A scenario simmering for the previous yr boiled over closing week after the UTMB Global Sequence and the Whistler Blackcomb Ski Hotel collectively introduced a brand new race, the Extremely Path Whistler via UTMB, debuting in September 2024, in Whistler, British Columbia.
This announcement got here 8 and a part months following the arguable cancellation of every other match, Whistler Alpine Meadows. That match, which came about in the similar location and in the similar month, was once run via an area Canadian race group, Coast Mountain Path Operating.
Gary Robbins and Geoff Langford, longtime path runners, co-owners of Coast Mountain Path Operating, and co-race administrators of the now defunct Whistler Alpine Meadows, are publicly wondering the processes and ethics of the Whistler Blackcomb Ski Hotel and the UTMB Global Sequence.
Each organizations stand in the back of their movements. In the meantime, tens of hundreds of path runners, from western Canada to around the globe, are siding with Robbins and Langford.
Right here’s a tale that reads like a path working model of the David and Goliath parable.
A scene from the Whistler Alpine Meadows race, which came about for 6 editions via 2022 in Whistler, British Columbia. Picture: Brian McCurdy Pictures
The Whistler Alpine Meadows Is Completely Canceled in February 2023
In September 2022, the Whistler Alpine Meadows (WAM) match came about within the top mountains of Whistler, British Columbia. Athletes competed in large part inside the Whistler Blackcomb Ski Hotel, which is owned and operated via Vail Lodges.
Placed on via Coast Mountain Path Operating, the 6th version of the development had 5 race distances as much as 100 miles in period and drew about 950 athletes from nearly a dozen nations. After the of completion of the three-day working match, the race group appeared ahead to making plans for 2023.
However in February 2023, Coast Mountain Path Operating introduced in a observation that WAM would not happen.
“We will be able to now not be pursuing to any extent further occasions inside the [Whistler] township going ahead … There’s merely no trail ahead for us to provide races of this magnitude, alongside the alpine terrain inside the confines of Whistler,” the group introduced.
The Extremely Path Whistler via UTMB Is Introduced in October 2023
In October 2023, some 8 and a part months following the announcement of the everlasting cancellation of WAM, the UTMB Global Sequence — co-operated via the UTMB Workforce and The Ironman Workforce — introduced the Extremely Path Whistler via UTMB (UT Whistler) race, scheduled to happen once a year in September.
“The UTMB Global Sequence is heading to Canada for the first-time subsequent yr, with the affirmation that the breathtaking alpine playground of Whistler and the encompassing Sea-to-Sky hall in British Columbia will host a brand-new match … on September 28-29, 2024,” learn the click unlock. “3 race distances of 100 [kilometers], 50km and 25km will take runners on a adventure that highlights the most efficient of Whistler and its surrounding trails.”
The clicking unlock quoted Whistler Blackcomb leader working officer Belinda Trembath, who showed the hotel as host: “We’re extremely joyful to function co-host of the Canadian forestall at the UTMB Global Sequence circuit.”
The Processes and Ethics of Whistler Blackcomb Ski Hotel Are Known as Into Query
Hours after the UT Whistler announcement, Robbins printed a candid weblog put up, alleging Whistler Blackcomb Ski Hotel of deliberately pushing WAM out in past due 2022 and early 2023.
In interviews with iRunFar, Robbins mentioned that WAM and Whistler Blackcomb had a traditionally excellent running dating. However he additionally famous that this dating deteriorated within the fall of 2022 when WAM’s new touch at Whistler Blackcomb merely stopped speaking.
“The former consumer in control of occasions [before 2022] was once a dream to paintings with, however he not works for Vail Lodges,” mentioned Robbins. “His substitute was once the exact opposite. I feel the toughest factor about it for us was once that he very a lot made us really feel like we have been being supported, nevertheless it wasn’t adopted via via him at any level thereafter. And it was once disingenuous all of the time.”
Following the September 2022, WAM, Robbins mentioned their Whistler Blackcomb touch alluded to problems they must paintings via for long term occasions. However that preliminary comments to the WAM group via their Whistler Blackcomb touch was once adopted via months of close to radio silence, mentioned Robbins.
