Courtney Dauwalter and Miguel Arsénio were crowned winners of the first edition of the Gran Canaria World Trail Majors that took place in 2024 and were recognized in an awards ceremony attended by both athletes.
The awards were presented by Carlos Álamo, Responsible of Tourism of the local government of Gran Canaria, and the trophies symbolize the essence of the circuit, according to local artisan Óliver Sánchez, who explained that they were designed “to represent the world and each continent united, with lines symbolizing the paths or trails.”
Courtney Dauwalter stated, “it was really special to be part of the very first year of Gran Canaria World Trail Majors. The video displayed… these gathering, all of these races, on amazing places all over the world and more importantly, the unique challenges and ways that people could push themselves to be a little better and doing it with the community, it’s what this spot is all about.” Courtney spent a week in Tejeda, training for her next challenge, Cocodona 250, and eating some palmeras, a local sweet she likes a lot.
Miguel Arsénio commented, “it’s a pleasure to be the 2024 champion of Gran Canaria World Trail Majors, it’s a very prestigious circuit, I had the opportunity to visit good places and running magnificent races around the world and it’s very good for my athletic curriculum.” Arsénio dropped in Transgrancanaria and later in MIUT but won in Swiss Canyon Trail “and opened me the door again to fight for the circuit and for that I needed to go to Ultra-Trail Cape Town. I had to make podium, I could finish second, it was unreal but it happened.”
