Radio La Sportiva | Lavaredo Ultra Trail 2026 | Zane Schmahl

In this interview recorded during Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, we sat down with Zane Schmahl, Director of Operations for the UTMB World Series and founder of the Mountain Ultra-Trail (MUT) by UTMB in George, South Africa. Zane shares his unique perspective from both sides of the sport—as a passionate trail runner and as one of the key people responsible for delivering some of the world’s most prestigious trail running events. We discuss his journey from mountain bike event organizer to UTMB World Series operations leader, the growth of trail running globally, and the challenges of managing large-scale international races. The conversation explores what happens behind the scenes at a UTMB World Series event, including athlete safety, race operations, volunteer coordination, communication systems, and the technology used to monitor thousands of runners across remote mountain courses. Zane explains how UTMB works to maintain consistent standards across events worldwide while adapting to local conditions and cultures. We also dive into the incredible role played by volunteers, the growing international nature of trail running, and the challenges of organizing races that welcome athletes from more than 100 countries. Zane shares insights into mandatory gear requirements, race regulations, elite athlete rankings, and the delicate balance between creating an unforgettable athlete experience and ensuring safety in the mountains. From South Africa’s growing trail running scene to the upcoming Trail Running World Championships, this interview offers a fascinating look into the people, systems, and passion that make the UTMB World Series possible. Topics covered: Zane Schmahl and the UTMB World Series Lavaredo Ultra Trail by UTMB 2026 Behind-the-scenes race operations Trail running event organization Athlete safety and risk management Volunteer coordination at major trail races Mountain Ultra-Trail (MUT) by UTMB South Africa Growth of trail running worldwide UTMB race regulations and mandatory gear Elite athlete rankings and the UTMB Index International trail running events Race logistics and tracking technology UTMB World Series standards and consistency Trail Running World Championships South Africa Life as a race director and event organizer The future of global trail running #LavaredoUltraTrail #LUT2026 #UTMB #UTMBWorldSeries #ZaneSchmahl #TrailRunning #UltraRunning #MountainRunning #RaceDirector #TrailRace #EnduranceSports #LavaredoByUTMB #Cortina #Dolomites #MUTbyUTMB #SouthAfricaTrailRunning #UltraTrail #RunningCommunity #TrailRunner #OutdoorSports #AdventureRunning #TrailRunningInterview #LaSportiva #RunningCulture #EnduranceAthlete #TrailRunningWorldSeries