Broken Arrow Skyrace Canadian preview

Broken Arrow Skyrace is a three-day event in Squaw Valley, California happening June 21 to 23. Whether runners are racing the vertical kilometre, 52K, 26K, 11K, Kid’s Race, or all three–the event attracts some of the best mountain runners from around the world. The 26K is the second-ever World Mountain Running Association World Cup Event.

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The race reflects European-style mountain running mostly above 1,830 metres (6,000 feet). Organizers have been working hard clearing the heavy snow on course. The route consists of off-trail scrambling, steep ascents and descents, and variable terrain in the alpine above Lake Tahoe. The 52K race gains over 3,200 metres in elevation, while the 26K gains 1,600 metres. Broken Arrow is also a 2019 UTMB Qualifying Race.

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The Broken Arrow start list often looks more like the mountain running Olympics than a regular trail race. The 2019 start list features some of the most popular American and world-class athletes. However, the Canadians toeing the line will provide some tough competition. And with Western States 100-mile race the following weekend in Squaw Valley as well, Lake Tahoe will be a party for Canada Day.

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Canadian women to watch (52K)

Becky Bates (1st 2018 age group CCC-UTMB, 2nd 2018 HURT 100-mile, 1st 2017 Finlayson Arm 100K, 1st 2017 Elk Valley 50K, 5th 2017 Hardrock 100-mile)

Gratianne Daum (1st 2015 IMTUF 100-mile)

Jeanelle Hazlett (1st 2018 Whistler Alpine Meadows 55K, 3rd 2018 Knee Knacker, 2nd 2018 Squamish 50K)

Lisa Whitwell (1st 2017 Black Spur 52K, 2nd 2017 Idaho Peak 45K )

Canadian men to watch (52K)

Ryan Atkins (1st 2017 World’s Toughest Mudder, 1st 2016 North Face Endurance Challenge Bear Mountain 50-miler)

Connor Meakin (1st 2014 Beacon Rock 50K)

Andy Reed (2nd 2018 IMTUF 100-mile)

Aaron Robson (2019 Canadian Mountain Running Champion, 1st Sinks Canyon 50K)

Dave Stevens (2018 Golden Ultra course record holder, 2nd 2018 Javelina Jundred 100-mile, 1st 2018 Badger Mountain 50K, 1st 2017 Black Spur 54K, 1st 2017 Idaho Peak 45K)

Canadians to watch (26K)

Anne-Marie Madden (3rd 2019 Way Too Cool 50K, 1st 2018 Saratoga 50K, 2nd 2018 Chuckanut 50K, 1st 2016 Squamish 50 23K, 3rd 2016 Broken Arrow 54K)

Nat Korol

Kim Logan 

Alice Sergent 

Lindsay Webster (2018 OCR World Champion, 2017 2nd World’s Toughest Mudder)

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