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Fynbos Money and SkyRun join forces to back the long game

Tanika LaskeyNewsLeave a Comment on Fynbos Money and SkyRun join forces to back the long game

Image Credit – Craig Kolesky/ Nikon

South African money platform becomes presenting sponsor of SkyRun as iconic mountain race celebrates 30 years of endurance

There are some things that cannot be rushed. Building financial security takes time. So does preparing to run 100 kilometres through some of South Africa’s most unforgiving mountain terrain. Both demand discipline, resilience and the willingness to keep going long after the initial excitement has worn off.

It is this shared belief in the value of the long game that has brought South African financial platform Fynbos Money and iconic mountain running event SkyRun together, with Fynbos Money becoming the presenting sponsor of SkyRun as the legendary race celebrates its 30th year.

For Fynbos Money, the partnership represents an opportunity to support a uniquely South African event whose philosophy aligns closely with its own approach to helping people build their financial futures. “SkyRun has been going for thirty years, which tells you something about what endurance really looks like. We are a South African company backing a South African race that celebrates the long game. It is the same mindset we believe in when it comes to growing your money,” says Adrian Hope-Bailie, co-founder and CEO of Fynbos Money.

Fynbos is an investment and savings platform built to make growing and managing money simpler for South Africans. Its focus on helping people build towards the future, rather than chasing short-term wins, is a philosophy that feels particularly at home at SkyRun.

SkyRun’s origins date back to New Year’s Eve in 1991, when adventurer John Michael Tawse completed a pioneering traverse of the Witteberg Mountains from Lady Grey to the Wartrail Country Club. The first official SkyRun followed in 1997, with just 15 runners taking on the challenge. Three decades later, SkyRun has become a fixture on the South African ultra-running calendar, attracting experienced mountain runners and first-time adventurers. Yet its essence remains unchanged: a demanding journey through spectacular and unpredictable mountain country, where runners must rely on preparation, judgement and determination.

The 100km SkyRun is renowned for testing far more than physical fitness. Its remote and challenging route requires runners to navigate and largely support themselves, while shorter distances offer others the opportunity to experience the same landscape and spirit of adventure.

For SkyRun race organiser Adrian Saffy, reaching the 30-year milestone is a celebration of the people and values that have sustained the event. “SkyRun has always been about the long game,” says Saffy. “It takes months of preparation to get to that start line, and then on race day it comes down to taking one step, one decision and one challenge at a time. That is what makes this partnership with Fynbos such a natural fit. We share a belief that meaningful things are built over time, through consistency, resilience and a willingness to keep going when the easy option would be to stop.”

For more information, please visit www.skyrun.co.za

adidas unveils fastest-ever trail running shoe

Adnaan MohamedAdvertorial, TrailLeave a Comment on adidas unveils fastest-ever trail running shoe
By Adnaan Mohamed

For runners chasing seconds on the world’s toughest terrain, adidas believes it has found another gear. The global sports brand has unveiled the Agravic Speed Ultra Evo, its fastest trail running shoe to date, combining technology from its record-breaking road racing range with innovations developed specifically for the demands of mountain and ultra-distance racing.

Inspired by the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 3, the Agravic Speed Ultra Evo has been redesigned for uneven terrain, steep climbs and technical descents. At an average weight of only 250g, it is around 5% lighter than the Agravic Speed Ultra 2 while delivering more than 10% greater energy return and a 1% improvement in running economy.

For elite trail athletes, marginal gains often become monumental victories.

The shoe was created during a multi-year development programme involving 13 elite athletes, adidas designers and footwear engineers. Every prototype was tested in laboratories and on demanding race courses to ensure measurable performance translated into real-world confidence.

“Trail running asks so much more of a shoe,” said Korbinian Lehner, Senior Manager Footwear Innovation at adidas.

“Our challenge was finding the balance between speed, stability and confidence, and that’s exactly what the Agravic Speed Ultra Evo was built to deliver.”

Among the standout innovations is a new Dual ENERGYRIM construction, adapted from adidas’ road racing platform. The independent movement of each side of the shoe helps runners adapt to unpredictable terrain while increasing energy return by more than 10% compared to the previous model.

The moulded LIGHTSTRIKE PRO midsole delivers 15% greater deformation, allowing more responsive cushioning without compromising stability. Combined with an optimised rocker geometry and wider landing platform, the shoe is designed to create smoother transitions across rugged terrain.

Completing the package is an engineered woven upper featuring an integrated debris collar and minimal stitching, providing a secure second-skin fit while helping keep stones, sand and trail debris outside where they belong.

As trail running continues its rapid global rise, footwear innovation has become one of the sport’s fiercest battlegrounds. Every gram saved and every stride made more efficient can prove decisive over marathon and ultra-marathon distances.

The adidas Agravic Speed Ultra Evo will be available from 24 August 2026 through adidas, the adidas app and selected retail partners, retailing at €500/$500.

For runners preparing to take on mountains rather than pavements, adidas believes its latest innovation is built to keep speed alive long after the trail begins to bite.