Cameron highlands: Celebrating its 10th edition, Cameron Ultra (CULTRA) has attracted 3,600 runners from 33 countries, reaffirming its position as one of the region's premier trail running events and a key contributor to Malaysia's sports tourism sector.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the four-day event, which runs from July 16 to 19, is expected to generate more than RM15 million in economic spillover for Cameron Highlands, benefiting hotels, homestays, restaurants, transport operators, and other local businesses. Organised by BOLT 360 Management Sdn. Bhd. (BOLT) since 2016, this year's edition is officially branded CULTRA Presented by ASICS 2026, with ASICS continuing as the event's title sponsor.

Featuring five race categories, this year's edition comprises MOSSY100 (100 kilometre (km), 4,783 metres (m) of elevation gain), BEREMBUN60 (60km, 2,591m), HABU30 (30km, 1,428m), PAUH14 (14km, 560m) and TANAHRATA4 (4km, 89m). The event also introduces HABU30-Night, a new night race under the HABU30 category, giving runners the opportunity to experience the trails after dark while accommodating growing demand.

BOLT founder and chief finance officer Hazemi Hamidi said demand for this year's event remained strong, with all slots filled within six hours of registration opening. He said Malaysians accounted for 70 per cent of participants, while the remaining 30 per cent were international runners, reflecting CULTRA's growing appeal among the global trail running community.

'This achievement proves that CULTRA, now entering its second decade, remains a meeting ground for trail runners from around the world, while elevating Malaysia's profile on the global trail running stage,' he stated. Hazemi added that the introduction of the new 30km HABU30-Night race was aimed at accommodating growing demand while offering participants a different trail-running experience.

'Participation continues to grow every year, but we have to manage the numbers carefully. The new 30km night race allows more people to experience CULTRA while offering a unique challenge compared with the daytime races,' he explained. Meanwhile, Hazemi noted that CULTRA had grown beyond a trail running race to become a catalyst for Malaysia's sports tourism industry, generating significant economic benefits for Cameron Highlands.

He mentioned that the event was projected to generate more than RM15 million in economic spillover this year, up from RM13 million last year, driven by higher participation and an expected turnout of more than 10,000 visitors over the four-day event. 'Beyond boosting the local economy, this year's event has also created employment opportunities, with 520 people engaged in various aspects of sports event management throughout the event,' he said.

Hazemi emphasized that CULTRA's rise as an internationally recognised trail running event was built on a decade of continuous innovation and steady growth since its inaugural edition in 2016. 'We introduce innovations every year. From using just bamboo poles as the starting and finishing arches in 2016, CULTRA has now grown into a highly anticipated international trail running festival for fans worldwide.

'In our first year, we only had 850 participants, all of whom were local runners. That number steadily increased until we had to cap participation at 2,600 runners annually to ensure track sustainability. For the 10th anniversary, we expanded the capacity after conducting a detailed study to ensure the race routes remain sustainable,' he added.

For this edition, CULTRA offers a total cash prize pool of approximately RM24,000 (USD4,600), with the champion of the main category taking home up to USD1,000.