Largest Domestic Tournament from 27th to 30th ... Registration Closes on the 14th
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] The '2022 Ulju Trail Nine Peaks,' an event where participants enjoy running through the scenic landscapes of Yeongnam Alps in Ulju-gun, Ulsan City, will be held from the 27th to the 30th for 2 nights and 3 days.
Trail running is a new type of mountain sport that involves running on mountain trails without equipment.
The UTMB (Ultra Trail Mont Blanc) held in Mont Blanc, France, is a representative event, and the county plans to develop UTNP as an international competition modeled after UTMB.
This year's event is promoted as the largest domestic competition with about 2,000 participating athletes and about 8,000 participants in side programs, totaling around 10,000 people, following the relaxation of COVID-19 quarantine rules.
Registration is currently open and will close on the 14th.
The competition categories include ▲9 PEAKS (124.1 km) ▲5 PEAKS (44.4 km) ▲2 PEAKS (26 km) ▲1 PEAK (10.8 km) ▲Kids Race ▲Stage Race ▲and a race accompanied by pets.
All courses start from the Yeongnam Alps Complex Welcome Center and return to the starting point.
First, the 9 PEAKS course, the longest domestic distance of 124.1 km, requires participants to reach the finish line within 39 hours and boasts the longest distance and highest difficulty level in Korea.
Currently, it is the only domestic competition certified with the maximum 6 points by ITRA (International Trail Running Association), attracting strong responses from professional enthusiasts who seek a sense of accomplishment through extreme challenges.
The 5 PEAKS and 2 PEAKS courses receive positive feedback from mountain lovers and athletes who enjoy exercising, while the 1 PEAK and Kids Race courses are designed for the general public to easily apply and enjoy the fun of trail running.
The pet race offers a special experience to enjoy the mountains together with pets.
Participants will receive commemorative items such as a T-shirt and buff, and upon completion, they will be awarded a finisher's medal along with a completion souvenir.
Additionally, various attractions and entertainment such as celebratory performances, flea markets, and busking will be available during the event.
Detailed information can be found on the Ulju Trail Nine Peaks website.
A county official stated, “We have named the event UTNP (Ulju Trail Nine Peaks) to establish its identity and tradition, aiming to grow it into an international competition. We will develop Ulju-gun’s Yeongnam Alps into a world-class mountain tourism destination representing Korea.”
The trail running competition held in Ulju-gun’s Yeongnam Alps was selected and launched in 2020 through the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s ‘Regional Specialized Leisure Sports Tourism Activation Project’ and was chosen in the Korea Tourism Organization’s ‘2021 Regional Specialized International Event Contest.’
Moreover, it was selected for the ‘2022 Regional Specialized Sports Tourism Industry Development Project,’ receiving 1.5 billion KRW in national funding over three years, growing into an international-scale competition.
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