Description

When asked to describe the trails of the Absolute Biokovo Challenge in a few short words, most would probably use these words: amazing views, steep, difficult, breathtaking, wild, Biokovo never disappoints.

However, even those words are not enough to convey the beauty, wilderness and magic of one of the most beautiful and highest mountains in Croatia. The race passes through the most impressive parts of the mountain, which are also part of the Nature Park. It climbs and descends steep paths carved and built through the cliffs, winds along small ridges between sinkholes, runs through a forest of pine, beech and mountain maple…

The race starts from Makar, an old village above Makarska. The trail follows marked mountain trail up the hill to the mountain hut Vošac (alt. 1422 m). The trail offers great views on Makarska and Dalmatian islands all the way to Vošac. Part of the trail goes through pine tree forest and as it goes higher it opens wide views on distant islands and on the most of Dalmatian coast. After many zig-zags trail leads to Štrbina pass from where is the steepest 150 meters until the finish line at Vošac hut. When you finaly catch your breath at finish be ready to lose it again, this time because of wonderful view.

This course is for fit and experienced runners but also for those who are less competetive and want to enjoy slower pace and views. Time limit is 3 hours.

Regulations

Mandatory equipment: mobile phone with fully charged battery and ring tone on, water container with minimum 0.5 litres (flask, bottle..)

All race rules can be found here:

Race rules - Absolute Biokovo Challenge (absolute-biokovo-challenge.com)

Description

When asked to describe the trails of the Absolute Biokovo Challenge in a few short words, most would probably use these words: amazing views, steep, difficult, breathtaking, wild, Biokovo never disappoints.

However, even those words are not enough to convey the beauty, wilderness and magic of one of the most beautiful and highest mountains in Croatia. The race passes through the most impressive parts of the mountain, which are also part of the Nature Park. It climbs and descends steep paths carved and built through the cliffs, winds along small ridges between sinkholes, runs through a forest of pine, beech and mountain maple…

The race starts from Makar, an old village above Makarska, and first heads east towards another old village in the region of Biokovo - Kotišina, from where it climbs with numerous switchbacks towards Pržinovac at about 1300m - a location that serves as take off area for paragliders. From Pržinovac, with a view of the highest peak of Biokovo, Sv. Jure along the rolling hills, you reach Štrbina, a pass at the foot of Vošac, where the first refreshment point and control point (time limit) is located. From Štrbina, a long descent with slightly shorter climbs leads to Miletin Bor, where there is another refreshment point and control point. From Miletin Bor, a long ascent leads past the cliff of Veliki Borovac, which leaves no one indifferent, from where you exit toward the Slobodan Ravlić (Lokva) house. Further on, over the ridge of Sedmina, you get to the road below Sv. Jure where is the third refreshment point and control point (time limit). From the 3rd CP the course climbs sharply to the top of Biokovo, Sv. Jure (1762 m) from where you can enjoy an incredible 360° view. Descending "down the rope" you cross the Biokovo road and start the last ascent, to the second highest peak in Biokovo, Veliki Troglav (1658 m). From Troglav, meandering along the ridge between deep sinkholes, you reach the path towards the Pod Vošcem mountain house, where is the finish. 
 
   
 
In addition to the steep climb, the trail is also demanding because of the very difficult terrain, so we recommend it to well-prepared and experienced runners. The time limit for completing this course is 8 hours. 

The course is certified by the International Skyrunning Federation, which makes it the only Skyrunning race in Croatia, along with the Extreme course. 

TECHNICAL INFORMATIONS:

Date: 13.05.2023. 
Start: 08:00, Makar 
Finish: Pod Vošcem (mountain hut) 
Length: 23,6 km 
Ascent: +2580m 
Descent: -1540m 
ITRA points: 2 
Mountain level: 12 
Time limit: 8:00 hours
Organised transfers:  

– Transport of things from the start in Makar to the finish line on Vošac
– Transport of competitors from Vošac to Makar after the race

Time limits:

– Štrbina pass (7.7km) 10:45 (2:45 hours from the start)
– road under St. Jure (18.1 km), 15:00, (6:15 from the start)
– PK Pod Vošac (finish): 23.6km, 16:30 (8 hours from start)

Refreshment points:

– Štrbina pass: 7.7 km
– Miletin Bor (12.2 km)
– Road under St. Jure (18.1 km)

START FEE: 
Early bird: 225 kn, 30 eur, until February 1st 
Late bird: 300 kn, 40 eur, after February 1st

Group registration: 20% discount on the above prices (min 10 people)

Promijeniti link na ‘’prijavi se’’ 

Regulations

Mandatory equipment: mobile phone with fuly charged battery and ring tone on, water tank (bottle, flask) minimum 1 l, spaceblanket, first aid, whistle. The equipment will be checked on the track and in the finish line. The lack of part of the mandatory equipment will be penalized by adding time or disqualification. Lack of a whistle - a time penalty of 30 min, the lack of any other part of mandatory equipment - instant disqualification.

