A scenario simmering for the previous yr boiled over final week after the UTMB World Sequence and the Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort collectively introduced a brand new race, the Extremely Path Whistler by UTMB, debuting in September 2024, in Whistler, British Columbia.
This announcement got here eight and a half months following the controversial cancellation of one other occasion, Whistler Alpine Meadows. That occasion, which came about in the identical location and in the identical month, was run by an area Canadian race group, Coast Mountain Path Working.
Gary Robbins and Geoff Langford, longtime path runners, co-owners of Coast Mountain Path Working, and co-race administrators of the now defunct Whistler Alpine Meadows, are publicly questioning the processes and ethics of the Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort and the UTMB World Sequence.
Each organizations stand behind their actions. In the meantime, tens of 1000’s of path runners, from western Canada to world wide, are siding with Robbins and Langford.
Right here’s a narrative that reads like a path operating model of the David and Goliath parable.
A scene from the Whistler Alpine Meadows race, which came about for six editions by way of 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) occasion came about within the excessive mountains of Whistler, British Columbia. Athletes competed largely inside the Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort, which is owned and operated by Vail Resorts.
Placed on by Coast Mountain Path Working, the sixth version of the occasion had 5 race distances as much as 100 miles in size and drew about 950 athletes from nearly a dozen international locations. After the completion of the three-day operating occasion, the race group seemed ahead to planning for 2023.
However in February 2023, Coast Mountain Path Working introduced in a press release that WAM would not happen.
“We won’t be pursuing any additional occasions inside the [Whistler] township going ahead … There may be merely no path ahead for us to supply races of this magnitude, alongside the alpine terrain inside the confines of Whistler,” the group introduced.
The Extremely Path Whistler by UTMB Is Introduced in October 2023
In October 2023, some eight and a half months following the announcement of the everlasting cancellation of WAM, the UTMB World Sequence — co-operated by the UTMB Group and The Ironman Group — introduced the Extremely Path Whistler by UTMB (UT Whistler) race, scheduled to happen yearly in September.
“The UTMB World 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 occasion … on September 28-29, 2024,” learn the press launch. “Three race distances of 100 [kilometers], 50km and 25km will take runners on a journey that highlights the most effective of Whistler and its surrounding trails.”
The press launch quoted Whistler Blackcomb chief working officer Belinda Trembath, who confirmed the resort as host: “We’re thrilled to function co-host of the Canadian cease on the UTMB World Sequence circuit.”
The Processes and Ethics of Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort Are Referred to as Into Query
Hours after the UT Whistler announcement, Robbins printed a candid weblog submit, alleging Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort of deliberately pushing WAM out in late 2022 and early 2023.
In interviews with iRunFar, Robbins mentioned that WAM and Whistler Blackcomb had a traditionally good working relationship. However he additionally famous that this relationship deteriorated within the fall of 2022 when WAM’s new contact at Whistler Blackcomb merely stopped speaking.
“The earlier particular person accountable for occasions [before 2022] was a dream to work with, however he not works for Vail Resorts,” mentioned Robbins. “His alternative was the exact opposite. I believe the toughest factor about it for us was that he very a lot made us really feel like we have been being supported, but it surely wasn’t adopted by way of by him at any level thereafter. And it was disingenuous the complete time.”
Following the September 2022, WAM, Robbins mentioned their Whistler Blackcomb contact alluded to points they must work by way of for future occasions. However that preliminary suggestions to the WAM group by their Whistler Blackcomb contact was adopted by months of close to radio silence, mentioned Robbins.
“He stood us up on a number of booked conferences and it bled over day after day, week after week. Earlier than we knew it, we had misplaced three months of simply making an attempt to get fundamental solutions from this particular person,” 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 pushed that to February 1. After we lastly received somebody to place some stuff in entrance of us [in late January and early February], they offered a completely completely different allowing utility course of than we’d seen earlier than. It was prohibitive, but in addition nonetheless one thing that we have been going to work our manner by way of. They wouldn’t enable us to even speak about [promote] the race till that course of was full. And at that time we’d be up to now into the yr, it might be unimaginable to maneuver ahead with so many uncertainties nonetheless in place.”
Handshake-style agreements between allowing entities and occasion administrators usually are not unusual in longer-term working relationships. That is the place a allowing entity permits an occasion director to progress with planning and selling an occasion earlier than a allow is secured, often as a result of bureaucratic processes can transfer slowly. Whereas Robbins mentioned he and different allowing entities for his enterprise’s different occasions work by way of handshake-style agreements, it appears Whistler Blackcomb wouldn’t.
