Finally!
Since four years we have been hoping to have the weather we had this past weekend. September is one of the best months to be in the 1000 Lakes and finally we could show everyone why we want to have the race here and at this time. A race weekend bathing in sunshine is so much nicer than when it is not.
Saturday’s Sprint and Experience races saw more participants than ever before at this venue. Almost 200 persons from 18 nations set off mid-morning to discover the flat lakes and the tunnel of trails in the beautiful beech tree forests. We are extremely pleased to have so many of you discovering and sharing our passion for Swimrun. Our youngest participants ( 13 years old) was back for the second time dragging his father around the course. Next year his sister is equally keen to go. The Sprint and Experience days are so pleasant – huge smiles, young and not so young, beginners and former world champions, fast and not as fast -all creating a warm and friendly experience for all. The late afternoon was enjoyed in the sun, German-style.
For the Sunday World Series race we for the first time had decided to start 90 minutes later, at 10 am. This made for an great start of the day. No breakfast in the dark and already pleasant temperatures at the start. No more cold starts. The day could not have been better. This became apparent as the speed of all was high. A total of 112 registered teams from 23 nations chased each other from lake to lake, from Wesenberg to Rheinsberg.
When the dust had settled we had new course records, we saw a new Men’s team show their potential and a majority of the starters across the line.
The young Hugo Tormento and Matthieu Poullain from France gave it a big push in the middle of the race and managed to build an almost seven minute gap to the following powerhouse racers Nicolas Remires, Francesc de Lanuza Gimeno, Fredrik Axegård and Alexander Flores. For the first time we had an All French team cross the line first of all others. Congratulations!
Martin Flinta once again showed why he has dominated the sport over the last years in Mixed. This time together with Jonna Hedbys. The took an impressive 6th place overall.
The current Women’s World Champions – Fanny Kuhn & Desirée Andersson -flew down the course and fought hard for the 6th place overall and finished just after Flinta & Hedbys in 7th overall.
This race was also the first race where we selected the first six teams that qualified for ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship 2020.
All in all a great weekend where everyone starting any of our races is a winner. It is an honor to share these weekends with you. To hear your stories and to see how we all burn for the sport.
We have ÖTILLÖ Cannes in less than 4 weeks and then we close the season with ÖTILLÖ Malta on November 23 & 24!
Thank you, be proud and we hope to see you soon!
