Announcing the welcome return of skyrunning in the USA with a four-race Merrell Skyrunner® USA Series alongside a US stage on the Merrell Skyrunner® World Series – already announced in December.
The four races stretch right across America, from the South East to the North West – from New York to Alaska – showcasing pure skyrunning, certified by the International Skyrunning Federation which manages the Skyrunner® National Series worldwide. The distances vary from 21 km to 37 km with vertical climbs from 1,350m to a lung busting 3,500m.
Here’s the line-up:
4 July – Whiteface SkyRace® – 21 km / 2,400m vertical – Wilmington, NY
1 August – Beast of Big Creek – 23 km / 1,600m vertical climb – Washington
30 August – Skeetawk Skyline Scramble – 37 km /3,500m – Alaska
13 September – Kismet Cliff Run – 21 km / 1,350m – New Hampshire
Further strengthening the US skyrunning presence, the Whiteface Races also include the Whiteface VK, a Vertical Kilometer® race on the 2026 VK OPEN World Cup.
The Beast of Big Creek will additionally serve as the only US stop on the Merrell Skyrunner® World Series, the official 19-race circuit across four continents.
Designed specifically for the Merrell Skyrunner® USA Series, the Skeetawk Skyline Scramble in Alaska stands out as the most technical, with a 1+ Technical Level grade on the ISF Course Certification.
Approximately ten countries are scheduled to host a 2026 Skyrunner® National Series. Currently Austria, Portugal, Spain, UK & Ireland and now, USA, joins the list. The other countries will be announced shortly.
The top three men and women in the final US Series ranking will qualify for the SkyMasters, the final on the Merrell Skyrunner® World Series calendar. All race participants will be included in the overall ISF Ranking.
Pure skyrunning is back on US soil. “Back in the USA” by Chuck Berry. Pure rock and roll – the perfect soundtrack to accompany the runners in their races.
