Skyrunning
Skyrunning is a sport of mountain running above 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) where the incline exceeds 30% and the climbing difficulty does not exceed II grade. The governing body is the International Skyrunning Federation. The sport comprises a number of different disciplines from the short, steep Vertical Kilometer to the more popular SkyRace and SkyMarathon. Ultra SkyMarathons are becoming increasingly popular as are short vertical SkySpeed races which include skyscraper racing.
History
The idea of skyrunning came from Italian mountaineer Marino Giacometti and a handful of fellow climbers. They pioneered races on Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa in the early 1990s.[1] Just months later, with the support of the Fila sportswear company, skyrunning took off across the world's mountain ranges reaching from the Alps to the Himalayas, to Mount Kenya and the Mexican volcanoes.
In 1995, the Federation for Sport at Altitude was founded to address the need for rules to govern the sport and generally manage this fast-growing discipline, which today counts some 200 races worldwide with around 50,000 participants from 65 countries.[1]
The FSA was responsible for an ongoing scientific research project, probably the only studies of their kind on athletes at altitude and in the laboratory.
International Skyrunning Federation
Today, the sport is managed by the International Skyrunning Federation, formed in 2008 by the board and members of the FSA and founding nations. The principal aims of the ISF are the direction, regulation, promotion, development and furtherance of skyrunning and similar multisport activities on a worldwide basis. ISF sanctions the Skyrunner World Series.[2]
Skyrunning disciplines
The three main disciplines are Sky, Ultra, and Vertical.[3] Those are the disciplines contested at the Skyrunning World Championships and Skyrunning Continental Championships. More disciplines are under the ISF regulations:
| Race | Distance | Vertical climb (minimum) | Extra info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | 20–49 km | 1,300 m | - |
| Ultra | 50–99 km | 3,200 m | under 16 hours finishing time |
| Vertical | max 5 km | 1,000 m | double or triple Vertical are also considered |
| SkySpeed | max 500 m | 100 m | - |
| Stair Climbing | - | 100 m | races with an incline over 45% on stairs indoors or outdoors |
Skyrunning competitions
Annual world championship.
Annual European championship.
Annual world cup, such as the alpine skiing world cup, reviews multiple races in the various disciplines and awards both cups of skill and an overall cup.
References
- "History". International Skyrunning Federation. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
- "Circuit Development Team". Vertical Running. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
- "International Skyrunning Federation Rules". skyrunning.com. Retrieved 4 November 2017.