All the rules can be found at the link:

Race rules - Absolute Biokovo Challenge (absolute-biokovo-challenge.com)

Description

When asked to describe the trails of the Absolute Biokovo Challenge in a few short words, most would probably use these words: amazing views, steep, difficult, breathtaking, wild, Biokovo never disappoints.

However, even those words are not enough to convey the beauty, wilderness and magic of one of the most beautiful and highest mountains in Croatia. The race passes through the most impressive parts of the mountain, which are also part of the Nature Park. It climbs and descends steep paths carved and built through the cliffs, winds along small ridges between sinkholes, runs through a forest of pine, beech and mountain maple…

The race starts from Brela, at sea level, where after one kilometer on the sea promenade, the path goes above Brela to the 200-year-old Napoleon road, which is a protected cultural asset of the Republic of Croatia. After a few hundred meters from Napoleon's road, you descend on the singletrack to the small village of Topići, at the footsteps of Biokovo, from where you climb steeply to the area of Paklina - known for its century-old black pine forest.. A long descent through the forest leads to Sokolove Staje, the first refreshment and control point (time limit) at about 12.6 km. 
 
From Sokolove Staje, the course goes by the church of St. Nikola and after few kilometers begins the ascent to the peak area of Biokovo, via the Kale shelter (1450 m/asl) to the top of Šćirovac (1619 m/asl), which is known as the most inaccessible peak in Croatia. From Šćirovac, across the pass 
of Vraca to the church of Sv. Ilija, you pass perhaps the most impressive ridge in Croatia. On St. Ilija is refreshment only with water, the maximum amount of which is half a liter per runner. From St. Ilija, there is a long descent to the village of Bast where is refreshment point and control point (time limit), at about 29 km. From Bast, the path follows the panoramic Biokovo path on gravel road for a few kilometers to the area of Miletin bor where the third refreshment point and control point is, where it again turns steeply along the narrow path along the Borovac cliff all the way to the Slobodan Ravlić - Lokva mountain house (1445 m/nm). 
 
From Lokva, the path winds over narrow ridges between sinkholes to the road below Sv. Jure  where is the fourth refreshment point is and the control point (time limit). From there, a steep ascent leads to the highest peak in Biokovo - Sv. Jure (1762 m/asl)from where the incredible view opens in all directions. From St. Jure, the path descends over the Troglav ridges (perhaps the most photogenic part of the path, so be prepared for a photographer) to the mountain house Pod Vošcem where is the finish. 
 
The track is extremely physically and technically demanding, which is why the number of competitors is limited to 45, and in order to be able to compete in the race, a minimum of 420 ITRA performance points is required, or that the competitor has completed a race of similar difficulty, which was not scored according to ITRA ( the organizer has the right to assess and decide whether to allow to participate). The time limit to finish the race is 14 hours. 

The course is certified by the International Skyrunning Federation, which makes it the only Skyrunning race in Croatia, along with the Sky course. 

TECHNICAL INFORMATIONS:

Date: 13.05.2023. 
Start: 06:00, Brela 
Finish: Pod Vošcem (mountain hut) 
Length: 44.6 km 
Ascent: 4220 m+ 
Descent: 2920 m-
ITRA points: 23
Mountain level: 11 
Time limit: 14:00 hours
Organised transfers:  

-  Transportation of competitors from Makarska to the start in Brela – NOT included in the entry fee price, the surcharge is 35 kn (5 euros) on site.

– Transport of things from the start in Makar to the finish line on Vošac
– Transport of competitors from Vošac to Makar after the race

Time limits:

– Sokolove staje (first refreshment): 12.5 km, 09:30 (3 hours from start) 
– Bast (third refreshment): 29km, 15:00 (8:30 hours from start) 
- road under Sv Jure 39.6 km, 18:15 (11:45 hours from start) 
- mountain hut Pod Vošcem (finish): 45.5 km, 20:30 (14 hours from start) 

Refreshment points:

– Sokolove staje: 12.5 km 
– Sv. Ilija (water only, maximum amount, half liter per runner): 23,9 km 
– Bast: 29km 
– Miletin Bor 33.5km 
– Road under Sv. Jure : 39.6 km 
– mountain hut Pod Vošcem (finish): 45.5km 

START FEE: 
Early bird: 300 kn, 40 eur, until February 1st 
Late bird: 375 kn, 50 eur, after February 1st

Group registration: 20% discount on the above prices (min 10 people)