Whistler to get Canada’s first UTMB race in 2024

 The UTMB® World Series announced Thursday that they’ll host a brand-new event in Whistler, B.C., with the inaugural edition to be held Sept. 28-29, 2024. Ultra Trail Whistler by UTMB will run through Whistler’s breathtaking alpine playground and the surrounding Sea-to-Sky corridor. Race distances of 100K, 50K and 25K will have runners traversing the area’s most beautiful spots, with priority registration opening for UTMB Index holders next Monday, Oct. 30. General registration opens Nov. 1 on the UTMB website.

Ultra Trail Whistler by UTMB will be the seventh event in North America in the UTMB World Series, and is the milestone 40th event confirmed for the 2024 UTMB World Series.

Whistler Blackcomb is a world-class all-seasons resort and a bucket-list destination for both outdoor sports enthusiasts and discerning travelers from across the globe. Runners at Ultra Trail Whistler by UTMB races will enjoy epic glacier views and flowing creeks while they journey over technical terrain. A range of stellar accommodations, food and activities within the legendary resort are available to guests. 

“We are thrilled to serve as co-host of the Canadian stop on the UTMB World Series circuit,” Whistler Blackcomb COO Belinda Trembath said in a press release. “The world’s best trail runners will get to experience the natural beauty, stunning mountain views and world-class terrain of the unceded territories of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation.”

The 100K queen race boasts nearly 5,000 metres (16,273ft) of elevation gain, with the 50K challenging runners with 3,300 meters (11,020ft) of elevation and the 25km event 1,500 meters (5,036ft) of elevation. Runners in all three events will explore awe-inspiring mountaintops, evergreen forests and high alpine vistas.

“I am excited to welcome runners from around the world to experience the playground that is Whistler Blackcomb and the Sea-to-Sky trail network. We are grateful for the Lil’wat and Squamish People’s collaboration and use of their beautiful land, and we hope our runners appreciate it as much as we do,” said race director Christine Cogger.

The Ultra Trail Whistler by UTMB logo was adapted from original artwork by Chief Ray of the Squamish Nation: “In Whistler, Black Tusk is the perch of the Thunderbird. The Thunderbird was created to bring balance to the world and is the messenger of the Creator, a symbol of peace, power and unity. The moon is the one who brings light to the worlds when it’s dark, he is the grandfather who brings us calmness.”

UTMB will host 40 events across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania in the 2024 UTMB World Series. Runners around the world have the chance to enjoy the UTMB experience close to home and can collect Running Stones if they dream of conquering the UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix one day.