Gary Robbins (left) with Max King (proper) after Max took third on the 2022 Whistler Alpine Meadows 50k. Picture: Mark Bates Pictures
Robbins additionally defined that as a part of these late January and early February 2023, conversations, Whistler Blackcomb mentioned it might solely allow two of WAM’s earlier 5 race distances, the ascent and 25k races. In accordance with Robbins, Whistler Blackcomb additionally mentioned the 25k course would must be redesigned.
Reducing the scope of the occasion by a lot, mentioned Robbins, “was not a sustainable mannequin for these occasions on this city.”
Whistler Blackcomb declined an interview with iRunFar, however launched the next written assertion in response to this battle:
“What this comes right down to is we merely weren’t glad or comfy with how Whistler Alpine Meadows deliberate to deal with issues of safety from the race the yr prior. We won’t compromise on security as it’s our primary precedence, and we should always word that our security protocols and insurance policies haven’t modified considerably yr over yr. We weren’t prepared to maneuver ahead with the 2023 race with out an ample security and medical plan, and WAM was unwilling to work with us on this.
“To the difficulty of communication, we take accountability that we didn’t talk as successfully as we should always have, and for this, we apologize. We’re dedicated to improved communication with all companions. We’re happy with our lengthy historical past of internet hosting all kinds of occasions and teams of all types that improve our group and our tradition, and that help what makes Whistler particular. We’re dedicated to persevering with this custom and sit up for internet hosting future occasions and races at Whistler Blackcomb.
“The choice to cancel Whistler Alpine Meadows was made by race organizers in February 2023. Whistler Blackcomb was open to working with them on a revised plan that might adequately meet the logistical and security wants of a race of its measurement and scope as a way to carry it again. They declined and moved on. Over the summer time, we obtained a brand new inquiry from UTMB about bringing its World Sequence circuit to Whistler. Path operating lovers, native companies and the group at giant stand to profit from this world-class occasion.”
Robbins refuted Whistler Blackcomb’s response, and mentioned extra was at play than simply poor communication and altering procedures.
Langford mentioned in an interview, “We weren’t conscious of something vital, safety- or medical-wise [taking place during the 2022 WAM]. Our post-race medical stories confirmed solely the standard minor points from an extremely, and we have been by no means given the chance to debrief with the Whistler Blackcomb patrol crew who have been on the mountain as a part of the occasion all weekend.”
Robbins concluded, “My enterprise associate [Langford] has been within the trade for 1 / 4 century, and arranged the journey racing world championships twenty years in the past. Now we have labored with Crimson Bull and Spartan on contracts over time. Whereas we’re a small entity, this isn’t our first rodeo, and my associate has extra expertise in permits particularly than anyone I do know. It’s disheartening that [Whistler Blackcomb] retains coming again to this unfounded level that we didn’t observe by way of on our finish, and we have been the explanation that we selected to go away the group of Whistler for these races.”
The Processes and Ethics of the UTMB World Sequence Are Additionally Questioned
Robbins additionally wrote in his weblog submit about how Coast Mountain Path Working had a dialogue with the UTMB World Sequence in regards to the collection buying considered one of its different races on the identical time that WAM was dissolving:
“In 2021 … we have been contacted by way of the IM-UTMB group about doubtlessly buying 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. One yr later, in 2022 they reached out a second time … We determined … that we would as nicely hear them out. We signed an NDA [non-disclosure agreement] and had a single Zoom assembly with them.”
Robbins elaborated on this in an interview, and mentioned his enterprise was then in continued, open dialogue with The Ironman Group relating to the potential acquisition from late 2022 by way of late Might 2023.
He defined, “As a part of that dialog, we offered all of them our inner particulars for the Squamish 50. In doing this, we have been additionally [unknowingly] giving them a whole market evaluation on the identical time that they have been in communications with Vail Resorts to carry a race to life [in Whistler,] basically that on the precise terrain that we have been simply pushed off of.”
Robbins mentioned it was in late Might 2023, when The Ironman Group put a maintain on talks about that buy.
In an interview with iRunFar, representatives of the UTMB World Sequence defined their model of the timeline on this battle, which doesn’t absolutely align with that of Robbins.
Paul Huddle, the senior director of world path operating operations for The Ironman Group, mentioned, “I began speaking with Gary and Geoff in the midst of November final yr. We have been fascinated about their occasion, significantly the Squamish 50, they usually appeared fascinated about doubtlessly working with us.”
Continued Huddle, ”In January of this yr, we as an organization, for quite a lot of causes, put a maintain on all acquisitions, so I notified Gary and Geoff and everyone else that we have been speaking to that that was the case at the moment.”
The UTMB World Sequence maintains that the Squamish 50 acquisition dialog — and its ending — had nothing to do with its exploration of a Whistler-based occasion.
