With international ambitions and a race in the UTMB Index category, the newly started company Assut Adventures will make Greenland an attractive destination for trail runners from all over the world.
Greenland must go higher degree to bet on adventure tourism, and now a new actor will help make the country known among international trail runners. On 1 August, Assut Adventures will run the first Nuuk Five Peaks Mountain Challenge – a trail race, which will also be Greenland’s first race in the UTMB Index category.
The race takes the participants over five peaks around Nuuk – Quassussuaq, the two peaks of Ukkussissak, Isikkivik and Kuanninnguit – on a route of 25 kilometers with around 2,000 meters of altitude. In addition, there is a shorter route, Nuuk Trail 10K, of 10 kilometers and 700 meters of altitude, which both runners and walkers can participate in.
The ambition is an international class race
Behind Assut Adventures are three experienced trail runners who want to develop Nuuk Five Peaks into an international running destination within a few years.
– We want to create a quality race in international class. Many citizens in Nuuk have probably discovered that we are in the process of giving the markings on the route a quality boost. And then we make the race a complete experience, so there is also a race dinner and prize ceremony in the evening, says Erna Broberg, one of the three owners of Assut Adventures.
According to the organizers, the race is based on experience from international trail races and event management.
– We draw on the experience we have from the international races we have participated in and from the many events we have run, says Patrick Bech, who in addition to being one of Greenland’s many skilled ultra-distance runners will have the role of race leader on 1 August.
At the same time, he emphasizes that the ambitions extend beyond this year’s premiere.
– We know that the first years are about building experience, local networks and visibility in the outside world. Fortunately, we have experienced great support from others who could see the potential in the event and who dared to bet that we can fulfill the ambitions; Visit Nuuk, the Bank of Greenland’s Business Foundation, Greenland Brewhouse and AirGreenland.
Local runners are invited
Although the aim is to attract participants from all over the world, the organizers emphasize that the race is also for locals. Both experienced trail runners and exercisers can participate, either on the 25 kilometer long Five Peaks route or the shorter 10 kilometer route.
