1000 Lakes Swimrun Launched in Germany

News Release / 18.12.2015

The ÖTILLÖ Organisation has a constant urge to develop new, unique races in unique places. After the recent introduction of Isles of Scilly Swimrun (UK) we now have the pleasure to introduce our tribute to Germany, the 1000 lakes Swimrun. This is the first ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series event in Germany and it will have eight (8) qualification spots to the 2017 ÖTILLÖ, Swimrun World Championship in the archipelago of Stockholm, Sweden.

When looking for locations the ÖTILLÖ organisation wants to find special places but different places. The 1000 lakes Swimrun is held in the Mecklenburger Seenplatte, less than 100 km north of Berlin. The area is magical!

The race will be hosted on October 23rd, 2016 in consideration to the exceptional beauty of the area. There are more than 3000 lakes with drinking-quality water lined with beech trees. These trees will create an explosion of colour in the end of October and as most of the lakes are quite protected the athletes will have some incredible reflections to swim in. The forests are all on sand- based ground with an undulating landscape which will make for some fantastic trail running sections through very rural parts of old Germany.

The access to the 1000 lakes Swimrun is easy with less than 90 minutes on the train from Berlin and great connections to Scandinavia by road. The finish will be in beautiful town of Rheinsberg and the racers will be bussed to an exceptional start in the morning of the race.

The race course will be something new. 14 swim sections and almost 10 km of swimming will balance out the 38 km of fast running through pristine forests. Transitions will be important as being strong in the water and fast on land.  The race will be epic and at times you will feel as if you have travelled back in time.

Do not miss out!

”Finally we can bring ÖTILLÖ to Germany and thanks to the exceptional hospitlity of the Mecklenburger Seenplatte we can put on a great show in a unique and beautiful place in Europe!” - Michael Lemmel, Race Director for ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Series

HEAD as International Partner

HEAD SWIMMING and ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series, sign a 3-year contract for all official ÖTILLÖ Swimrun races in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

In 2013 HEAD developed the first real SWIMRUN suit, today more than 50% of the SWIMRUN athletes are using a HEAD SWIMRUN suits. The HEAD SWIMRUN line for 2016 will grow and the knowledge of the best SWIMRUN athletes is “packed” into these new products. Five Women’s suits and five Men’s suits plus a Vest/Pants combination will be presented in 2016.

“We are following the tremendous growth of SWIMRUN in the Nordic countries, but also how fast this “wave” of events is sweeping through Europe. As a leading brand in this new sport, we like to push the sport. We believe, that it is a perfect combination between ÖTILLÖ, the founders of Swimrun and a technical, innovative and powerful swimming brand, like HEAD”, Gerald Skrobanek, CEO mares S.p.A.

SWIMRUN will have huge growth in the years to come and HEAD is proud to be the leading brand in this new endurance and adventure sport.

Swimrun is a new sport originating from ÖTILLÖ that started ten years ago in Sweden. ÖTILLÖ means ”island to island” in Swedish and teams of two race together along race courses where they alternate between running and swimming. The sport has now grown to have more than 75 races worldwide and is often talked of as one of the fastest growing sports. ÖTILLÖ is the Swimrun World Championship with qualifying events in a growing ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Series. See website for more info

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