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2025 VK OPEN Championships

The fifth edition of the VK OPEN Championships is ready to take off with eight races in six countries stretching across two continents.

The goal is to promote the VERTICAL discipline and highlight the Vertical Kilometer® defined in the ISF Rules as follows:

2.4.3      VERTICAL KILOMETER® – race falling under the Vertical discipline with 1,000m vertical climb (5% tolerance) and not exceeding 5 km in length. 5% of the total distance must be over 33% incline. Poles, ropes and climbing accessories are allowed. The Vertical Kilometer® is defined at various altitude levels (+/- 200m variable). Example: from 0 – 1,000m, 1,000 – 2,000m, 2,000 – 3,000m. A double or triple Vertical Kilometer® is also recognised.

Race selection

All the VK OPEN races carry the Certified Course Label certifying they conform to ISF parameters.

Participation

The VK OPEN is open to all athletes. No age restrictions are in place, unless race organisers instruct otherwise (due to high altitude or technical terrain).

Points system

Each race will award points to the top 20 male and female finishers according to the following grid:

PositionPoints
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

100
88
78
72
68
66
64
62
60
58
56
54
52
50
48
46
44
42
40
38

Double VKs will award points to the top 20 male and female finishers according to the following grid:

PositionPoints
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

120
105
93
84
81
79
76
74
72
69
67
64
62
60
57
55
52
50
48
45

In the final race, top 40 athletes will score points, according to the following table:

PositionPointsPositionPoints
12002172
21762268
31562364
41442460
51362556
61322652
71282748
81242844
91202940
101163036
111123132
121083228
131043324
141003420
15943516
16923612
1788378
1884386
1980394
2076402

Ranking

The winners of the VK OPEN will be decided by the final ranking. A maximum of three races will be counted for the final ranking: two races plus the final.

Race winners

Races with a mass-start may have only one winner. Eventual ties may be broken based on a photo-finish or other control system. In the event neither of the previous options are resolved, the final decision will be made by the jury. Races that time each runner or have an individual start may have a tie.

Prizes and benefits

Race winners will receive free entry and accommodation at the final. Cash prizes will be awarded to the male and female winners at the final. In case of a tie, the best result at the final will be considered to award the prize money. Athletes eligible for the prize money must have at least two results.

The ISF Rules will prevail in case of dispute.

Calendar

Country: Brazil
Distance: 4.1 km
Vertical climb: 866m
Website

Country: Italy
Distance: 9.5 km
Vertical climb: 2,200m
Website

Country: Andorra
Distance: 5.5 km
Vertical climb: 1,400m
Website

Country: Portugal
Distance: 4.8 km
Vertical climb: 1,003m
Website

Country: Spain
Distance: 8.2 km
Vertical climb: 1,933m
Website

Country: Portugal (Madeira Island)
Distance: 2.9 km
Vertical climb: 1,000m
Website

Country: Italy
Distance: 3.7 km
Vertical climb: 1,000m
Website

Country: Bulgaria
Distance: 4.3 km
Vertical climb: 930m
Website

Ranking