FEBRUARY 24, 2016
OFF TO A FLYING START! ÖTILLÖ, the original and toughest race of the new and rapidly growing endurance sport of swimrun, is expanding. With the increasing demand for swimrun races around the world, a whole new set of races are being launched as the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series. For 2016 the series consists of four qualifying races for ÖTILLÖ, the Swimrun World Championship. New events for 2016 are the two ÖTILLÖ Swimrun races Isles of Scilly in the UK and the 1000 Lakes in Germany, building the world series together with the two previously existing events Utö in Sweden and Engadin in the Swiss Alps. Around 1500 athletes will be competing in the growing family of ÖTILLÖ events 2016, and just as many are on waiting lists. The vision is clear, in 2017 the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series will expand further and outside of Europe. Who would ever have thought of this explosive development of swimrun back in 2006 when ÖTILLÖ was founded, thanks to a drunken bet!
Check out the newly launched website www.otilloswimrun.com!
The ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series are qualifier events to ÖTILLÖ, the Swimrun World Championship, in the Stockholm archipelago, September 5, 2016. ÖTILLÖ is renown as one of the toughest one-day races in the world. You run 65 km on island trails, slippery rocks, unbeaten terrain and you swim a total of 10 km in the cold water of the Baltic Sea. The course passes over and between 26 islands! The qualifier races of the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series are almost as tough as the original race and are based on the same philosophy as ÖTILLÖ, to create unique races in unique places in wild nature. For 2016 the World Series consists of four events including a sprint version at each event, the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Sprints, for those who want to try out a shorter, more accessible course. For 2017 more races in new countries will add on to the list. The choice of venue is very selective so the process takes time! Eight teams total per World Series event qualify for ÖTILLÖ.
“It is fantastic that we are expanding our horizons and growing our set of ÖTILLÖ races. We are really looking forward to 2016, it feels like a ‘new’ kick off year for Swimrun!” said race director Michael Lemmel who, together with his partner Mats Skott, both from Sweden, founded ÖTILLÖ and the swimrun concept.
ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series 2016:
ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Utö, Sunday, May 29, 2016
With its early date, Utö Swimrun launches the swimrun season! The race course is on and around the finishing island of ÖTILLÖ. It is a challenging race with magical trail running and scenic but cold open water swimming in the crisp northern spring air in the Stockholm archipelago. The course is varied and includes the beautiful islands of Utö, Rånö and Ålö. A total of almost 39 km of tough racing with almost 5,5 kilometres of open water swimming. When Utö kicks off, swimrun season is on!
ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Isles of Scilly, Saturday, June 18, 2016 NEW!
The Isles of Scilly is an exceptional set of islands south-west of the UK. It looks like the lost world of Atlantis with clear, beautiful water, pristine beaches and ancient stone walls. The stunning islands have been inhabited since the stone age! This area is a dream come true for the ÖTILLÖ organizers, after searching in many places for the perfect swimrun race in the UK. The total distance is between 40 – 45 km depending on the final course, which can change last minute as the area is very weather sensitive with large waves and strong winds. Expect a tough and spectacular event, where strong tidal water adds to the challenge!
ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Engadin, Sunday, July 10, 2016
Engadin Swimrun is already becoming a classic. Since the first edition 2014 the race has already grown internationally and is renown for its challenging but stunning course, in a very original environment for a swimrun race! It is hosted in the fantastic Engadin Valley in the Swiss Alps, meaning running on mountain trails and swimming in freezing alpine lakes. The course is 53 km long of which 47,5 km are trail running and 5,8 km are open water swimming, with a total vertical gain of 1 450 meters. The highest swim is at 2 600 meters. This swimrun race is unique in its kind!
ÖTILLÖ Swimrun 1000 Lakes, Sunday October 23, 2016 NEW!
