VI INTERNATIONAL ELBRUS RACE

September, 21-23, 2010

"You can't race any higher in Europe!!!"

Organizers: TOP SPORT TRAVEL (www.sklon.ru) and WWW.RUSSIANCLIMB.COM

Elbrus Race - the gate to the real altitude.

20 years ago the outstanding climbers competed on Elbrus  - Russians and Americans. Why they participated in such unusual and difficult competitions? And why, since 2005, we have revived this idea, and annually in September we run  International Elbrus Race?

1990, Elbrus Race participants. Anatoly Boukreev is second in upper line from the left.

There are some reasons:
First, athletes like to participate in something . And Elbrus Race is (for those who wishes to win) of course "on the edge". The victory is available only to those who can "squeeze out" itself up to the end.

Secondly, having defined, having learnt and HAVING overcome the limit, a climber can be more confident in possible extreme circumstances during the future high-altitude climbs.
Thirdly, the good result in the competitions in Elbrus speed climb is an indicator that the athlete can be successful in high-altitude climbs. As you can remember, it was the reason why in USSR  speed climbs tests  on Elbrus and Communism peak had been  practised before the Himalaya expeditions.

When climbers are going for the first time to the real altitude (7000 m, 8000) they can't be sure, how their body will feel there, whether it will agree to suffer of all deprivations connected with HAPE, exhausting, necessity of long concentration. Elbrus Race can become the first test for readiness  to the high altitude and  specific endurance. Every athlete  may compare his condition to well-known high-altitude climbers, who start nearby.

One of the brightest stars in world tables of ranks of the Himalaya mountaineering, Anatoly Boukreev who has become  a symbol of improbable working capacity and endurance on 8000-ers, who had climbed 11 highest peaks (8000+), including high-speed climbs, became the Winner in 1990 on Elbrus on on the way Priut 11 - Elbrus East top with the result 1 hr 47 min.

Other well-known Kazakhstan climber- Denis Urubko (who climbed all 14 8000+ peaks  without additional oxygen, including 3 difficult first climbs via new routes, one speed climb, who complete the Snow Leopard program in one summer season) has established in 2006 the fantastic record on Elbrus, not broken till now - he  run a line from Azau  (2400 m) to the Elbrus Western top in 3 hrs 55 minutes.

Denis Urubko, Elbrus Race recrd holder

Russian Andrew Mariev, the member of the Russian national team,  who climbed two great new routes  -Everest North Face and K2 West Face, participated twice in International Elbrus Race, and twice with the great result: in 2008 2nd place in Extreme class (Azau-western top), and in 2009 - on the same line he has improved the time more than on an hour!

And there are also another examples , when speed ascent competition becomes the first step to the success in Himalaya:

Balkarian Abdulhalim Elmezov, remarkable both the person and the mountain rescuer with the wide mountain experience, in 2006 run the  classic distance with very good time, and one year ago, in age more than 50 he climbed Everest. Other Caucasian Roman Gubanov has confidently won in 2007 on a classical line Garabashi  - the Western top, and in 2008 became the winner in "extreme" class  - and in Karakorum he became one of the four members of the Kuban expedition who have topped out K2.

Abdulkhalim Elmezov? mountain rescuer and Everest summiteer

Americans Kevin Cooney and Patrick Healy who had very good results in 1990 Elbrus Race (the second  and the third places) then  climbed  Everest without oxygen - their first 8000-er.
Nickolay Shustrov and Alexey Nikiforov climbed 8000+ peaks  after good results in Elbrus race 1990.

Svetlana Sharipova from Almaty, who became the winner among women in 2006 (and her time remains a record on a line Garabashi - the Western top of Elbrus till nowdays), has successfully summited Makalu and Dhaulagiri without additional oxygen.

19-year-old Ukrainian Masha Hitrikova, the  champion on a classical distance in 2009, has her 8000+ top still ahead, but she already summited the Himalaya peak Ama Dablam, and  Korzhenevskaya peak, Khan Tengri and Lenin peak.

Masha Khitrikova, the winner Elbrus Race 2009

This year, in 20-year-old anniversary of the first successful "Balyberdin" Elbrus race, it is possible to say with confidence that Elbrus Race champions  can , they will by all means become successful in high-altitude mountaineering even if they did not try  it yet.

Time will come - and we may soon hear about beautiful Himalaya climbs by Serguey Fursov, who  won Elbrus Race twice: - at first in "classic" in 2008, and then and in "extreme" in 2009. Himalaya expeditions organizers should pay attention to this talented athlete and invite him in the team.

Serguey Fursov, the Winner in 2008, 2009

International ELBRUS RACE is an excellent possibility for the climbers dreaming of Himalaya peaks to pass the first test for durability, and also for guides for whom such durability is necessary. Search new guides or partners among our winners for your improbable expeditions!

Nickolay Shustrov
Elena Laletina

August, 4th 2010

Competition site: www.elbrusrace.com

General sponsor VI International Elbrus Race