“I believe it’s actually necessary to level out that this has nothing to do with that state of affairs. That was a scenario that any firm goes by way of,” Huddle mentioned. “I believe in February, February 11, everybody noticed the information out of Whistler that they have been not persevering with with that occasion [WAM] and it was fairly emphatically said by Gary that they have been out and by no means coming again. Keats [McGonigal, the vice president of North American operations for The Ironman Group] … is the man that holds the relationships [with the municipality] … in Whistler. So it was like, ‘Oh wow, Keats, you must contact your people and see in the event that they’re fascinated about bringing a UTMB occasion to Whistler. There’s no race there now.’”
A runner excessive 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 World Sequence sees it:
“By the spring and summer time, we had a lot of calls [with the three different leadership entities in Whistler, including the Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort], with us sharing what we’re making an attempt to do when it comes to increasing the [UTMB] World Sequence and stepping into Canada … It was in August we went for in-person conferences for a handful of days and talked about programs, maps, layouts, designs, and entry to venues. All of these regular race operational conversations occurred in August, which finally continued alongside to our announcement.”
When requested if the UTMB World Sequence thought of reaching out to Robbins, Langford, and the WAM group crew as they started ideating UT Whistler, Huddle responded:
“What we love about Gary and Geoff and their occasions is that they’ve an important following. They’ve nice occasions. That’s why we have been within the dialog [about an acquisition of the Squamish 50] to start with. 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 thought, ‘Wow, that is clearly an excellent alternative to make use of the connections we have already got by way of Keats and Ironman Canada.’”
Huddle continued, “Following their announcement in February, it appeared fairly clear that they have been exiting and never internet hosting any occasions [in Whistler]. After that announcement, we noticed a void and had native relationships to verify in with. I get it. I imply, it’s a group and this extremely is predicated on group … I suppose it’s an excellent level, and perhaps that’s an oversight. However on the identical time, we weren’t concerned of their conversations with Whistler and wouldn’t have anticipated to be.”
The Path Working Neighborhood Responds
What adopted the UT Whistler race announcement and Robbins’s weblog submit was a large and emotionally charged response on-line by path runners regionally and globally, nearly universally in help of Robbins and in opposition to UT Whistler.
Runners’ posts now quantity within the tens of 1000’s throughout each main social media platform, together with Reddit, YouTube, Fb, Instagram, and elsewhere. Feedback have ranged from calling for a boycott of UT Whistler to questioning the presence of huge firms within the sport of path operating.
For instance, commenting on the UT Whistler’s Instagram web page, Ems (@emmmmics) wrote, “As a Whistler native, this shall be an enormous NO. I’ll NOT be racing, and I’ll NOT be volunteering for this … I foresee a boycott coming from runners in Whistler, the whole thing of the ocean to sky area, Vancouver, and the decrease mainland as nicely….”
Ellie Greenwood, Vancouver, British Columbia, resident, prior Western States 100 course report holder, and the 2012 CCC champion, wrote on her social media:
”Path and extremely runners. Our sport is at a crossroads and it’s time to resolve what you need our sport and group to be like.
“You join races, you get to decide on in what route you need our sport to go. Let’s not be bullied by UTMB – they don’t seem to be guiding our ship, we the runners are. Cash talks and I cannot be spending a dime or any of my time with UTMB. I encourage you to consider the place your cash and your time will go….”
Jim Walmsley, the 2022 UTMB champion, titled considered one of his Strava actions within the final a number of days, “So what will we race subsequent yr then?” He confirmed with iRunFar after the truth that this title was certainly in reference to this Whistler race battle.
Native Management Responds to Requests for Feedback
iRunFar requested feedback from Whistler’s two different fundamental management entities in the case of internet hosting occasions, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, a authorities entity, and Tourism Whistler, a tourism company.
iRunFar’s questions have been centered on characterizing the entities’ interactions with the organizations behind WAM and UT Whistler.
The Resort Municipality of Whistler [RMOW] offered this written assertion:
“The RMOW labored on Municipal permits for the Whistler Alpine Meadows occasions as a part of their races, which came about on municipal property. The RMOW allowing course of which occurred is normal process and adopted for all candidates.
“Shortly after the Whistler Alpine Meadows race organizers made their announcement that they’d not be operating the occasion in Whistler, UTMB reached out to the RMOW asking if there was a possibility to carry their race to Whistler. Because the alpine areas in query fall into Whistler Blackcomb/Vail’s jurisdiction, an introduction was made.”