“He stood us up on a couple of booked conferences and it bled over everyday, week after week. Ahead of we knew it, we had misplaced 3 months of simply seeking to get fundamental solutions from this consumer,” mentioned Robbins.
“[Whistler Blackcomb] knew that we had a drop-dead date of January 1, 2023, [for getting permitted, so that we could sustainably organize the September race], and we driven that to February 1. Once we in any case were given any individual to place some stuff in entrance folks [in late January and early February], they introduced a completely other allowing software procedure than we’d noticed prior to. It was once prohibitive, but additionally nonetheless one thing that we have been going to paintings our method via. They wouldn’t let us even discuss [promote] the race till that procedure was once entire. And at that time we’d be up to now into the yr, it might be inconceivable to transport ahead with such a lot of uncertainties nonetheless in position.”
Handshake-style agreements between allowing entities and match administrators aren’t unusual in longer-term running relationships. That is the place a allowing entity lets in an match director to development with making plans and selling an match prior to a allow is secured, normally as a result of bureaucratic processes can transfer slowly. Whilst Robbins mentioned he and different allowing entities for his trade’s different occasions paintings via handshake-style agreements, it kind of feels Whistler Blackcomb would now not.
Gary Robbins (left) with Max King (proper) after Max took 3rd on the 2022 Whistler Alpine Meadows 50k. Picture: Mark Bates Pictures
Robbins additionally defined that as a part of the ones past due January and early February 2023, conversations, Whistler Blackcomb mentioned it might best allow two of WAM’s earlier 5 race distances, the ascent and 25k races. In step with Robbins, Whistler Blackcomb additionally mentioned the 25k path would want to be redesigned.
Lowering the scope of the development via such a lot, mentioned Robbins, “was once now not a sustainable fashion for those occasions on this the city.”
Whistler Blackcomb declined an interview with iRunFar, however launched the next written observation based on this warfare:
“What this comes all the way down to is we merely weren’t glad or pleased with how Whistler Alpine Meadows deliberate to deal with questions of safety from the race the yr prior. We will be able to now not compromise on security as it’s our primary precedence, and we must word that our security protocols and insurance policies have now not modified considerably yr over yr. We weren’t keen to transport ahead with the 2023 race with out an good enough security and clinical plan, and WAM was once unwilling to paintings with us in this.
“To the problem of communique, we take responsibility that we didn’t keep in touch as successfully as we must have, and for this, we say sorry. We’re dedicated to progressed communique with all companions. We’re happy with our lengthy historical past of website hosting all kinds of occasions and teams of a wide variety that strengthen our group and our tradition, and that give a boost to what makes Whistler particular. We’re dedicated to proceeding this practice and look ahead to website hosting long term occasions and races at Whistler Blackcomb.
“The verdict to cancel Whistler Alpine Meadows was once made via race organizers in February 2023. Whistler Blackcomb was once open to running with them on a revised plan that will adequately meet the logistical and security wishes of a race of its dimension and scope to be able to convey it again. They declined and moved on. Over the summer season, we gained a brand new inquiry from UTMB about bringing its Global Sequence circuit to Whistler. Path working fans, native companies and the group at extensive stand to have the benefit of this world-class match.”
Robbins refuted Whistler Blackcomb’s reaction, and mentioned extra was once at play than simply deficient communique and converting procedures.
Langford mentioned in an interview, “We weren’t conscious about the rest important, safety- or medical-wise [taking place during the 2022 WAM]. Our post-race clinical studies confirmed best the standard minor problems from an extremely, and we have been by no means given the chance to debrief with the Whistler Blackcomb patrol group who have been at the mountain as a part of the development all weekend.”
Robbins concluded, “My trade spouse [Langford] has been within the business for 1 / 4 century, and arranged the journey racing global championships 20 years in the past. We have now labored with Pink Bull and Spartan on contracts through the years. Whilst we’re a small entity, this isn’t our first rodeo, and my spouse has extra enjoy in lets in particularly than anyone I do know. It’s disheartening that [Whistler Blackcomb] helps to keep coming again to this unfounded level that we didn’t practice via on our finish, and we have been the rationale that we selected to go away the group of Whistler for those races.”
