The highest volcano in North America, the Pico de Orizaba in Mexico, will host the Skyrunning North & Central American Championships on October 11, 2025, featuring the SKY discipline.
After a full-on year of Continental and Annual Championships across the world, the final skyrunning event of the year, the North & Central American Championships, will see athletes from Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and the United States battle for titles and the six medals at stake split between the first three men and women.
The Pico de Orizaba, or Citlaltépetl, is an active volcano and the highest mountain in Mexico. The extremely high altitude will create a daunting challenge for skyrunners who will not only battle with the low oxygen pressure levels (between 40-60% less than sea level), but the tough competition at the Reto Vulcano – 40 km long with 2,600m vertical climb, topping out at 4,660m altitude.
Participating for the first time in a Continental Championship is American Joseph Demoor, 2022 VERTICAL World Champion and 2024 runner up. In both Championships he also competed in the SKY discipline, closing sixth – proving his talent is not only on the uphill. He also counts a silver and bronze medal for the COMBINED title, so will no doubt be aiming to add to his collection.
“I’m looking forward to racing in a new place and getting to experience the mountain culture of Mexico. I think the competition will be stout and the course a hard test, especially the altitude – that’s what I’m looking forward to the most. I recently raced again at Pikes Peak here in Colorado and am excited to go even higher in Mexico!” he commented.
After the first successful championship in Costa Rica in 2023, local Steven Hernandez took a silver medal on home ground. “I’m very happy to be once again part of the North & Central American Championships. I look forward to this new challenge in Mexico where I hope to take another medal for my country, why not gold this time! I feel in good shape and for sure I’ll give my all for this to make my country proud.”
In Costa Rica Mexico took home two gold medals thanks to top skyrunning stars, Karina Carsolio and Miguel Angel Perez. Perez will be competing on Saturday, while Carsolio will not be racing, but she will support the runners along the way.
“Citlaltepetl in pre-Hispanic times used to be a venerated volcano. There’re still a lot of ceremonial sites around it, some of which are still used for prayer and ceremonies today,” explained Carsolio.
“For me, running is the closest form I’ve found to leave my offering to the mountains I’m running on. The capacity one has to have to endure discomfort, pain and exhaustion during a skyrunning race is similar to the ways those people carried out their ceremonial acts leaving offerings to Water, Wind, Fire and Earth.
“I find this act not only inspiring, but incredibly humbling. So, for me, it’s a gift that this year, the North and Central Skyrunning Championships will take place in Citlaltepetl, the mountain crowned by the stars.
“As a Latin American, I find it very necessary to continue developing these kinds of events, and to provide the same opportunities for competition in Latin America.
Thanks for hosting this event, and for making it possible for all Latin American people,” she concluded.
More info
Course Certification
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