MOHAMMAD SHAMSUZZAMAN ARAFAT

International Athlete
Dhaka, Bangladesh

I am Mohammad Shamsuzzaman Arafat, a passionate endurance sportsperson from Bangladesh. I love running, cycling, swimming, and mountaineering. I am working at Bangladesh Bank. In university, I used to run as a part of my morning hobby. I started my extreme sports journey in 2015 with a 16.1-kilometer open-water swim in the Bay of Bengal to reach Saint Martin’s Island from the mainland. After swimming the Bangla Channel several years consecutively, I found that the sea level was rising due to climate change, and I experienced the adverse effects. Our island is going underwater, and I started talk about the effects of climate change through my swim. 

I ran 1,004 kilometers across Bangladesh from the southern point at Teknaf to the northern end at Tetulia in 20 consecutive days, averaging 50 kilometers a day, to raise awareness for good health and well-being. 

I did my first Ironman at Ironman Malaysia in 12 hours and 43 minutes. In 2019, I started trying to break my personal best records in Ironman races in Germany and Malaysia. In 2019, I also ran the SRT Ultra 52k in Pune, India. In 2021, I raced the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Utah, USA, and finished as the first Bangladeshi. In 2022, I placed second in my age group at Ironman Malaysia and 10th overall in 10 hours and 31 minutes, which qualified me for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. I finished the Ironman World Championships as the first Bangladeshi.

In 2023, I raced HimlayanXtri in Pokhara, Nepal, where the off-road run is on the Annapurna Basecamp route. Until now, I have run a 1,000-kilometer ultra and finished seven Ironman races, six Xtreme triathlons, and six half Ironmans. I have swam across the Bangla Channel 10 times and finished many marathons and ultramarathons. My best time in a marathon is 2 hours and 51 minutes in the Berlin Marathon. My best Ironman time is 10 hours and 31 minutes at Ironman Malaysia. 

The Snowman Race is an extremely tough race, and I feel a different challenge to cross my limit one more time. I believe the human spirit is indomitable, and I think it’s a perfect race to test my limits. I will be happy to accept this challenge. The race is for climate action, and I was working for climate awareness through sea level rise with my swim across the Bangla Channel. This will be another opportunity to encourage 160 million people to run for good health and wellness. I love trails and mountains, but due to the geographical location of Bangladesh, I don’t get many chances to run on them. I am highly excited to run the ultimate extreme race, “Snowman.”

ROSANNA BUCHAUER

International Athlete
Inzell, Germany

Rosanna Buchauer is a dedicated German athlete and keynote speaker residing in the Tyrolean Alps of Austria, where the mountains are her home. Witnessing the impact of climate change on these cherished landscapes is deeply troubling for her. Rosanna faces many contradictions in her personal and professional life as she strives to balance living life to the fullest while taking meaningful action against environmental degradation. With a career in innovation, she believes that change is underway and emphasizes the importance of making careful choices every day. For her, it’s crucial to act in areas where change is possible daily and to find ways to reduce the difficulty of harder choices. 

As a runner, Rosanna has focused on ultra races in recent years, achieving notable results, including winning the Eiger Ultra Trail, Madeira Island Ultra-Trail, and Großglockner Ultra Trail 50-kilometer races. She also placed strongly in prestigious competitions, finishing fifth in both the long race at the Trail World Championships and CCC at the UTMB. Rosanna is drawn to the mental challenge that ultra races present, and she eagerly anticipates what may be her greatest mental challenge yet: racing five stages in the high mountains of Bhutan.

PASCAL EGLI

International Athlete
Trondheim, Norway

Pascal Egli is an Environmental Engineer from ETH Zurich with a Ph.D. in Glaciology from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. He has been an Associate Professor in Geography at NTNU Trondheim, Norway, since 2023, where he is leading research projects on glaciers and on climate resilience, teaching courses, supervising students, as well as leading fieldwork expeditions on glaciers in Norway and abroad. 

Pascal has been an environmental activist since high-school times. As an ambassador for Protect Our Winters Switzerland and a scientific advisor for the Sustainable Mountain Alliance, he communicates about vanishing glaciers and climate change. It is not always easy for him to reconcile his environmental values with his active lifestyle. His personal contributions have been to remain car-free until the age of 30, currently drive an electric car, eat mostly vegetarian, invest in sustainable companies and live as energy-efficient as possible in daily life. 