Tourism Whistler submitted a written assertion as nicely:
“Tourism Whistler’s relationship with the Whistler Alpine Meadows (WAM) path race included offering advertising and marketing help and helping organizers with an Financial Influence Evaluation research following the 2022 occasion. This can be a service Tourism Whistler gives to many occasions that happen within the resort. We due to this fact acknowledge the constructive financial impression of the earlier WAM races, and we have been sorry to listen to of their choice to not transfer forward with any Whistler occasions sooner or later.
“Tourism Whistler turned conscious of UTMB/The Ironman Group’s curiosity in bringing a path operating occasion to Whistler after it had already been introduced publicly that WAM was not returning to the resort. Additionally it is our understanding that Whistler Blackcomb and UTMB/The Ironman Group didn’t interact in any conversations in regards to the Extremely Path Whistler occasion till after it had been confirmed that WAM was not returning. Whistler has a long-standing and constructive working relationship with The Ironman Group after internet hosting the Whistler Ironman triathlon from 2010 to 2019 and we sit up for welcoming them again to the resort with a brand new path operating occasion.”
The alpine terrain of Whistler, British Columbia. Picture: Brian McCurdy Pictures
What Does the Path Working Neighborhood Do Now?
Robbins closed that weblog submit with a direct problem to the UT Whistler group, “…Coast Mountain Path Working are formally saying our intentions of launching a BC [British Columbia] race in direct competitors with this occasion, in September 2024.”
In an interview, Robbins summarized why he’s chosen to be vocal about this story, “I would like individuals to be educated, and to permit individuals to make knowledgeable choices from there. I would like our North American ultrarunning scene to have a collective voice.”
In an interview with iRunFar, McGonigal, of the UTMB World Sequence, mentioned, “We’d like to have the chance to fix the fences.”
When requested if he thought the scenario might be resolved, Robbins mentioned, “With Ironman, that’s past restore. With Vail Resorts, we’d be open to working with them on an occasion once more in Whistler if The Ironman Group have been not part of issues.”
It’s possible that we’ll by no means know the total story behind this unlucky battle. And, so many questions stay.
What’s going to — or ought to — occur subsequent on this path operating story of David and Goliath?
Will Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort and the UTMB World Sequence go forward with the 2024 Extremely Path Whistler by UTMB regardless of the big pushback they’ve obtained since their race announcement? In the event that they do, will they garner sufficient entries to efficiently host the race?
What occasion will Gary Robbins, Geoff Langford, and Coast Mountain Path Working introduce in September 2024, to satisfy their intent to compete with the UTMB World Sequence occasion? Will runners end up within the droves they’ve promised on-line?
And maybe most significantly, what obligations do the Goliaths of this story — and of this sport — have in working with and supporting the Davids within the communities through which they want to function?
As the game of path operating has grown, the group’s normal sentiment has been that there’s room for each form of particular person and each form of race. However this battle has many asking if that is nonetheless true.
“I’m leaning towards, no, it isn’t doable to coexist,” mentioned Robbins. “When you’ve gotten publicly traded corporations with billion-dollar budgets which have the reply to shareholders, the whole lot comes right down to the underside line of the best way to monopolize issues probably the most. That’s simply actuality.”
Robbins concluded, “There are improbable individuals inside the Vail Resorts group, and I’m certain there are actually good individuals at Ironman as nicely. However they’re faceless organizations for probably the most half, they usually must make choices that appease their shareholders. When that’s the case, you’ll be able to’t presumably make choices in the most effective curiosity of the communities through which you’re working.”
A panoramic view throughout the prior Whistler Alpine Meadows race. Picture: Brian McCurdy Pictures
Till this battle, although, the game has largely demonstrated a minimum of tolerance of large-scale industrial operations inside it. The expansion of the UTMB World Sequence from zero to 40 occasions since its inception in 2021 exhibits en masse participation.
And the UTMB pageant of occasions in Chamonix, France, a separate group additionally owned and operated by the UTMB Group and The Ironman Group, has develop into simply probably the most aggressive group of path ultramarathons on the earth. It was the origin level of all of the UTMB-based operations 20 years in the past and serves because the central races of the UTMB World Sequence. The competitiveness of those races exhibits elite runners’ acceptance of the a number of giant organizations behind it.
However the path operating 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 submit, it appears the path group has arrived at a crossroads and is trying down a number of potential paths.
Solely time will inform down which path path runners will go.
Name for Feedback
We empathize with the delicate nature of this subject, and want to assist host a productive group dialog about it. Thus, we respectfully request you to observe iRunFar’s remark coverage. Disagreement and debate are all the time welcome, as long as you share your ideas constructively.
- What do you assume the path operating group ought to do now?
- Will you as a person take motion on account of this battle?
- Do you assume the big or new corporations transferring into path operating and ultrarunning have any accountability to take care of the locations and communities into which they enter?
