For the past 2 days, Mount Kinabalu is closed for business. Why? Because Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon is happening! This is an annual event organized by the Sabah Tourism Board to promote Sabah especially the Kinabalu Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The 27th Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon is held on 19 & 20 Oct 2013. It’s the first time we have a very tough Elite category in which the race distance is 33 Km (comparing to 23 Km for Open category). The altitude covered is also a huge challenge for the Elite category, from 1500 m at Kinabalu Park to 4000 m at the Low’s Peak, then back to 1300 m at finish line in Kundasang town.
Majestic Mount Kinabalu view from Nabalu Town
7:00AM – Datuk Masidi Manjun, Sabah Minister of Tourism, Culture & Environment officiating the start of Elite category race.
Local youth cheering for participant
The final 9 Km of the race begins at Mesilau Nature Resort, sitting at a 2000 m height. The air is so cool and fresh here.
Crowd gathers at Climbathon Finish Zone in Kundasang town area as there is a Cabbage Festival (Pesta Kubis) and a 4X4 Challenge organized by the local Kundasang people.
Entertainment for crowd at Climbathon Finish Zone.
RFID is used in this race for better and more accurate results.
The leading elites took only 2 hrs to reach the peak.
11:12AM – For the first time in 17 years, a Malaysian participant Daved Simpat emerges as Elite Men champion in this climbathon series.
A Japanese tour guide is delighted when Dai Matsumoto from Japan crosses the line as Elite Men 2nd place.
Elite Men 5th place, Fabian @ Osman Bin Daimon from Malaysia.
Kundasang town view
For complete race results, please visit Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon official website at http://www.climbathon.my/2013-results/
See you in 2014!
