Moonlight marathon in Italy on February 7, 2009

June 4, 2009

There are many more marathons than the Worldloppet ones. Thoma Huber participated in the 3rd Edition of Moonlight Classic on Seiser Alm / Alpe di Siusi this year.

Some weeks ago we started with 4 persons from SC Villingen / Black Forest to participate Moonlight classic Marathon in Italy near Bozen.
Alpi di Siusi has an altitude of 1850m and original track is between 1850 and 2150m, very high and thin air.
If the weather is fine you can choose between 36 km and 20 km race. But be careful, 36 km is really heavy with strong time limits.
Time limits have an safety aspect, because start is at 8 pm in the evening. Each year when its full-moon at the end of January or beginning of
February the race is taking place.
A lot of new snow and cloudy weather forecast with more snow was the reason that the organizing team decided to prepare
just a 20 km lap. Whole track was lighted with torches. After the start with 130 skiers the clouds went up and we had 30 min clear view.
Shortly after the start in Compatsch it was possible to see most of the track because the torches burnt in the dark night, an
interesting and spectacular atmosphere. Lot of up and downs are characteristic of that event.
You can go up by car or cable from Kastelruth to the start / finish place. For all people cable is free in the afternoon, and on the Alpi
is folk festival with tent and live music. So many people are along the track, especially near start and finish. After the race, until one o'clock in the night is “high-life” in the tent. Race is very well organized, fire brigade and regional clubs are helping.
Start fee is 40.- €, included start number, meal after and during race, polo shirt, ham and other small starter gifts.
Always when the price money is high international skiers are in front. So winner was czech Petr Novak in nearly one hour. I finished direct behind woman winner Demez in 1.14 hours on overall place 27. Beginning was very hard, because its dangerous to start to fast in that thin air, recovering takes much longer as in normal altitudes. The last minutes it started to snow again. Using a head lamp is a must and after 200 long distance races it was a new experience to run a race with head lamp.
It was great and we are planning to start there again, hopefully on long original distance and with attention to the difficult track.
Next year is the race on Friday 29.01.2010, that is Friday before Marcialonga, perfect to combine. But be careful, for average skier I suggest to do the 20km race.
More and detailed information you will find under www.moonlightclassic.info.

This page was last revised on October 3, 2009