The beautiful Mecklenburger Seenplatte in the north-east of Germany, less than two hours from Berlin, is home of more than 3000 lakes and makes a magnificent and exclusive venue for a ÖTILLÖ swimrun race in Germany. Most of the lakes are lined with beech trees, and in end of October (race date) the leaves will be exploding with colour. The forests are full of trails on soft ground, and the runs will be fast. The total distance is around 45 km, finishing in Rheinsberg, with 14 swims, totalling 10 kilometres; of which the longest swim is around 2 000 metres in untouched lakes. Being a strong swimmer is key!
About Swimrun / ÖTILLÖ – The Swimrun World Championship
Swimrun is the fast growing sport where you in teams of two alternate trail running and open water swimming on a marked course. There is no time to lose – you run in your wetsuit and swim in your shoes! It is a unique sport and experience as you always race with a partner and the race course is out in wild nature. ÖTILLÖ is the original and the world’s longest swimrun race, renown as one of the toughest one-day races in the world. You run 65 km on island trails, slippery rocks, unbeaten terrain and you swim a total of 10 km in the cold water of the Baltic Sea. The water is cold, you fight against currents and the course is long. To make it to the finish line before the cut-offs and darkness you can never stop. ÖTILLÖ is celebrating its 11th edition on 5 September 2016. 120 teams participate and 700 teams are on the waiting list.
Campz/Addnature – International Partner alongside HEAD
ÖTILLÖ is proud to present its long time partner Addnature and its German sister company Campz as international partner for all ÖTILLÖ events. Addnature is the dominant online outdoor store in Scandinavia while Campz is dominant in Europe. A great partnership and platform for swimrun and related equipment! http://www.campz.com, http://www.addnature.com
Media Contact
Josefine Ås
pr@otilloswimrun.com
+33 6 79 04 23 46
+46 70 788 31 76
International TV Distribution
EYESPRINT COMMUNICATION
Simone Felsberger
simone@eye-sprint.com
+49 151 419 176 72
www.eye-sprint.com
Photos & web video for press use
Download photos and high light video from the ÖTILLÖ 2015 edition free of right for press (Please credit photographers: Jakob Edholm/ÖTILLÖ15 or Nadja Odenhage/ÖTILLÖ15):
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/cegs15e46py8b54/AABbNp2B3L0wk-NPRKc42ZXua?dl=0
For high resolution photos from the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series Events, please contact pr@otilloswimrun.com
Fast Facts ÖTILLÖ – The Swimrun World Championship
- 11th edition 2016 – 5 September
- 75 km running and swimming from dawn till dusk
- 65 km of trail running
- 10 km of open water swimming
- Water temperature between 10 – 15 degrees C
- 26 islands to cross
- 50 changes between running and swimming
- The swims are between 100 and 1 780 metres long
- The runs are between 70 and 19 700 metres long
- Teams of two, for safety reasons
- 120 teams (limited number) – 3 categories: Men, Mixed & Women teams
- More than 26 nationalities (depending on qualifier spots)
- 700 teams on the waiting list
- Course record: 8 hours 16 minutes (2014) – Lelle Moberg och Daniel Hansson
- Winners 2015: Men: Björn Englund (SWE) & Paul Krochak (CAN), Team Head Swimming 8:29:11 Mixed: Marika Wagner (SWE) & Staffan Björklund (SWE), Team Peak Perfomance powered by Apollo 8:55:39 Women: Annika Ericsson (SWE) & Maya Tesch (SWE), Team SurfSport 10:30:36
- Ranked by CNN as one of the toughest endurance challenges in the world.
- Featured in NYT, Outside Magazine, l’Equipe Magazine, TF1, Die Welt and many more
Fast Facts ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series
- 4 events in Europe for 2016
- More races in the making for 2017
- 8 teams total per event qualify for ÖTILLÖ
- ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Utö, Sunday, May 29, 2016 – 39 km total – 300 teams
- ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Isles of Scilly, Saturday, June 18, 2016 – 40-45 km total – 120 teams
- ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Engadin, Sunday, July 10, 2016 – 53 km total – 180 teams
- ÖTILLÖ Swimrun 1000 Lakes, Sunday October 3, 2016 – approx. 45 km total – 200 teams
