Si terrà domani a Seoul, in Sud Corea la Lotte International World Tower Skyrun, gara di Vertical Running patrocinata dalla International Skyrunning Federation, all’interno della torre più alta dello nazione. La Lotte World Tower recentemente inaugurata, sarà teatro della gara più lunga nella storia della disciplina; verranno infatti risaliti ben 123 piani per un totale di 2913 gradini ed un dislivello di oltre 500 metri.
L’imponente Lotte World Tower (© Korean_cultural_hub)
Al via ci saranno i migliori interpreti mondiali della disciplina, a partire dai due campioni mondiali in carica, il polacco Piotr Lobodinski e l’australiana Suzie Walsham. Attenzione rivolta anche all’australiano Mark Bourne e alla giapponese Yuri Yoshizumi che vista la lunghezza della competizione (tempi previsti 16’30” per gli uomini e 19′ per le ragazze) potrebbero far valere le loro doti di tenuta sulla lunga distanza. L’Italia sarà presente con Emanuele Manzi (Us Malonno – La Sportiva) che avrà l’onore di rappresentare il nostro paese in questa grande “premiere” e cercherà di cogliere un prestigioso podio.
Emanuele Manzi (©iancorless.com _VWC copy)
VWC heads for new heights in Seoul
The highest skyscraper race ever held will take place in South Korea’s tallest building, LOTTE WORLD TOWER, in Seoul on April 23 as an Official Vertical World Circuit Exhibition Race, sanctioned by the International Skyrunning Federation.
Top ranked runners, as well as current and past world champions, will be joined by hundreds of participants up for the extreme challenge of ascending the 2,917 steps and 123 floors of the building in the fastest time possible. Topping out at 555m, it is the fifth tallest in the world.
Lotte World Tower, Seoul, site of the VWC Exhibition Race. © Korean Cultural Hub Reaching an all-time high, the number of steps are 30% more than New York’s T2T Tower Climb which counts 2,226 steps and is currently the highest building on the 2017 Vertical World Circuit valid for ranking points.
Always aiming higher, this prestigious VWC Exhibition Race represents the first time in skyscraper racing that such an altitude has been reached. The “LOTTE WORLD TOWER INTERNATIONAL SKYRUN” is South Korea’s first and only international stair climbing race.
Reigning VWC World Champion, Suzy Walsham with Mark Bourne, 2016 Shanghai winners.© Sporting Republic Lining up for this momentous event are reigning VWC champions: Piotr Lobodzinski from Poland and Suzy Walsham from Australia, joined by Australians, former world champion Mark Bourne, Alice McNamara and Cindy Reid, together with Emanuele Manzi from Italy and Yuri Yoshizumi from Japan.
Walsham, the world’s number one female stair climber, comments, “I’m excited about racing up Lotte Tower in the world’s tallest building race this weekend, but it’s also a bit daunting as it’s about 50% more than the highest building I’ve raced in this year! Training has been strong, although it’s hard to replicate in training what will likely be an almost 20-minute climb. I love new challenges and although I know it’s going to be super tough, I’m keen to test my physical and mental capabilities up this amazing tower.”
Piotr Lobodzinski is another champion with a head for heights. He stated, “I’m very excited about racing in the world’s highest stair climb in Lotte Tower. It’ll be a real challenge to reach the 123rd floor of the fifth tallest building in the world. Of course it will be the longest vertical stair run for me and with very strong athletes at the start, it will certainly be interesting. It’s hard to predict the time at the finish line, but I’m betting around 17 minutes. Interestingly, it will be my 100th stair race since the beginning of my career in 2011. May this anniversary be successful!”
Marino Giacometti, President of the International Skyrunning Federation which governs the sport, predicts: “We calculate the finishing times to be approximately 16’30” for the first man and 19’ for the first woman, but the length of the course plus the heat factor of running up the stairs inside the building will take their toll on everyone. With the best in the world competing, we’ll see on race day!”
“To date, the maximum ascent speed registered in races between 50 and 80 floors high is over 2,000 metres per hour – more than three steps per second! It’s unlikely that this speed can be maintained for the 2,917 steps of the Lotte World Tower,” he added.
David Shin, ISF representative for Asia-Pacific, will be overseeing the race. He commented, “Being one of the tallest buildings in the world, we are proud to have the inaugural LOTTE WORLD TOWER INTERNATIONAL SKYRUN as an Exhibition Race on the Vertical World Circuit and to bring the world’s best stair climbers to compete here. We are eager to see how fast the elite runners will finish the race.”
Park Hyun-chul, CEO of Lotte corporation, said, “The total amount of the participation fee will be donated to the ‘Green Umbrella Children’s Foundation’ to support deficit home sports child talent upbringing. I hope that many people can participate and share meaningful effort and sense of accomplishment.”
To reward their efforts, a total of HK$ 10,000 prize money will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers, one of the largest prizes on the circuit.
About Vertical World CircuitLaunched in 2009, the Vertical World Circuit stretches across the globe from the heart of Europe to America, Oceania and Asia. The ten-race circuit scores points for the ranking where results of five races are counted. www.verticalworldcircuit.com Facebook: Vertical World Circuit Twitter: @VWC_vertical Instagram: @verticalworldcircuit
About International Skyrunning Federation High altitude, whether in the mountains or the city, is the arena of the International Skyrunning Federation (ISF), which governs, promotes and sanctions skyrunning (high altitude mountain running) and skyscraper racing worldwide and has carried out medical research. www.skyrunning.com 2017 VERTICAL WORLD CIRCUIT
DUBAI: Dubai Holding SkyRun – March 3 LONDON: Shelter Vertical Rush – March 9 PARIS: VertiGO – May 18 NEW YORK: T2T Tower Climb – June 4 MANILA: Kerry Sports Manila Vertical Run – July 9 BEIJING: China World Summit Wing Hotel Vertical Run – August 26 SYDNEY: Sydney Tower Stair Challenge – August 27 SHANGHAI: SHKP Vertical Run for Charity – Race to Shanghai IFC – October 22 OSAKA: Harukas Skyrun – November 12 HONG KONG: SHKP Vertical Run for Charity – Race to Hong Kong ICC – December 3
Exhibition race SEOUL: LOTTE WORLD TOWER INTERNATIONAL SKY RUN – April 23
Media contact: Lauri van Houten
