Speed ascents to Elbrus or Elbrus Race - how it all begins
In the Soviet period speed ascent competitions on Elbrus slopes — from Mir station till Garabashi station and from Priut 11 till the col — were the part of training program for the members of the soviet Himalaya expeditions (1982, 1989). Elbrus was well-known for all serious Soviet mountaineers, as the mount's location is very comfortable and its height is enough for the race. It was considered to be a prestigious action — to take part in these races, and the strongest USSR climbers had competed there.
Now the Mount is the object of the International program «7 Summits» (climbing the highest tops of all continents). Elbrus is especially lucky nowadays — in spite it is the part of Caucasus, one can reach its bottom without special frontier guard's permit, the way along Baksan valley is comfortable and safe. Hotels in Terskol, Bochki huts, Priut 11 and the new modern hut some meters higher than Priut — do Elbrus climbs more and more comfortable, and from day to day a lot of groups go to their dream — Elbrus tops. But, except some events — all of these climbs are of «tourist class». But 15–20 years ago those slopes were the place for serious mountaineers ambitions battles!
Vladimir Balyberdin (he is the first soviet/russian to climb Everest) was the first who had understood the annual Elbrus speed climb Championship perspectives. In 1989 he (with support of his friends Anatoly Boukreev, Valery Khrichtchatyi and Alexandr Sheynov) the first Elbrus Race — from Priut 11 till the col. September was chosen with a special reason – it is the best season here. There is no ice on the route usually in September, and the whole way to the tops is often safer than in other seasons.
Next Elbrus Race was in 1990. Anatoly Boukreev was a legend of that races — he won in 1990 — and his result was 1 hour 47 min (Priut 11 — East top).
Unfortunately Vladimir Balyberdin was killed in car accident at 1994, then one by one Anatoly, Valery and Alexandr gone as well and Elbrus Race of the first edition has stopped.
Taking into consideration the increase of the popularity of extreme sport and mountaineering in Russia, the accommodation convenience in Elbrus region, the experience in organization of sport events, Russianclimb.com and Top Sport Travel (high venture travel company, led by Nikolay Shustrov (Master of Sports in mountaineering, member of Balyberdin climbing team, 1990 Elbrus Race participant with 5-th result -2h12min, Camel Trophy 93 participant) decided to reborn the tradition of speed climb competitions to the highest Europe point.
So since 2005 second edition is going on every September - see http://fastestknowntime.elbrusrace.com/
Many outstanding athletes took part in the Elbrus Race in the past 13 years, Denis Urubko, Andrey Puchinin, Sergey Seliverstov, Vitaly Shkel, Killian Jornet, Artur Hajzer, Andrzej Bargiel, Ilyas Achabaev, Svetlana Sharipova, Anna Figura, Roman Gubanov, Anton Proshchenko, Yuri Klim, Sergey Furstsev , Abdulkhalim Elmezov, Luca Colli, Boris Korshunov, Anindya Mukherjee, Andrew Mariev, Marhan Milan, Valentin Vergilyush Anton Proshchenko Natalia Nikolashina, Mikhail Klimov, Aleksandra (Ola) Dzik, Maria Khitrikova, Oksana Stefanishina, Olga Rzhavsky, Haggai Skopino Ivan Moshnikov Victor Trinozov Tatiana Ufimtseva, Jakub Voytahnio, Marcin Rzheotko Vasily Bakshanov, Anzor Zhurtov, Atilla Kupas, Isabela Zatorska, Marzena Rzeszotko, Piotr Hercog, Tomasz Brzeski, Leszek Rzeszotko, Alexandra Stodolak, Anton Brichevsky, Leszek Pleskasz, Gabor Horvath, Alexei Pshenichnikov, Andrei Gurin, Ade Wahyudi, and many, many others (sorry that not everyone could be listed here)
The fastest known time to climb Elbrus (from Azau 2400m till West Summit 5642m) was fixed by Andrzej Bargiel on September 21, 2010 and is 3h 23m 37s. Since 2008 Red Fox started his race event at Elbrus using Elbrus Race name in not fair way.
Mount Elbrus 