The Processes and Ethics of the UTMB Global Sequence Are Additionally Wondered
Robbins additionally wrote in his weblog put up about how Coast Mountain Path Operating had a dialogue with the UTMB Global Sequence concerning the sequence obtaining one in all its different races on the similar time that WAM was once dissolving:
“In 2021 … we have been contacted by way of the IM-UTMB staff about probably obtaining our Squamish 50 races. [These races are based in Squamish, British Columbia, located about an hour’s drive south of Whistler.] I mentioned we weren’t and we moved on. 12 months later, in 2022 they reached out a 2d time … We determined … that we would as smartly pay attention them out. We signed an NDA [non-disclosure agreement] and had a unmarried Zoom assembly with them.”
Robbins elaborated in this in an interview, and mentioned his trade was once then in persevered, open discussion with The Ironman Workforce in regards to the possible acquisition from past due 2022 via past due Would possibly 2023.
He defined, “As a part of that dialog, we equipped all of them our inner main points for the Squamish 50. In doing this, we have been additionally [unknowingly] giving them an entire marketplace research on the similar time that they have been in communications with Vail Lodges to convey a race to lifestyles [in Whistler,] necessarily that at the precise terrain that we have been simply driven off of.”
Robbins mentioned it was once in past due Would possibly 2023, when The Ironman Workforce put a cling on talks about that acquire.
In an interview with iRunFar, representatives of the UTMB Global Sequence defined their model of the timeline on this warfare, which doesn’t absolutely align with that of Robbins.
Paul Huddle, the senior director of world path working operations for The Ironman Workforce, mentioned, “I began speaking with Gary and Geoff in the course of November closing yr. We have been taken with their match, in particular the Squamish 50, and so they gave the impression taken with probably running with us.”
Persisted Huddle, ”In January of this yr, we as an organization, for quite a lot of causes, put a cling on all acquisitions, so I notified Gary and Geoff and everyone else that we have been speaking to that that was once the case at the moment.”
The UTMB Global Sequence maintains that the Squamish 50 acquisition dialog — and its finishing — had not anything to do with its exploration of a Whistler-based match.
“I feel it’s truly essential to show that this has not anything to do with that situation. That was once a scenario that any corporate is going via,” Huddle mentioned. “I feel in February, February 11, everybody noticed the inside track out of Whistler that they have been not proceeding with that match [WAM] and it was once beautiful emphatically mentioned via Gary that they have been out and not coming again. Keats [McGonigal, the vice president of North American operations for The Ironman Group] … is the fellow that holds the relationships [with the municipality] … in Whistler. So it was once like, ‘Oh wow, Keats, you must touch your friends and notice in the event that they’re taken with bringing a UTMB match to Whistler. There’s no race there now.’”
A runner top within the mountains of Whistler, British Columbia, throughout the now defunct Whistler Alpine Meadows race. Picture: Brian McCurdy Pictures
McGonigal defined the following a part of the timeline because the UTMB Global Sequence sees it:
“In the course of the spring and summer season, we had numerous calls [with the three different leadership entities in Whistler, including the Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort], with us sharing what we’re seeking to do with regards to increasing the [UTMB] Global Sequence and entering Canada … It was once in August we went for in-person conferences for a handful of days and mentioned classes, maps, layouts, designs, and get entry to to venues. All of the ones commonplace race operational conversations came about in August, which in the long run persevered alongside to our announcement.”
When requested if the UTMB Global Sequence thought to be achieving out to Robbins, Langford, and the WAM group group as they started ideating UT Whistler, Huddle spoke back:
“What we adore about Gary and Geoff and their occasions is that they’ve a perfect following. They have got nice occasions. That’s why we have been within the dialog [about an acquisition of the Squamish 50] initially. However once more, for quite a lot of causes, we have been not in that dialog with any of the occasions as of January. When this chance got here up, we concept, ‘Wow, that is clearly a excellent alternative to make use of the connections we have already got via Keats and Ironman Canada.’”