At 36 years old, Pascal has been a mountain runner and ski mountaineer for 20 years. He was the winner of the Skyrunner World Series in 2018 and became second at the World Long Distance Mountain Running Championships in 2017. Pascal ran podiums and wins at vertical races and trail races in Europe, in Asia, in South America and in North America. In mountaineering he has completed speed ascents of 4000 m to 6000 m peaks in the Alps, the Andes, the Himalayas, the Caucasus and the Karakoram. 

CLARE GALLAGHER

International Athlete
Colorado, USA

Clare Gallagher is an ultrarunner, ecologist, and writer living in Boulder, Colorado. She’s won many major ultras including Western States 100, Leadville 100, CCC 100k (UTMB series), and Black Canyon 100k. As an ecologist, she’s working towards a Ph.D. in marine conservation at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She has represented the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research in negotiations for Southern Ocean marine protected areas and is studying the ongoing United Nations negotiations for a global treaty to end plastic pollution. Throughout her career, she’s been a vocal environmentalist. She co-founded the trail running arm of the climate advocacy organization Protect Our Winters and lobbied for policies that protect land, water, and air. She’s a proud ambassador for Patagonia and La Sportiva.

Clare’s grandfather, Pops, traveled to Bhutan over 20 years ago to trek with his best friend. Clare has read Pops’ journal from that trip many times and looks forward to trading stories with Pops — who’s 93 and still lives in Colorado — upon her return. She is honored to be a part of this race in this special country and motivated to leverage her experience to protect our home planet.

KELLY HALPIN

International Athlete
Wyoming, USA

Kelly Halpin is a professional mountain ultrarunner and adventure athlete. She spent her earlier years climbing, hiking, riding, and snowboarding in the Teton Mountains of Wyoming and the surrounding wilderness. For the past decade, Kelly has merged her passions for running, climbing, and exploring remote and wild places by setting fastest known times around the world and establishing long technical routes in her home mountain ranges. She enjoys the challenge of pushing herself mentally through difficult endurance feats, typically solo and unsupported. In addition to being an athlete, Kelly works as an illustrator and children’s book author to inspire adults and children alike to get outside and connect with the natural world. Kelly is a firm believer in education and the preservation of the environment. 

Top recent achievements: 

• Voted women’s first place for Fastest Known Time of the Year in 2021 for her solo unsupported FKT of the Wind River High Route 
• Unsupported FKT of Gannet Peak (Wyoming’s high point) in 2021
• Overall unsupported FKT of the Wasatch Ultimate Ridge Linkup in 2022 
• Overall unsupported FKT of the Teton Bullseye in 2022 
• Overall winner of the 24-hour Running Up for Air — Grandeur Peak race in 2024 
• Participated in the Barkley Marathons in 2024 
• Established the Teton Center Punch, Cache Dash Traverse, Little Belly Linkup, Teton Uppercut, and Gros Ventre High Route in the Teton and Gros Ventre ranges

LEKI

National Athlete
Laya, Bhutan

Leki, a 31-year-old athlete from Laya, Gasa, Bhutan, is set to take on the Snowman Race 2024! Leki holds a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education from Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India. He further honed his expertise as a fitness specialist and personal trainer at Manav Rachana International University, Delhi. With a rich background that includes working as a personal trainer in Thimphu, teaching, hiking, cooking, and farming, Leki brings a diverse set of experiences to the race.

Leki’s journey to the Snowman Race began with his active participation in the Highlanders Selection in Laya. He has a remarkable track record in athletics, including securing third position during the 31st Batch of De-suung integrated training and being a certified participant in various runs during his school and college days.

As a certified fitness specialist, Leki is deeply committed to promoting individual health and physical fitness. However, his participation in the Snowman Race is not just about achieving a top position; it is about making a statement. Leki believes that this race is a powerful platform to highlight the urgent issue of climate change. He recognizes the impact of climate change and emphasizes the need for collective action, starting with small steps.

TSHERING LHAMO

National Athlete
Bhutan

Tshering Lhamo from Lhuentse, Bhutan, who completed her high school education and joined De-suung, contributed significantly to the water project in Lhuntse. Tshering has always been passionate about running. From a young age, she participated in every marathon held at her school, and her achievements during those times motivated her to pursue running further.

Although she initially had doubts about being selected for national-level events, it was a monumental moment in her life when she succeeded. Tshering is incredibly excited to be part of the Snowman Race, the toughest race for all competitors. She first showcased her abilities on a national level in a recent race in Paro, where she secured second and third places on two occasions: the Thunder Dragon Marathon on May 26, 2024, and the Coronation Marathon on June 2, 2024. She also achieved first place in the women’s category in the race from Thimphu to Paro, following the Trans Bhutan Trail route.

