Samaya x Ultra Spirit
BEHIND THE SCENES OF ORGANIZING A RACE
For the second consecutive year, Samaya is a partner of the Ultra Spirit, which held its second edition on September 22, 23, and 24, 2023. The event brought together 40 teams and 120 participants for 3 days of racing and 2 nights at a bivouac. Dive into the world of the Ultra Spirit from the dual perspectives of the organizers and the runners.
The transition from the first edition of the Ultra Spirit to the second saw a large increase in the number of participating teams. What does this represent in terms of organization and logistics?
Maxime Schuler: In terms of organization, we went from 25 teams of 3, meaning 75 runners and 75 volunteer staff, to 40 teams of 3, so 120 runners and 80 staff. We therefore had 200 people to house at the bivouac at an altitude of 2,000 meters. This increase in the number of participants had real consequences in terms of logistics. We added a large communal tipi with a 10-meter diameter, a changing tent heated by a stove, and water supplies for brushing teeth. We juggle the ultra-light, compact, and mobile bivouac spirit with infrastructure that is a bit heavier to accommodate a large crowd. From the runners' perspective, the number of tents increased, and few operators would be capable of deploying such a large park. For us, it is a real added value to work with Samaya. Added to this is the quality of the materials, because we experienced rain on the first day, snow on the second, as well as wind and humidity: all elements that impact the runners' rest periods.
All this organizational work is put at the service of a new ultra-trail format, and that is what Ultra Spirit participants come looking for. How do you perceive this?
![]()
MS: Indeed, the Ultra Spirit signals a return to the origins of ultra-trail, that is to say, heading into the mountains with friends, bivouacking, not necessarily worrying about the clock but rather living the adventure to the fullest while enjoying the landscape. The Ultra Spirit allows for this truly original, one-of-a-kind, and hyper-friendly format. What we take away from it is the smiles in Beaufort after 3 days, when all the runners arrive at the same time at the end of the race, after having slept in the snow at 0 degrees, covered 100 kilometers, and climbed 9,000 meters of elevation.
Since the Ultra Spirit is aimed at runners, you collected testimony from the teams, particularly regarding the management of sleep time and rest over 3 days of racing and 2 nights at the bivouac. Can you share them with us?
MS: The most frequent comment was that it was better not to have a snorer in your team! For the most part, the runners would have liked to be able to sleep a bit earlier in the evening, but once in the tent, they were really comfortable, especially since it was very, very cold outside. They would come in shivering, but once inside, deep in their sleeping bags, things were much better, even with the deluge overhead.
