Scott XTrails: three trails, one weekend, one ranking
Three trails. Three completely different challenges. One intense winter weekend. That is the Scott XTrails, the three-day trail concept of the Houffa Trail in Houffalize.
During the Scott XTrails it is not about a single race, but about a full weekend of trail running. Participants line up at the start three times and are presented with a different course and a different atmosphere each time. From a short but explosive opening stage to kilometers in the dark and a tough finale on Sunday.
Saturday morning: all out on the Kamikaze Trail
The weekend starts right away on Saturday morning with the Kamikaze Trail, a spectacular trail of about 4 kilometers around hotel Viamundo.
Short certainly doesn't mean easy here. Right from the first meters, the pace goes up. Climbing, descending, turning, and accelerating again: the Kamikaze Trail is an explosive opener where the first differences in the standings
are made.
But pacing wisely is at least as important. Because after the finish line, the weekend has only just begun.
Saturday evening: into the darkness
After a few hours of recovery, the participants put their trail shoes back on. In the late afternoon and evening, a completely different experience awaits.
The forests get dark, headlamps turn on, and the participants begin their second race. On the Night Trail and Semi-Night Trail, it is not just about speed. In the dark, those same forest paths suddenly completely change character. Roots, turns, descents, and technical passages require extra concentration.
Participants in the short Scott XTrails run 10 kilometers here, while participants in the long course tackle a solid 22 kilometers.
Two races down. Tired legs. And yet, they have to perform one more time.
Sunday: giving it all in the finale
The climax follows on Sunday. No more darkness, but once again the wintry forests and trails of Houffalize.
A final 15-kilometer trail awaits participants of the short distance. Participants of the long distance close out their weekend with 25 kilometers.
This is where it becomes clear who paced themselves best over the entire weekend. Who was able to save just that little bit of energy on Saturday? Who can still attack after two races? And who cracks when the kilometers start adding up?
After three races, we finally know the female and male winners of the Scott XTrails, on both the short and long distances.
Scott XTrails Short
4 km Kamikaze Trail + 10 km Night Trail + 15 km Trail
Three races and approximately 29 kilometers of trail running in one weekend.
Scott XTrails Long
4 km Kamikaze Trail + 22 km Semi-Night Trail + 25 km Trail
Three races and approximately 51 kilometers of trail running in one weekend.
The Scott XTrails is therefore more than a classic trail race. It is a weekend where speed, endurance, recovery, and race strategy come together.
Start three times. Finish three times. And only after the last kilometer do we know who can call themselves the Scott XTrails male and female winner.