Sinister Sports, Canada’s leading endurance race organizer, is set to make its mark in Ontario with two new events in 2025: the SOO 200 and the Blue Bully Ultra. Known for pushing athletes to their limits at races such as Sinister 7 and the Canadian Death Race, these ultra races promise to deliver the brand’s signature challenges while showcasing Ontario’s diverse landscapes.
SOO 200: Next-Level Sinister Sports
Scheduled for July 21-25, 2025, the SOO 200 will be Canada’s second-ever 200-mile race. Participants will tackle the rugged Canadian Shield and Lake Superior’s coastal terrain, starting with a ride on the Agawa Canyon Tour Train before embarking on the multi-day journey. Racers will finish at the Bush Plane Museum in Sault Ste. Marie, where pre-race festivities will also take place.
“The SOO 200 is a next-level challenge; it’s the type of race that will attract the grittiest, most determined athletes,” says Brian Gallant, owner and director of Sinister Sports. “We don’t just look at runners for this race, and we think it is perfectly suited to serious through-hikers as well. The challenge of a 200-miler is beyond anything most people have experienced. It’s going to be tough, because that’s what we always offer, but I also see it as a bridge to The Divide 200, which many people say is the toughest 200-miler they have done.”
The route, still under final review, aims to highlight the area’s stunning wilderness and diverse terrain.
“You have to pick the things you want to include, then find ways to link it, all while maintaining your 200-mile criteria,” Gallant says. “I am champing at the bit to release the courses, but I want to get the nod from a few more stakeholders first. Especially with the SOO 200, we are crossing multiple jurisdictions, as well as private land, so we need to be respectful of that.”
Blue Bully Ultra: A Trail Running Festival
From October 3-5, 2025, the Blue Bully Ultra will bring a festival atmosphere to Blue Mountain Resort. Over three days, runners can participate in a short evening climb, a 50-km ultra race, and a half-marathon. Participants can compete across all three events to vie for the title of “King or Queen of the Hill.”
“We really saw this as an opportunity to have a festival-like event,” says Gallant. “Blue Mountain Resort has the perfect facilities for this type of event, and it perfectly fit our stage race concept.”
Gallant adds that the Saturday festivities will be a highlight: “Every night will have some activities, but we’re planning some big festivities for the Saturday of the event, so we can all celebrate together.”
The course will make use of segments of the Bruce Trail, with the event supporting the Bruce Trail Conservancy.
Why Sinister Sports in Ontario?
After years of exploring potential locations, Northern Ontario stood out for its access to vast wilderness, making it ideal for the SOO 200. Gallant credits a tip from an old friend, a former location scout for Mantracker, who pointed him to Sault Ste. Marie: “I asked, ‘If you were going to do a 200-mile race, where would you host it?’ He replied that he would do it right there in Sault Ste. Marie.”
For the Blue Bully Ultra, the amenities and welcoming community at Blue Mountain Resort made it an easy choice. “More than anything, we look for welcoming communities and venues,” Gallant explains. “Everyone we talk with in the Soo is bouncing with excitement over the 200-miler, and that goes a long way to making an event successful. The crew at Blue Mountain have been so helpful and accommodating with everything; we truly feel welcome and it is going to be a great home for Blue Bully.”
As Sinister Sports prepares for early registration in January, Gallant is confident these new races will continue the company’s tradition of excellence: “It’s about sharing what Canada does best, and that is friendly people, hospitality, and memorable wilderness experiences.”
Lead photo courtesy Sinister Sports.
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