UTMB World Series expands North American offering with Kodiak Ultra Marathons

Press Release / 29.04.2023

Kodiak Ultra Marathons™ by UTMB® has become the latest trail running event to be added to the 2023 UTMB® World Series. The race will take place in Big Bear Lake, California on October 13-15 and will feature distances of 10km, half marathon (21km), 50km, 100km, and 100-mile, with Running Stones offered at select distances for the UTMB® World Series Finals at UTMB® Mont-Blanc.

“It’s an honor to have Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB added as the sixth UTMB World Series event in the United States,” said Susie Schmelzer, Race Director for Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB. “It is a natural addition to the UTMB World Series. The event and Big Bear Lake have so much to offer runners, family, friends and spectators that meets the standards of the other great events that are part of this Series.”
  
Sitting at 7,000ft in the San Bernardino Mountains, the charming Big Bear village will host the start and finish for all five races, each offering their own unique running experience through high desert, sub alpine and semi-arid climates. 

Racing for the 10th edition of Kodiak Ultra Marathons by UTMB will kick off on Friday, October 13 when runners take on the 100-mile race. This distance is a looped course that circumnavigates Big Bear Lake. From the descent through the rarely crossed Siberia Canyon, to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain at nearly 10,000ft, the course is as challenging as it is beautiful.

On Saturday, October 14, the 100km course follows over half of the 100-mile course, while covering much of the beautiful Big Bear Valley. Runners in the 50km will enjoy the flowy single track of the Skyline ridge at 8,000ft before descending to the Village.

Finally, on Sunday, October 15, race weekend closes out with a 10km and half marathon (21km). The 10km runners will enjoy the beautiful trails with views of Big Bear Lake in the background throughout the run. The Half Marathon course ascends the Skyline ridge with views of San Gorgonio peak before descending back into town for the festival finish. 

Big Bear Lake is Southern California's four-season mountain lake escape. As the jewel of the San Bernardino National Forest and known for excellent fishing, snowboarding and skiing, hiking, mountain biking and so much more, Big Bear Lake is also easy to access from Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.

UTMB World Series events are the only place for runners to access the UTMB World Series Finals, held annually at the world’s biggest trail running event, UTMB Mont-Blanc. 36 events across Europe, Asia, Oceania, the USA, South America, and Africa are currently confirmed for the 2023 season, giving runners from around the world the chance to meet their extraordinary at exceptional events across the globe.