Merino Muster

A few days after the successfully organized Ushuaia Loppet in Argentina, the second stage of the new marathon season is ready to go. On the 15th of August the 42k FT race Merino Muster, New Zealand, will take place. The preparations are almost done and the weather conditions – more than enough snow – promise together with the number of entries a great competition. More than 200 participants are already in, 120 skiers are coming from overseas. Most of them came to New Zealand from America, Japan, Australia and Korea. The Korean national X-Country and Biathlon teams are training at the Snow Farm and a number have entered including 15 of their biathletes in the Snow Rake, the short 21k race. 

Justyna Kowalczyk, ladies Merino Muster winner for the last three years, will not be there defending her title, because she won the Ushuaia Loppet on the other side of the ocean a few days ago. But nethertheless this years Merino Muster will provide a highly elite level combined with the experience to ski with people from all over the world: “For many of our NZ racers however meeting the large international Worldloppet community and racing alongside them will be a new and special experience for most.  We know they will cement those special bonds that Worldloppet racing brings regardless of ability.”, says John Burridge, the Merino Muster Chairman. 

The Merion Muster will also be the first Worldloppet race outside of the FIS Marathon Cup offering FIS-Points: “We view it as a great privilege to be the first Worldloppet race to offer FIS points outside a Marathon Cup.  Andy Pohl, General Manager of the Snow Farm is racing under his FIS licence and as a NZ National team member.!”, states Burridge. 

So we await an interesting and great competition at the Merino Muster Marathon 2015 in New Zealand on Saturday the 15th of August.