Trail running is not only about UTMB and Golden Trail World Series, the latest circuit to enter the sport is Gran Canaria World Trail Majors. Since its announcement the new circuit has attracted many eyes due to the level and relevance of the races included. Indeed, the World Trail Majors focused on established races with many years of history and prestigious winners lists, from Transgrancanaria to Ultra Trail Cape Town and many others. The organization prides itself to be community-based and generate positive synergies between the races thanks to the information shared between the race directors.
Many commentators raised their eyebrows at the news of another circuit to follow with races around the world and athletes participating occasionally. Something is different about World Trail Majors compared to the others, most of the races part of World Trail Majors have a unique history and hold a place in runners and fans minds before the circuit existed.
We decided to look back at the World Trail Majors and reflect on its first twelve months and future. With this purpose, we sat down with Steve Brammar, HK100 race director and one of the founding members, to reflect on the organization, its role and impact on the sport.
After the first full year of existence, how would you rate the experience of the World Trail Majors?
It’s been great to be part of the World Trail Majors. A lot of trail runners seem excited by it and felt that it was very good news and much needed in the sport. The race directors have enjoyed supporting each other and working together to build something meaningful and help each other solve. Each of the races involved has benefitted too. Those with room for growth are growing. Those that were already full gained more international exposure and even stronger fields.
In this first year, you established the circuit and its dynamics while still expanding the circuit. What were the main challenges?
The main challenge is coordinating a group which takes decisions and makes plans collectively whilst covering time zones all the way from Japan through Europe and Africa to the West Coast of the US and across to Qébec. Our regular video meetings are at ridiculous hours for many of the team members. And this is getting worse not better with the addition of Grampians Peaks Trail 100 in Victoria, Australia. Colin Taylor, the GPT100 RD, joins these at 1am, the Black Canyon team at 6am and Tatsuo Chiba-san of Mt. Fuji 100 at 11pm, and yet they never complain. Legends!
When the circuit was first announced it generated a lot of noise in the trail running media, but since then its impact seemed to be limited, especially if compared to the UTMB World Series. Many pointed out the unnecessary need for another circuit, especially with limited economic incentives and races that are loosely connected with each other. What are your plans to make the circuit more relevant for runners and fans?
Yes, the launch was great fun and really powerful. The phone booth teaser video in 9 dialects was very creative and made us all chuckle whilst raising a huge amount of interest.
Our experience has been that the buy-in from runners at all levels has been strong. The World Trail Majors has quickly gained traction and recognition for putting on world class events whilst staying true to traditional trail running values.
Obviously it helped that Courtney Dauwalter raced at TransGrancanaria and Mt. Fuji 100 and won the inaugural edition of the World Trail Majors. Likewise, the participation of many of the world’s best trail runners showed immediate buy-in at the elite level. And it helps that the World Trail Majors is a genuine league structure where each race is equally important. This is quite different from the UTMB World Series which is not really designed as a competitive series or league – it’s set up instead as a qualifying network for UTMB.
I prefer not to compare the World Trail Majors and the UTMB World Series, since comparison is the thief of joy and they are 2 very different organizations in outlook, purpose and philosophy.
From my perspective, as race director of Hong Kong 100, the impact of the World Trail Majors here in Asia has been very powerful. It helps that Mount Fuji 100 is such a famous, popular and classic race. And you can see the enthusiasm here for the World Trail Majors in that 4 of the top 5 men in the World Trail Majors rankings for 2024 are Asian.
This interest is set to increase still further with Vietnam’s oldest trail race - Vietnam Mountain Marathon - and one of Australia’s newest - Grampians Peaks Trail 100 - having just joined the World Trail Majors. This is bringing plenty of energy and excitement from both countries. At Hong Kong 100 we are proud to be working with each of the other races in the World Trail Majors and are enjoying building something together for the good of the sport.
The World Trail Majors has also just become even more accessible with the introduction of a Short Trail Series. This makes participation in the World Trail Majors still more practical and attractive for both mid-pack runners and professionals, and is already increasing participation, especially by women, in the World Trail Majors.
The World Trail Majors Teams League has also been rolled out this year as a way to make trail racing more communal and fun and to provide exposure to brands who send strong teams to the World Trail Majors races. At Hong Kong 100 this worked on many levels: Team Nippon, a group of friends from the Japan team which won the Asia Pacific Trail Running Championships in Korea last year, won the Teams League in the Short Series, whilst Salomon won the Teams League in the 100km race. It was great to see brands like Anta Guanjun, Big K, Salomon, Vibram, Hoka, Kailas Fuga and T8 giving opportunities to athletes to ensure they were well represented in the Teams League. It felt like a win for athletes, brands, the race and the World Trail Majors.
Among the races of the circuit there are a few that stand out for history and importance. Are there any plans to create different tiers to give more prominence to these races?
Whilst some of the World Trail Majors races are older than others, or more famous, or have had stronger fields, we all have an equal say in the association’s decisions and provide equal points towards the final standings. This flat structure is intentional and a point of pride. All the races offer epic experiences provided by teams who love trail running, love the places where these races take place and are proud to help you explore them.
Despite having an overall prize money for the final ranking, each single race has its own rules and prize money. Are there any plans to create a cohesive policy in terms of prize money between the races of the circuit?
Each race is free to make its own decisions on prize money. Some provide it, others don’t. All of us contribute to the €82,500 on offer from the World Trail Majors to the top-ranked runners at the end of the 2025 season.
The circuit covers races from all the continents besides South America. Are there any plans to expand the circuit there?
Yes, we would like to have a South American race in the World Trail Majors and are in touch with a number of candidates. One step at a time though!
How will the next 3 years look for the World Trail Majors?
There will be gradual growth and generally we will just keep doing our thing. That is, providing runners with great races in beautiful places in a way that is sustainable, respectful and fun. We will treat other races as colleagues and friends and look to continue promoting and nurturing our shared passion - trail running and the great outdoors. We hope to see you and your friends at a World Trail Majors race very soon.
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