Huddle persevered, “Following their announcement in February, it gave the impression beautiful transparent that they have been exiting and now not website hosting any occasions [in Whistler]. After that announcement, we noticed a void and had native relationships to test in with. I am getting it. I imply, it’s a group and this extremely is in keeping with group … I suppose it’s a excellent level, and perhaps this is an oversight. However on the similar time, we weren’t occupied with their conversations with Whistler and wouldn’t have anticipated to be.”
The Path Operating Group Responds
What adopted the UT Whistler race announcement and Robbins’s weblog put up was once a large and emotionally charged reaction on-line via path runners locally and globally, nearly universally in give a boost to of Robbins and towards UT Whistler.
Runners’ posts now quantity within the tens of hundreds throughout each primary social media platform, together with Reddit, YouTube, Fb, Instagram, and in different places. Feedback have ranged from calling for a boycott of UT Whistler to wondering the presence of huge companies within the recreation of path working.
For instance, commenting at the UT Whistler’s Instagram web page, Ems (@emmmmics) wrote, “As a Whistler native, this shall be an enormous NO. I can NOT be racing, and I can NOT be volunteering for this … I foresee a boycott coming from runners in Whistler, the whole lot of the ocean to sky area, Vancouver, and the decrease mainland as smartly….”
Ellie Greenwood, Vancouver, British Columbia, resident, prior Western States 100 path document holder, and the 2012 CCC champion, wrote on her social media:
”Path and extremely runners. Our recreation is at a crossroads and it’s time to make a decision what you need our recreation and group to be like.
“You join races, you get to make a choice in what path you need our recreation to move. Let’s now not be bullied via UTMB – they don’t seem to be guiding our send, we the runners are. Cash talks and I can now not be spending a dime or any of my time with UTMB. I beg you to take into consideration the place your cash and your time will cross….”
Jim Walmsley, the 2022 UTMB champion, titled one in all his Strava actions within the closing a number of days, “So what can we race subsequent yr then?” He showed with iRunFar after the truth that this name was once certainly in connection with this Whistler race warfare.
Native Management Responds to Requests for Feedback
iRunFar asked feedback from Whistler’s two different major management entities in relation to website hosting occasions, the Hotel Municipality of Whistler, a central authority entity, and Tourism Whistler, a tourism company.
iRunFar’s questions have been enthusiastic about characterizing the entities’ interactions with the organizations in the back of WAM and UT Whistler.
The Hotel Municipality of Whistler [RMOW] equipped this written observation:
“The RMOW labored on Municipal lets in for the Whistler Alpine Meadows occasions as a part of their races, which came about on municipal assets. The RMOW allowing procedure which happened is usual process and adopted for all candidates.
“In a while after the Whistler Alpine Meadows race organizers made their announcement that they might not be working the development in Whistler, UTMB reached out to the RMOW asking if there was once a possibility to convey their race to Whistler. Because the alpine spaces in query fall into Whistler Blackcomb/Vail’s jurisdiction, an advent was once made.”
Tourism Whistler submitted a written observation as smartly:
“Tourism Whistler’s dating with the Whistler Alpine Meadows (WAM) path race integrated offering advertising and marketing give a boost to and aiding organizers with an Financial Have an effect on Review find out about following the 2022 match. This can be a provider Tourism Whistler supplies to many occasions that happen within the hotel. We subsequently recognize the sure financial have an effect on of the former WAM races, and we have been sorry to listen to in their resolution to not transfer forward with any Whistler occasions at some point.
“Tourism Whistler changed into conscious about UTMB/The Ironman Workforce’s pastime in bringing a path working match to Whistler after it had already been introduced publicly that WAM was once now not returning to the hotel. It is usually our working out that Whistler Blackcomb and UTMB/The Ironman Workforce didn’t interact in any conversations concerning the Extremely Path Whistler match till after it have been showed that WAM was once now not returning. Whistler has a long-standing and sure running dating with The Ironman Workforce after website hosting the Whistler Ironman triathlon from 2010 to 2019 and we look ahead to welcoming them again to the hotel with a brand new path working match.”
