Unseasonably warm Arctic temperatures, peaking at +6°C, created a challenging icy crust on the trails, forcing racers to adapt. Unlike the previous year, many opted for spikes or snowshoes over skis. This fluctuating weather also demanded careful sweat management to prevent hypothermia, requiring a consistent, measured pace.
Arctic Spine Explorer (66 Miles)
This year was the introduction of the Arctic Spine Explorer. All competitors had to complete a mandatory 3-day course before competing to enhance their skills in the extreme cold.
Nic Baldwin won the overall race, the first ever finisher of the explorer. Setting the course record at 31 hours and 21 minutes.
Caroline Barrett, the sole racer without skis, won the women's race. She found the terrain easy to navigate and cherished the scenery and community. Caroline and Eoin raced last year as a trio with their friend and Mountain Rescue Team Member Charlie Wilkins who sadly passed away just a few weeks after the event. Together with her partner Eoin, who missed the start due to flight delays, honored their late friend by scattering his ashes on the course.
Arctic Spine Challenger (129 Miles)
The longer and even more demanding Challenger race presented its own unique set of challenges.
During this race, 5 competitors were extracted by the safety team over night on day 4. This was due to a combination of weather conditions, exhaustion, and the time cutoff. At the half-way line through the race, just five athletes remained on course.
Bjorn Haugum won the Arctic Spine Challenger, leading the pack for the majority of the race. Born crossed the line in 60 hours and 20 minutes.
There was no female finisher for this race.
Barclay Morison, Matheiu Bonnier and #TeamMontane Rob Brooks who were competing in the Full Spine opted to conclude their race at the Spine Challenger finish line, claiming their medals.
Full Spine (293 Miles)
Last year, extreme weather conditions, including temperatures plunging to -40 degrees, and medical extractions resulted in no finishers for the full Arctic Winter Spine. This year, 5 participants successfully completed the race
Lief Abrahamsen was the first ever finisher of the Arctic Spine. Crossing the line in 200 hours and 14 minutes, setting the course record. “Beautiful, fantastic, more like an expedition than a race. You can’t attack it like a race or you’d never get through”.
#TeamMontane Jon Shield crossed the finish line in 225 hours and 31 minutes, running alongside fellow competitor Keira Pavval for the majority of the race.
Jon Shield documented his race across the Kungsleden Trail in Sweden. Find out how he got on by watching the video.
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