Tshering shared that the Snowman Race is the toughest race in the world. Although unsure if she can win, she is truly determined to give her best effort and make every supporter proud. Though she had only heard about it on television, she is grateful for the opportunity to participate.

Tshering feels honored to be a part of this significant event. She acknowledges that her participation is not merely because of her wish and capability but also due to the guidance and support of many loving heads and mates.

CODY LIND

International Athlete
Idaho, USA

My name is Cody Lind, and I’m based in the heart of the mountains in central Idaho. I’ve been a professional endurance athlete for SCOTT Running for the last 10 years. I grew up with a deep family history in ultrarunning and specifically with the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. I’m an endurance coach and the owner and founder of GOAT Adventures. GOAT Adventures is a coaching and licensed running guide and outfitting business. 

I studied geology and environmental science at Idaho State University. During my time in college, I gained a deeper connection to our surrounding environment through classroom knowledge and had the opportunity to run in pristine places throughout the world. My experience with remote places through running, education, and my upbringing has really grabbed my attention on how best to protect them.

Here are a few running highlights from the last few years:

• 2024 Costa Rica Coastal Challenge – 1st place overall 
• 2021 Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run – 4th Place Overall
• 2022 Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run – 9th Place Overall 
• 2023 Vallhol Argentina By UTMB – 1st Place Overall 
• 2018 Run the Rut 50K Skyrace – 1st Place Overall 
• 2020 The Coastal Challenge 6-Day Stage Race Costa Rica – 1st Place Overall 
• 2020 Superior Hiking Trail (310 miles) FKT 
• 2018 Idaho 12ers FKT

SIMON MTUY

International Athlete
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Simon Peter Mtuy was born and raised on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. He is the founder and director of Summit Expeditions and Nomadic Experience (SENE), an adventure tour operator offering Kilimanjaro climbs, wildlife safaris, Zanzibar extensions, and multi-day biking, running, and walking experiences in Tanzania. Simon was one of the youngest people to earn his Kilimanjaro guide license. A tireless advocate of the environment, Simon promotes Leave No Trace environmental ethics on the mountain, observes permaculture practices on his organic farms, and has had a long-standing tree planting initiative as part of the annual eight-day Kilimanjaro Stage Run (270km) that he is the race director for. Simon is an accomplished ultra-distance runner with 10 sub-24-hour finishes in the prestigious 100-mile Western States Endurance Run among his many races. He also holds the Guinness Book of World Records time for the fastest unsupported round-trip ascent and descent of Kilimanjaro. He finished the 2022 Snowman Race. Simon lives in the foothills of Kilimanjaro with his wife and two sons. 

LUKE NELSON

International Athlete
Idaho, USA

My entire life, I have been drawn to the mountains. In wild places, my soul shines and my heart sings. I constantly seek to be out there in all aspects of my life, from the professional to personal. Over the years, I have found many different ways to connect with wild places. 

A healthy dose of reckless optimism and a love of challenge have led me to unwaveringly seek to fill life completely. I am married to my beautiful partner, Tanae; a father to three amazing kids — Brynlee, Chloe, and Anders; a professional trail and ultramarathon runner, a Patagonia ambassador; the owner of Alpine Endurance Medicine; the race director of Scout Mountain Ultras; a backcountry search and rescue team leader; a snow safety professional; a ski patroller; and a physician assistant.

Athletically, trail running is the method that I find most appealing as a way to experience the world and challenge my body. Professionally, I am fascinated by wilderness medicine and all the ways it overlaps with movement through austere environments. Personally, my experience as an athlete and medical professional has informed my perspective of the importance of a healthy planet and led me to work as an activist for wild places. These all weave together to form the complex cacophony of work and love that is my life. 

Experiencing the planet through the connection of my own two feet, I have witnessed the impacts of humans on our home planet. The contrast between civilization and untouched wilderness has shaped my view and motivated me to work not only to protect wild places and raise my voice about our relationship to the earth but also to seek meaningful experiences to inspire others to seek connection and take action for our home. We are nature; it is not separate from us. I am actively involved with the work of climate organizations and am especially committed to the efforts of Protect Our Winters. I have done activism work with Patagonia, Zeal, Idaho Conservation League, Save Our Salmon, and others. In 2022, I participated in the Snowman Race and found it incredibly inspiring as an act of activism and athleticism and hope to expand that reach and impact with the 2024 edition of the event.

