News - Tue 23rd Aug 2016 - Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace - Update - Salomon Skyline Scotland

Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace - Update

23rd Aug 2016

With the Skyline Scotland™ weekend of Skyrunning less than one month away, we are providing these important updates and clarifications for participants in the second race of the weekend, the Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace™to be held on Saturday 17th September. 

 
Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace

In perfect August weather, Race Director Shane Ohly and Course Planner Gary Tompsett completed their final full run through of the AWESOME new Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace. We are confident that the course will prove to be classic Skyrace with its combination of airy ridges, steep climbs, speedy descents and iconic glens and mountains.

Posted by Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace on Tuesday, 23 August 2016

 

Updated Map
The final course map (shown above) has now been published on the website. We will be providing each participant with a map at registration (printed on waterproof paper) and this is a mandatory item of kit. However, the course will be well marked and marshalled, and we do not expect participant to need the map for any navigational purposes, but it does have our emergency contact numbers printed on, and does provide additional information about the course.

Salomon-Ring-of-Steall-Map-2016-(v8)

Change to Registration Times
Please note that the registration times for the Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace™ will be at the following times:

  • Friday 16th September 18:00 to 21:00
  • Saturday 17th September 08:00 to 09:00

Course Clarification (River Crossing)
The earlier edition of the race map showed the course crossing the ‘Water of Nevis’ river via the wire rope bridge at Checkpoint 6. The course will actually cross the river via a shallow wade (participants will get wet feet here - though they will likely already be wet before this crossing), and Checkpoint 6 has moved a few hundred metres to the east as shown on the latest edition of the race map. The wire rope bridge will only be used in unusual weather conditions, such as the day after very heavy rain, which may result in good weather, but high water in the river.

Race Tattoos
We will be providing temporary race profile tattoos for all participants and these will be available at registration. These are excellent for helping participants quickly gauge their progress around the course. We recommend everyone wears them on the inside on their forearm (they scrub off after the race).

Sky-Line-Race-Tattoo---Salomon-Ring-of-Steall-Skyrace

Nature of the Course (Increase in Distance due to trail wiggles!)
In the last 12 months there has been considerable effort put into the Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace™ route design. We believe it is absolutely awesome. It has all the big mountain, airy ridge, scrambling feel of many classic Skyraces, yet it remains technically easier than its big brother the Salomon Glen Coe Skyline™. This allows us to have a very challenging course, but avoid the vetting process required for the Salomon Glen Coe Skyline™. Therefore, we can open the race to a much wider audience. We hope for many participants, that this race will become the perfect stepping stone to the bigger beasts out there!

 
Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace - Course Description

You have watched the trailer... now watch the more detailed route description of the superb Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace route from Race Director Shane Ohly and Course Planner Gary Tompsett. Filmed in August 2016 in typical Scottish summer conditions!

Posted by Salomon Ring of Steall Skyrace on Tuesday, 23 August 2016

This will either be good news or bad news depending on your point of view, but the final statistics for the race are approximately 29km in distance, rather than 25km previously advertised. The height gain is largely unchanged at approximately 2,500m. The reason for this increase in distance is the very wiggly nature of the mountain paths used in both ascent and descent, that are impossible to measure accurately with mapping software, which was used in the original planning phase. 

We believe that best way to see this is an extra 4km of superb mountain running for free!

Cut-Offs
There are no changes to the advertised Cut-Off times. The most important one to note is 14:00 at Checkpoint 5 in Glen Nevis. 

Mandatory Clothing and Equipment
We are not changing anything on the Mandatory Clothing and Equipment list already published on the website. However, we would like to emphasise that fell or mountain running shoes with good studs will be IMPORTANT AND BEST in both ascent and descent. Trail running shoes are not suitable and anyone in completely unsuitable shoes (like flat soled road running shoes) will not be allowed start. Please arrive in good time for the start as there will be a kit check as you enter the start pen. Remember, “No Kit, No Go”.

Anyone in a position of note at the end of the race will be kit checked, and anyone found without the mandatory kit will be disqualified. 

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