Sports
Depa's Career and Trail Running Projects
Renowned global announcer shares his passion for mountains, Revista Trail Run, and the Ribera Run race.
An iconic voice at the world's premier trail running events, José Antonio de Pablo, known as Depa, shared his sporting origins on Stemma Na Trilha. The announcer reflected on his transition to mountain running, his leadership at Revista Trail Run, and directing the Ribera Run.
An iconic voice at premier global trail running events such as UTMB, José Antonio de Pablo—known worldwide as Depa—has built his life around a passion for mountains and sports. During an appearance on Stemma Na Trilha with Sidney Togumi, the communicator recalled his athletic roots and how he turned that enthusiasm into editorial projects and events that connect the trail running community.
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From an athletic foundation to early mountain ultras
Depa's relationship with physical activity began early, around age 12, playing handball and competing in community road races across Spain. His connection with mountaineering followed shortly after at age 13, exploring ranges such as the Picos de Europa, Pyrenees, and Sierra Nevada. This background laid the foundation for discovering trail running in the late 1990s.
His debut in official mountain races came in 2001 at the traditional Marató i Mitja de Penyagolosa, a 63 km event. Since then, immersing himself in trail culture became more than a hobby—it became a lifestyle and a continuous learning journey, forging bonds with athletes and organizers in numerous countries.
Revista Trail Run and racing through vineyards
With over two decades in sports media, Depa serves as the director of Revista Trail Run, a Spanish print magazine that has been published for 12 years. Among the magazine's editorial milestones is the historic cover of issue 11, featuring Kilian Jornet photographed by Emelie Forsberg.
Beyond sports media and announcing at major arenas, Depa also organizes races alongside Teresa Sánchez ("Tele"), his co-host during UTMB broadcasts. The duo directs the Ribera Run, a festive race held in Spain's Ribera del Duero region in Valladolid. The course traverses premier wineries where participants sample local wines and cuisine, drawing 1,000 runners with entries typically selling out in just five minutes.
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