UTMB® (USA) 12-14 April
• UTMB® World Series American Major; The Canyons Endurance Runs™ by UTMB® (USA), 28-29 April
• Transvulcania by UTMB® (Spain), 4-6 May
• Ultra-Trail Australia™ by UTMB® (Australia), 11-14 May
• Ultra-Trail Snowdonia by UTMB® (Wales), 12-14 May
• Valhöll Argentina by UTMB® (Argentina), 12-14 May
• Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB® (France), 18-21 May
• Mountain Ultra-Trail™ by UTMB® (South Africa), 26-28 May
• Trail du Saint-Jacques by UTMB® (France), 3-4 June
• mozart 100™ by UTMB® (Austria), 17-18 June
• La Sportiva® Lavaredo Ultra-Trail® by UTMB® (Italy), 22-25 June
• Trail 100 Andorra™ by UTMB® (Andorra), 24-25 June
• Western States® 100-Mile Endurance Run (USA), 24-25 June
• UTMB® World Series European Major; Val d’Aran by UTMB® (Spain), 6-9 July
• Restonica Trail by UTMB® (France), 6-8 July
• Trail Verbier Saint-Bernard by UTMB® (Switzerland), 7-9 July
• Eiger Ultra Trail™ by UTMB® (Switzerland), 12-16 July
• Speedgoat™ Mountain Races by UTMB® (USA), 21-22 July
• KAT100™ by UTMB® (Austria), 3-5 August
• UTMB® World Series Finals; UTMB® Mont-Blanc (France, Italy, Switzerland), 28 August – 3 September
• Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB® (Slovenia), 8-10 September
• Wildstrubel by UTMB® (Switzerland), 14-17 September
• Paraty Brazil by UTMB® (Brazil), 22-24 September
• Grindstone Trail Running Festival™ by UTMB® (USA), 22-24 September
• Nice Côte d’Azur by UTMB® (France), 28 September - 1 October
• TransJeju by UTMB® (South Korea), 7-8 October
• Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB® (USA), 13-15 October
• Puerto Vallarta México by UTMB® (Mexico), 3-4 November
• Kullamannen™ by UTMB® (Sweden), 3-4 November
• TransLantau™ by UTMB® (Hong Kong), 10-12 November
• UTMB® World Series Asian-Pacific Major; Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB® (Thailand), 8-10 December
• Ultra-Trail Kosciuszko™ by UTMB® (Australia), 7-9 December

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UTMB® World Series

UTMB® World Series is the world’s ultimate trail-running circuit that unites the sport’s biggest stars and passionate runners through the best, leading international events in the most stunning locations.  Built on a passion for the mountains with sustainability at its heart, UTMB® World Series gives all trail runners the chance to experience the UTMB® adventure across the world, with events taking place across Asia, Oceania, Europe, Africa and the Americas. It is the only place where runners can begin their quest to UTMB® Mont-Blanc, France, where the prestigious UTMB® World Series Finals will be held. For more information, visit www.utmb.world.

About UTMB Group

Since the creation of UTMB® Mont-Blanc in 2003 by a group of passionate friends, UTMB Group has been the driving force behind the development of trail running. The UTMB® Mont-Blanc is the sports pinnacle event, and every year, 10,000 runners earn their place on the start line. UTMB Group also pioneered the LiveTrail® technology, an innovative digital service that supports the management of endurance races. Revered by hundreds of thousands of athletes, UTMB® has become a global, premium, and leading brand. In May 2021, UTMB Group partnered with The IRONMAN Group to launch the UTMB® World Series, which brings together many of the best international events on the planet to provide exclusive access to the sport’s pinnacle event, UTMB® Mont-Blanc. The UTMB® World Series is built on the founding principles of UTMB® Mont-Blanc: surpassing oneself; fair-play; respect for people and the environment; and solidarity. Find out more at www.utmb.world.

About The IRONMAN Group

The IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN^® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll^® Running Series, IRONKIDS^®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf^®, UTMB^® World Series events including the Canyons Endurance Runs™ by UTMB^®, Tarawera Ultramarathon by UTMB^® and Ultra-Trail Australia™ by UTMB^®, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, road cycling events including Haute Route^®, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world and provides more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Catering to the full athlete experience, the company portfolio also includes FulGaz^® virtual cycling, the most realistic indoor riding experience connected fitness application aimed at preparing athletes for real-world events. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN^® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.

About Advance

Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications, education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the value of our companies over the long-term by fostering growth and innovation. Advance’s portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin, 1010data and Pop. Together these operating companies employ more than 17,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Warner Bros. Discovery and Reddit. For more information visit www.advance.com.

Contacts

UTMB World Series media enquiries:

presse@utmb.world

Mélanie Godefroy – UTMB World Series PR and Media Manager

The IRONMAN Group media enquiries:

press@ironman.com

UTMB World Series international media enquiries:

presse@utmb.world

Sabina Mollart Rogerson – International press Officer

t: +44 7922 140148