It’s time for the 2025 Youth Skyrunning World Championships and for a new generation of skyrunners to take a shot at the medals and share the international stage with some hot competition coming from 30 countries across five continents.
The historic venue in Gran Sasso, Aquila, Italy will play host to the ninth edition of the championships on August 1-3, 2025.
Two skyrunning disciplines: VERTICAL and SKY represent the challenge for the four categories of athletes aged 15-23 who will battle for the 75 medals and individual and combined titles.
August 1 – VERTICAL – 3.8 km long with 1,033m vertical climb
August 3 – SKY – 23 km long with 2,226m vertical climb
August 3 – SKY YOUTH A & B – 9 km long with 850m vertical climb
Host country Italy, and Spain, are of course among the favourites together with Norway, all present with full 18-member teams.
Katrine Villumsen, President, Nordic Skyrunning Federation, had this to say: “In 2025, the Norwegian Youth Team consists of eight women and ten men. We have consistently focused on creating a high-performance environment where care and safety are always present. The Team values are trust, respect, and friendship.
Our work emphasizes understanding both the mental and physical aspects of the transition from girl to woman and from boy to man – key to success in élite sport.
“A few years ago, many of our runners came from major sports such as orienteering and cross-country skiing. Today however, we see athletes choosing skyrunning as their main sport. Clubs across the country now have skyrunning teams and organize races. We launched the world’s first U20 Skyrunning Series several years ago, which fuelled both youth talent and interest in the sport. The youth team selection race has become a major celebration — a true skyrunning party — where the young winners are honoured, and all attention is focused on them.”
The events will kick off with the VERTICAL on Friday, August 1. A course 3.5 km long with 1,000m vertical climb pushing the legs, lungs and limits of the athletes – many at their first attempt in a true Vertical Kilometer®.
After a rest day on Saturday where teams will parade with their country flags, on Sunday the young runners will test their strength with the SKY discipline. According to their age category, athletes will participate on different courses. Youth C & U23 will run the full Gran Sasso SkyRace® — 23 km long with 2,226m vertical climb topping out at 2,533m altitude — while the youngest categories will run only the first section – 9 km with 850m vertical climb.
Looking forward to competing again in the World Championships, Italy’s Enrico Rota Martir, younger brother of top skyrunner Lorenzo Rota Martir, commented, “It’s an honour for me to represent our nation at an international event, especially as it’s taking place in Italy. It looks like a true skyrunning race, tough and technical.
“Taking the baton from my brother is something that really motivates me. He performed well here in the past, so I try to follow his example — but with my own mind and goals. I can’t wait to put myself to the test because competing here also gives me the chance to meet young people from all over the world and learn from them.”
Other large teams include Brazil, Great Britain, Croatia, Japan and USA. New ISF member Honduras will participate for the first time.
Rafael Aquino Leal, President of Brazil Skyrunning declared, “The strength of our youth team grows every year, a direct reflection of our well-established National Championships, celebrating their third edition in 2025. This year, we are bringing a team with a perfect balance between eight new stars and seven experienced athletes. For the first time, we’ve had a six-month preparation cycle entirely dedicated to this event, which means our team arrives more prepared and focused than ever to compete on the world stage.”
From Japan, twins Rina and Yuna Ogake, now 15 years old, are back for more after conquering no less than four medals in last year’s championships in Montenegro — their first attempt at skyrunning while still only 14 (being born in November). “The appeal of skyrunning is the beautiful scenery. Last year I won the SKY and combined title, but this year I broke my leg so I haven’t been able to train much, but I’ll do my best and give it my all!” said Yuna Ogake, while her sister, Rina, commented, “The sense of accomplishment when I reach the finish line and the joy of beating my rival are some of the attractions of skyrunning. I wasn’t able to win the gold medal last year, so this year that’s my goal!”
Dai Matsumoto, President of Japan Skyrunning, concluded: “The Youth World Championships represent a rare opportunity for young people from different countries and cultures to interact on the same stage. Let’s all share the spirit of challenge to reach the sky!”
238 athletes from 30 countries will battle for the 75 medals at stake. Individual, combined, and national titles will also be awarded.
Countries participating:
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czechia, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, Slovakia, Sweden, United Kingdom, USA.
Located in the Apennines, the second highest mountain chain after the Alps in Italy, Gran Sasso was the birthplace of the Youth Skyrunning World Championships in 2016, this time celebrating the sixth time as host venue with its steep ascents, technical courses and breathtaking scenery. The Gran Sasso National Park, one of the largest protected areas in Europe, is known for its biodiversity, and home to wolves, chamois, brown bears, deer and wildcats.
“The organisers and the Gran Sasso Mountain Region are honoured to welcome young skyrunners from around the world once again,” stated race organiser, Cristiano Carpente. “The idea of the race, since 2013, has grown over the years to become what we’ll witness this coming weekend: 30 national teams competing for the Youth World Championships titles and medals.”
The events are sanctioned by the ISF and will be overseen by international referees. As usual, WADA anti-doping tests will be carried out, a fundamental element of skyrunning championships since 1998.
Concomitant with the Youth Skyrunning World Championships, the ISF Annual General Assembly will be held on August 2 at the National Park Headquarters where President, Marino Giacometti, the Board and Management Committee will meet with members from across the world to share their passion and celebrate the continued growth of this unique sport. “Less cloud. More sky”.