The alpine terrain of Whistler, British Columbia. Picture: Brian McCurdy Pictures
What Does the Path Operating Group Do Now?
Robbins closed that weblog put up with an immediate problem to the UT Whistler group, “…Coast Mountain Path Operating are formally saying our intentions of launching a BC [British Columbia] race in direct pageant with this match, in September 2024.”
In an interview, Robbins summarized why he’s selected to be vocal about this tale, “I would like other people to be trained, and to permit other people to make knowledgeable selections from there. I would like our North American ultrarunning scene to have a collective voice.”
In an interview with iRunFar, McGonigal, of the UTMB Global Sequence, mentioned, “We would like to have the option to fix the fences.”
When requested if he concept the location may well be resolved, Robbins mentioned, “With Ironman, this is past restore. With Vail Lodges, we’d be open to running with them on an match once more in Whistler if The Ironman Workforce have been not part of issues.”
It’s possible that we’ll by no means know the entire tale in the back of this unlucky warfare. And, such a lot of questions stay.
What is going to — or must — occur subsequent on this path working tale of David and Goliath?
Will Whistler Blackcomb Ski Hotel and the UTMB Global Sequence cross forward with the 2024 Extremely Path Whistler via UTMB regardless of the large pushback they have got gained since their race announcement? In the event that they do, will they garner sufficient entries to effectively host the race?
What match will Gary Robbins, Geoff Langford, and Coast Mountain Path Operating introduce in September 2024, to satisfy their intent to compete with the UTMB Global Sequence match? Will runners end up within the droves they have got promised on-line?
And most likely most significantly, what tasks do the Goliaths of this tale — and of this recreation — have in running with and supporting the Davids within the communities by which they want to function?
As the game of path working has grown, the group’s normal sentiment has been that there’s room for each more or less consumer and each more or less race. However this warfare has many asking if that is nonetheless true.
“I’m leaning towards, no, it’s not imaginable to coexist,” mentioned Robbins. “When you’ve got publicly traded firms with billion-dollar budgets that experience the solution to shareholders, the whole lot comes all the way down to the base line of easy methods to monopolize issues probably the most. That’s simply truth.”
Robbins concluded, “There are incredible other people inside the Vail Lodges group, and I’m positive there are truly excellent other people at Ironman as smartly. However they’re faceless organizations for probably the most phase, and they have got to make selections that appease their shareholders. When that’s the case, you’ll’t in all probability make selections in the most efficient pastime of the communities by which you’re working.”
A breathtaking view throughout the prior Whistler Alpine Meadows race. Picture: Brian McCurdy Pictures
Till this warfare, although, the game has in large part demonstrated a minimum of tolerance of large-scale industrial operations inside of it. The expansion of the UTMB Global Sequence from 0 to 40 occasions since its inception in 2021 presentations en masse participation.
And the UTMB pageant of occasions in Chamonix, France, a separate group additionally owned and operated via the UTMB Workforce and The Ironman Workforce, has develop into simply probably the most aggressive staff of path ultramarathons on this planet. It was once the beginning level of all of the UTMB-based operations twenty years in the past and serves because the central races of the UTMB Global Sequence. The competitiveness of those races presentations elite runners’ acceptance of the a couple of extensive organizations in the back of it.
However the path working group’s swift, sharp, and nearly common protection of Robbins and Langford in addition to its rejection of the UT Whistler announcement learn as a sign shift. To co-opt the outline Greenwood utilized in her social media put up, it kind of feels the path group has arrived at a crossroads and is taking a look down a couple of possible paths.
Handiest time will inform down which trail path runners will cross.
Name for Feedback
We empathize with the delicate nature of this matter, and want to lend a hand host a productive group dialog about it. Thus, we respectfully request you to practice iRunFar’s remark coverage. War of words and debate are all the time welcome, as long as you proportion your ideas constructively.
- What do you assume the path working group must do now?
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