Skyrunning
Skyrunning is a sport of mountain running up to or exceeding 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) where the minimum average incline is 6% over the total distance and at least 5% has an incline of 30% or more. The climbing difficulty does not exceed II grade UIAA. Poles, crampons and hands may be used to aid progress. 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] In 1993, 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. Giacometti’s term skyrunning, as the name suggests, is where earth and sky meet.
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.[citation needed]
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, SkyUltra, and Vertical.[3] Those are the disciplines contested at the Skyrunning World Championships and Skyrunning Continental Championships. More disciplines are under the ISF regulations:
| Discipline | Distance | Vertical climb (minimum) | Extra info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | 20–49 km | 1,200 m | - |
| SkyUltra | 50–99 km | 3,000 m | under 16 hours finishing time |
| Vertical | max 5 km | 1,000 m | minimum average incline must be 20% and 5% of the total distance must be over 33%; double or triple Vertical are also considered |
| SkySpeed | max 500 m | 100 m | minimum of 33% incline |
| 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, launched in 2004, which has grown to represent the peak of outdoor running defined by vertical climb, altitude and technical difficulty.
Annual cup to promote the Vertical discipline and highlight the Vertical Kilometer® skyrunning discipline.
See also
References
- ^ a b "History". International Skyrunning Federation. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ "Circuit Development Team". Vertical Running. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
- ^ "International Skyrunning Federation Rules". skyrunning.com. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
External links
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| Federations | |
| World championships |
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