Azores Trail Run®Nature Sports and Tourism

Mário Rui LealRegional Department of Tourism

The existing links between environment and sport are clear and unequivocal, the pleasureand satisfaction offered by the practice of sport is enhanced through the sporting activity inthe natural environment.

The sporting activity in nature is a way to environmental awareness, since the characteristicsof the natural environment acquire a special highlight during the period in which the sportspractice is performed. The growth of cities and the stress caused by daily life provoke a socialneed for access to Nature that sport shares and intensifies, with a strong relationshipbetween environment and sport.

The Azores has exceptional conditions and Natural resources for the practice of NatureSports.

NATURE SPORTS :

• A group of trail running events located in theAzores Islands, Portugal

In the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Continental Europebeautiful archipelago hosts a series of trail running events that will take the participants on a journey through time, leaving visitors breathless and eager to return.

• Events take place on trails of natural geology, history, heritage and ancientlands

WHO WE ARE:

• 3 events/year

• Azores Trail Run – Faial

• Triangle Adventure - Faial, Pico, São Jorge

• Columbus Trail - Santa Maria

• Future Islands Pending…(Graciosa, Flores)

WHO WE ARE:

Is on the islands of Faial, Pico, São Jorge and Santa Maria that the thrill-seeker will encounter a uniqueseries of events, through extremely technical terrain, cultural, historical, scientific significance andbreathtaking nature.

Highlights of the events:

• Faial’s unparalleled trails across 10 volcanoes

• climbing to the peak of Portugal’s highest mountain “Pico”

• imposing cliffs and peculiar “fajas” of São Jorge

• white sand beaches of Santa Maria

• the historical Columbus Trail named after the return voyage from the Americas

• 3 islands, 3 days, 1 race - Triangle Adventure

• Skyrunning - vertical climb up to the top of Pico

• unspoiled natural geography found no where else on earth

AZORES TRAIL RUN GROUP OF EVENTS

HISTORY

• 2012 – Faial island

• Event: Ten Volcanoes Trail 22KM

20 athletes from the island

• 2013 – Faial island

• Event: Ten Volcanoes Trail 22KM

26 athletes from the island

• 2014 – Faial island

• Events: Coast to Coast 48km and Ten Volcanoes 22km

215 athletes

14 countries represented (Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Brazil, USA, South Africa, New Zealand)

HISTORY

• 2015 – Islands of Faial, Pico, São Jorge

• MAY Event: ATR - Coast to Coast 48km and Ten Volcanoes 22km

500+ athletes

14 countries represented (Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Holland, Denmark, Norway, Germany, Brazil, USA, South Africa, Luxemburg, Canada, UK)

• OCTOBER Event: ATR – Triangle Adventure Stages Race 100km, 3 days

80 athletes

8 countries represented (Portugal, Germany, Spain, USA, Morocco, France, Poland, SouthAfrica

HISTORY

• 2016 – Islands of Faial, Pico, São Jorge and Santa Maria

• FEBRUARY Event: ATR – Columbus: Grand Trail 77km, Trail Marathon 42km

90+ athletes

8 countries represented (Portugal, Austria, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, UK andSouth Africa

• MAY Event: ATR – Blue Island Trail 70km, Coast to Coast 48km, Ten Volcanoes 22km, Family Run 10km

750+ athletes

30+ countries represented

• OCTOBER Event: ATR – Triangle Adventure Stages Race 100km, 3 days

95 athletes

8 countries represented (Portugal, Germany, Spain, USA, Morocco, France, Poland, SouthAfrica

HISTORY

• 2017 – Islands of Faial, Pico, São Jorge and Santa Maria

• FEBRUARY Event: ATR – Columbus: Grand Trail 77km, Trail Marathon 42km, Half Marathon22km

140+ athletes

10 countries represented (Portugal, Austria, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, UK andSouth Africa

• MAY Event ATR – Blue Island Trail 70km, Coast to Coast 48km, Ten Volcanoes 22km, Family Run 10km

• OCTOBER Event: ATR – Triangle Adventure Stages Race 100km, 3 days

TARGET AUDIENCE

• 18-80+ years of age

• Trail Runners, Road Runners

• Endurance Athletes

• Professional Athletes

• Recreational Athletes

• Nature Enthusiasts

• Travel Enthusiasts

• Journalists/Bloggers

TARGET AUDIENCE

• 18-80+ years of age

• Trail Runners, Road Runners

• Endurance Athletes

• Professional Athletes

• Recreational Athletes

• Nature Enthusiasts

• Travel Enthusiasts

• Journalists/Bloggers

• Average age: 30-55

• Average Household Income: 45K euros

• Primarily travel with friends/family rather than alone

MARKETING

• Social media

• TV

• in-flight videos

• magazine advertisements/articles

• PR - television, newspapers, radio

• Contests: Running Heroes UK/France, Run Gratis France, etc.

• Trade show/Expos: UTMB, Ecotrail de Paris, L’Ultra Marin Raid Golfe du Morbihan, Madeira MUIT, Lisbon, etc.

• Flyers: Running Room Canada, Sata Office Toronto

• Blogs

BENEFIT

• ATR attracts air-travellers and high profile sports figures from around the globe

• travel and adventure enthusiasts

• eco-tourism

• Azores top-of-mind as a travel destination

• competes with share-of-market for more popular races

• races that put people in plane seats

• high media coverage (jornal da noite da SIC, Economia Verde da SIC Noticias, Facebook, 14+ followers

• high-profile athletes, journalists, writers, etc.