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📍 Szklarska Poręba, Poland

© Jacek Halicki · CC BY-SA 4.0

Zimowy Ultramaraton Karkonoski (ZUK)

≈ 27 February 2027 · Szklarska Poręba, Poland

Estimated date — the organiser has not announced the exact day yet

The Zimowy Ultramaraton Karkonoski (ZUK), named after Tomek Kowalski, is one of Poland's toughest winter races, starting in Szklarska Poręba in late winter. About 50 km of course follows the main Karkonosze ridge along the Polish-Czech border — over snow and ice, in biting wind, with views of Śnieżka and snow-filled cirques. It honours Tomasz Kowalski, the Polish climber who died on Broad Peak in 2013, and the atmosphere is mountain-like, comradely and a little heroic. Mandatory winter gear and strict cut-offs make ZUK a real exam. Szklarska Poręba offers the Szklarka waterfall, the Snow Cirques and cosy mountain huts serving hot soup.