2023 VK OPEN Championships

The third edition of the VK OPEN Championships is ready to take off with 13 races in nine 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 accessory 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

Race points breakdown

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

Position	Points
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

Final race points breakdown

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

Position	Points	Position	Points
1	200	21	72
2	176	22	68
3	156	23	64
4	144	24	60
5	136	25	56
6	132	26	52
7	128	27	48
8	124	28	44
9	120	29	40
10	116	30	36
11	112	31	32
12	108	32	28
13	104	33	24
14	100	34	20
15	94	35	16
16	92	36	12
17	88	37	8
18	84	38	6
19	80	39	4
20	76	40	2

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.