Gore is again the official partner for the trail running trend sport initiative. This competition to be “Europe’s fastest trail runner” was a great success in last years and will be put on again this year together with OutDoor.
Sporting activities in the great outdoors are a natural winner. An increasing number of running fans are discovering an exciting variation on conventional street jogging called trail running. The new sport involves scampering cross country over hill and dale, on paths and across fields and meadows. Trail running is a major trend and, not surprisingly, it has become one of the key themes of the European trade show OutDoor.
Trail runners select their own course through the great outdoors. Runners can go anywhere they please, just as long as they have fun and it helps them keep fit. Fallen trees and rocks and rivers are not seen as unwelcome obstacles, but rather exciting challenges. The constantly changing pace combined with climbs and descents places new demands on athletes and enhances their level of fitness.
But trail running is not just for professionals. During OutDoor, trade visitors and exhibitors can test run the new trend in sporting activities directly at the trade show. A specially designed course laid out on the exhibition grounds of Messe Friedrichshafen will be open to satisfy the curiosity of OutDoor visitors. To meet the growing demand, many manufacturers have included special trail running shoes in their latest product ranges. These shoes feature a higher overall weight along with nobbier and stiffer soles. This offers a clear advantage in terms of stability. Jürgen Kurapka, W.L. Gore: "Trail running is becoming an increasingly popular theme, both in terms of products and the market. Thanks to a wide variety of features like softer upper materials, innovative cushioning elements, more flexible sole constructions and high-quality membranes, these shoes can be used in all types of weather and on all kinds of terrain. Clothing is becoming increasingly lighter and more breathable. This matches the consumer trend towards general active outdoor sports without specializing - for example, running, hiking, biking, going out for an hour after work or heading up to the mountains for a competition. There are an increasing variety of activities that demand the most versatile equipment possible trail running products.
The runner with the fastest time wins!
Qualification
Friday, 15.07.2011, 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, 16.07.2011, 11:00 a.m. + 2:00 p.m.
Finale
Saturday 16.07.2011, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.: Fastest Trail Runner
Results 2011
| Women | ||
| 1. Prize | Viola Valsecci (ITA) | 1:03 min |
| 2. Prize | Laura Feilla (ITA) | 1:05 min |
| Men | ||
| 1. Prize | Daniele Doria (ITA) | 0:49 min |
| 2. Prize | Shaun Ohly (UK) | 0:50 min |
WATERLINE AND SLACKLINE-FITNESS WITH SLACKLINE-TOOLS
Slackline-Tools stands for high-quality, carefully thought-out slackline sets designed by slackliners for slackliners, and made in Germany. As a member of “1 % for the planet”, the company attaches great importance to sustainability and environmental protection. Just the thing for hot Fair days:
Slackline-Tools will not only be presenting the world-class slackliner, Lukas Irmler “walking over water” in his Trickline Show (Thurs. – Sat. 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m.), after the show the visitors are invited to try their luck on the waterline in the “Slack Wet”-Challenge.
Onshore there are also refreshing innovations: slackline fitness is the new trend, that uses slacklines for effective fitness exercises. This can be tried out in one of the two workshops (Thurs. 12.15 p.m. and Sat. 12.15 p.m.). Information on this is available on all Fair days and there are also supervised slackline stations for young and old.
FLYING HIGH OVER THE WEST-SIDE OPEN-AIR GROUNDS
Particularly adventurous trade visitors and exhibitors will have the chance to take to the air from an exhibition hall roof over the Gore Trail Running Course along a 130-metre zip-line. With a total length of 160 metres and featuring climbing exercises such as V-Climb and Dragon, the so-called Adventure Parcours has been specially designed for OutDoor by outdoor-specialist company faszinatour.
Climbing To reach its 10-metre-high platform on the exhibition hall roof, the daredevils will first need to navigate their way up a climbing tree. Following their rapid flight over the grounds, they will then descend via Burma sticks and ladders back to earth. Professional trainers from faszinatour using the edelrid Smart Belay personal safety system (OutDoor Industry Award winner in 2008) will be on hand to ensure safety and prevent any unintentional cliff-hangers.
