Park City, UT (August 13, 2015) - The steepest 400m races in the world, Red Bull 400, makes its debut in the United States on September 26 at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Utah. A first-time event in the U.S., the race will test runners in both speed and endurance in a nearly vertical 400m sprint to the top of the iconic 2002 Winter Games Nordic ski jump. Registration is open at www.redbull400.com.
The race will have categories for full distance solo (Men and Women), coed relay (4x100), and a dedicated relay race for firefighter/police/EMS/local ski patrol units (4x100). Don’t let the simplicity of the concept fool you, runners will push themselves to the limit with this punishing 400m climb up to the top of a 37 degree incline. A 400m sprint would take most athletes about sixty seconds to complete on flat ground, but average times for this grueling race have been coming in around the seven minute mark.
In July, Red Bull 400 made its North American debut in Whistler, Canada where North Vancouver’s Brandon Crighton broke the existing record with an astonishing time of 3 minutes and 53 seconds. Ryan Sandes, an ultramarathon ace, who is no stranger to harsh running conditions and physically demanding feats noted, “My lungs took a real beating as I’ve never done anything like this before. I’m used to running 100 miles at once and this like taking all that pain and suffering and condensing into 400 meters.”
The Park City stop of the Red Bull 400 will be the last stop on the tour. Previous locations to host the event include: Kuopio, Finland; Whistler, Canada; Titisee-Neustadt, Germany; Harrachov, Czech Republic; Bishovshofen, Austria; and Planica, Slovenia. Along with being the last stop on the tour, Park City will be the highest elevation stop of any on the tour, adding further difficulty to the current format. The course features a starting Elevation of 6,870ft, topping out at 7,308ft.
Spectators can cheer on racers from the base of the ski jump at the Utah Olympic Park as well as from designated spots along side the course. Regular adventure activities at the park will remain open for all to enjoy. For those who want to compete, registration is $50.00 per person and $120.00 per relay team, and available online. If spots remain, registration will also be open the morning of the race. The event is a fundraiser for the Utah Olympic Park’s in-house cross country and ski jumping program, Park City Nordic Ski Club. For race information and to register, head to http://www.redbull400.com.
What are racers competing for? Well there will be a host of prizes, but the grand prize is a secret Trip. The winners from the seven other races around the globe will be sent to an undisclosed location in Europe for a unique Red Bull experience of a lifetime.
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