Skyrunning is for everyone. The Masters Skyrunning World Championships are dedicated to those over 40 – and more – who want to keep competing at top level in the sport they love. The third edition will be hosted this coming weekend on October 3-5, 2025, in Bulgaria, featuring, for the first time, all three skyrunning disciplines – VERTICAL, SKY and SKYULTRA.
The Championships are open with seventy-five medals and world titles at stake.
Balkaniada, the host venue situated in Karlovo at the foot of the Balkans, is ready to welcome official teams from 23 countries.
There are four age categories for every discipline: over 40, over 45, over 50, and over 55.
A new first for Bulgaria. After holding many successful international events including Skyrunner® World Series races, eight Skyrunner® National Series races this year, the Grand Finale of the VK OPEN Championships on October 19, it is the first time a World Championship will be held.
Bulgarian Kiril Nikolov, a top international skyrunner, helped design the new courses for the Skyrunning Masters World Championships – and is homing to take home a medal for his country. ©iancorless.com
World-class skyrunner, local Kiril Nikolov, is one of the race organisers and will also participate in the events which he helped specifically design for the Championships based on his training over many years on the courses for the Skyrunner® World Series races. No doubt he is also aiming to take a medal on home ground. “This championship brings lots of attention to the non-professional mountain runners in Bulgaria and opens the door to many. As for me, I hope I’ll have the strength to run after organising the event over the last few days! he commented.
“Now we added a more technical part on the downhill which I like better. On this course there is something for everyone. You have tough climbs where you have to run fast, you have traverses, and technical downhills, so I hope we’ll see a great battles for the medals!”
Three new courses, three disciplines, three days of action:
• October 3, 2025 – Balkaniada Vertical – VERTICAL – 5.2 km long with 1,110m vertical climb
• October 4, 2025 – Balkaniada SkyUltra – SKYULTRA – 59 km long with 4,000m vertical climb
• October 5, 2025 – Balkaniada Sky – SKY – 33 km long with 2,400m vertical climb
Race organiser Dimitar Zhelyazkov commented, “We are truly delighted by the strong interest in this year’s edition of the race. What makes us even prouder is the fact that our event will host the third edition of the Masters Skyrunning World Championships.”
“Bulgaria is a remarkable country, blessed with outstanding natural beauty. We are thrilled to see athletes from distant destinations such as Bolivia, Chile, Brazil, Venezuela and Australia on the start list. We can’t wait to showcase both the stunning landscapes of our region and the challenging courses we have prepared.”
David Byrne, President of Skyrunning Australia and New Zealand, added, “The Australian team is really excited to be taking part in a world class event competing with people in the same age category. The location is spectacular, and the course will test both their physical and mental preparation. We hope to compete amongst the best age group skyrunners in the world to showcase our passion for this incredible sport!”
The 23 Official National Teams participating are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Venezuela.
From Spain, Nuria Dominquez who took a silver in the 2023 Masters SkyUltra, stated, “I’m always happy and motivated to take part in an event like this. The Masters World Championship is a key international fixture, and I’m excited to discover the course. The organisers have worked with great care and I’m sure it will be a memorable event with many runners, plenty of skyrunning passion, and a fantastic show.”
In the 2024 Skyrunning Masters World Championships, host country Portugal came out on top in the country ranking, followed by Brazil and Japan.
Competing this year, past Masters World Championship medallists to look out for are:
A big line up from Portugal with gold medallists Americo Caldeira SKY O45 and Elio Aveiro SKYO50; silver medallists, Maria Abreu SKYULTRA O45, Ana Sousa SKY O40, and Cidalia Marins SKY O55; bronze medallists Estela Martinho SKYULTRA O40 and Marcolino Verissimo SKY O50.
2024 gold medallists
Sofia Beizel SKYULTRA O40 and Evgenya Leonova O45 (AIN)
Emoke Paal SKYULTRA O50 and Ildiko Wermescher SKYULTRA O55 (HUN)
Anna Strakova (CZE) SKY O50
Yuya Okada (JPN) SKYULTRA O45
Markus Stock (AUT) SKY O55
2024 silver medallists:
Jasieli Rosa (BRA) SKYULTRA O40
Petre Dragomir (ROU) SKY O55
Ann Andries (BEL) SKYULTRA O50
2024 bronze medallist
Vladimir Fabus (SVK) SKYULTRA O55
2023 silver medallists:
Luca Arrigoni (ITA) SKYULTRA O40
Nuria Dominguez (ESP) SKYULTRA O48
The Balkaniada Sky Race events, for the fifth time round, explore the Central Balkan National Park, featuring rugged terrain, deep gorges, and alpine meadows – a stunning natural reserve known for its diverse ecosystems and biodiversity. The town of Karlovo, the event hub, is known for its rich history and cultural heritage, a centre for trade and agriculture, famed for the production of rose oil, a key component in the fragrance industry.
Over-forties skyrunners have a lot to look forward to this weekend, starting with three spectacular made-to measure courses, hot competition from 23 countries and the battle for the 75 medals and world titles.
Skyrunning is in nature, and it looks like the forecast for the weekend may create some course changes which of course we will all adapt to – with the perfume of roses along the way.