KAORI NIWA

International Athlete
Kyoto, Japan

I am a trail runner who loves ultra distances and a tough course profile. Salomon has been my main sponsor since January of 2015. I started trail running in 2012 and became a professional runner in 2017. I placed eighth at UTMB in 2016 and fourth in 2017. So far, I’m the only Japanese female runner who has been on the podium of UTMB. I also enjoy climbing and backcountry skiing. I ran the Everest 135 Mile in May this year, which went to an elevation of 5,500 meters.  

TASHI NORBU

National Athlete
Gomdar Village, Bhutan

Tashi Norbu is a 42-year-old native of Gomdar Village, Samdrup Jongkhar District, Bhutan.

Mr. Tashi Norbu’s passion for athletics began in 2016 during a winter camp in Punakha Dzongkhag. In 2017, he participated in the seventh Coronation Marathon in Paro Dzongkhag, finishing in fifth place in the full marathon. Inspired by this achievement, Mr. Tashi continued his athletic journey, earning two gold, two silver, and three bronze medals from various marathon competitions across Bhutan.

During the Snowman Race selection, Mr. Tashi secured first place in the men’s category, running from Upper Motithang in Thimphu to Paro Ta Dzong, covering 35.8 kilometers. This accomplishment has fueled his determination to engage in similar events and advocate for climate action. He strongly believes the Snowman Race is more than just a sporting event — it is a platform to raise awareness about climate change and promote environmental conservation.

Mr. Tashi extends his heartfelt gratitude to the organizers of the Snowman Race for hosting such a significant and challenging event in Bhutan.

SANGAY WANGCHUK

National Athlete
Gipsa, Bhutan

Sangay, the unstoppable force from Dagana, Bhutan, is one of the seven qualified athletes from Bhutan who will be participating in the Snowman Race 2024!

Mr. Wangchuk, a 41-year-old native of Gipsa, Dagana, has dedicated 22 years to service, including over a decade as a Physical Training Instructor (PTI). Currently, he continues to impart his expertise as a PTI for the Accelerated Desuung Trainees (ADT).

Mr. Wangchuk’s journey in athletics began in his school days in Dagana and flourished as he excelled in inter-company cross-country marathons, earning recognition as a national athlete by the Bhutan Olympic Committee in 2008 after winning a silver medal in the Centenary Coronation Marathon in Thimphu.

In 2009, following his triumph in the second edition of the Coronation Marathon, he represented Bhutan at the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) World Championship in Berlin. His international presence continued with participation in the 2011 IAAF World Championships in South Korea and the 2012 IAAF World Half-Marathon Championships in Bulgaria. These experiences have significantly contributed to his development as a long-distance runner.

Mr. Wangchuk’s remarkable achievements include placing in the top seven at the 2015 Ulaanbaatar Marathon in Mongolia. Domestically, he has accumulated an impressive 21 gold and four silver medals from various marathon competitions across Bhutan. In 2016, he represented Bhutan in the SAG Marathon in Guwahati, India, and won the inaugural Laya Run, an ultra-marathon trail event held during the Royal Highland Festival in Laya, Bhutan. This victory sparked his interest in ultra-marathons and led to his selection for the 2017 Osaka Marathon in Japan.

His accolades further include a gold medal in the 2019 Snowman Calibration Run and a silver medal in the first edition of the Snowman Race in 2022. With renewed vigor, Mr. Wangchuk is eagerly preparing for this year’s edition of this challenging race.

KARMA YANGDEN

National Athlete
Laya, Bhutan

A local celebrity from Laya, Karma is not only a Bhutanese yak herder and cordyceps collector but also the reigning women’s champion of the 2022 Snowman Race. In the first edition of the Snowman Race, Karma completed the grueling 200-kilometer (125-mile) course in an impressive 48 hours, securing first place in the women’s category.

Karma’s journey into running began about seven years ago when she first participated in the Laya Run during the Royal Highland Festival, where she finished first in 2016 and second the following year. Her determination and spirit have also led her to victory in the Women’s Race for Climate Action in 2021.

Karma’s strength and resilience are further underscored by the challenges she has faced, including the loss of relatives in a climate-change disaster that struck her village less than two years ago. We are honored to welcome Karma Yangden back to the Snowman Race with her extraordinary talent and perseverance in action once again.