Five years on and the VK OPEN Championships – for those who like it fast and steep – are going strong with eight races in six countries lined up for 2025.
The season kicks off in Brazil with the Base Vertical on January 24, 2025, the only South American stage where athletes have the chance to qualify for the Grand Finale, this year hosted in Bulgaria.
The rest of the calendar stretches across Europe from May to October and includes two Double Vertical Kilometers – the return of Italy’s Monte Zerbion Vertical and the 2KV Collarada in Spain, the highest race on the circuit topping out at 2,886m altitude. An extra 20% points are awarded at the double VKs.
The Casamanya Extrem Vertical Race in Andorra, with its 5.5 km and 1,400m vertical climb, is certified as a Technical Level 2 race for those looking for double trouble and an even more demanding challenge.
Portugal will host two races, with the great return of the Santana VK and the KM Vertical de Câmara de Lobos again on the calendar.
Back to Italy, birthplace of the discipline where the Vertical Kilometer® was invented, a new entry joins the circuit – the Adamello Vertical Kilometer® – just 3.7 km long with 1,000m vertical climb.
The VK OPEN Championships ranking awards points to the first 20 male and female finishers in each race. The VK OPEN Champions will be decided at the Grand Finale based on the two best scores plus double points in the final.
The Grand Finale will be held in Bulgaria at the Vertical Ruy on October 18 where the battle for the 2025 VK OPEN Champion titles will be decided and trophies assigned. The top three men and women will be awarded cash prizes.
“The Tran Tourist Association and organiser of the Vertical Ruy is pleased to host the 2025 VK OPEN Championships Grand Finale and to welcome athletes and supporters to this wild, natural area which attracts mountaineers, rock climbers, hikers and bikers,” commented Ruslan Zarev, race director. “Just 90 km from Sofia International Airport, it is an opportunity to explore one of the most picturesque areas in Bulgaria and enjoy the gifts of nature including steep forests, mountain ridges and spectacular views from the summit of Mount Ruy, the finish line, where the athletes’ efforts will be rewarded.”
Dimitar Dimitrov, President, Bulgarian Skyrunning Federation, commented, “We are super happy to see the massive development of skyrunning in Bulgaria in the last few years – from growing a National Series, through ever-increasing event participation and the recent announcement of the Masters Skyrunning World Championships for 2025.
“The VK OPEN final is a further step to showcase our amazing wild mountains and technical terrain to the best skyrunners. We might have more surprises in store and look forward to solidifying Bulgaria as a great skyrunning destination in South-East Europe.”
In 2024, 317 athletes from 22 countries took points where Louis Dumas from France and Italian Corinna Ghirardi were declared VK OPEN Champions.
“The VK is short and sweet, but the effort is huge, and the competition is tough – that’s why everyone loves it!” declared Marino Giacometti, ISF President.
CC list and Technical Level (updating)
Details and ranking points breakdown
2025 VK OPEN Championships calendar
24 January – Brazil – Base Vertical – 4.1 km / 866m+
17 May – Italy – Monte Zerbion Vertical – 9.5 km / 2,200m+
7 June – Andorra – Casamanya Extrem Vertical Race – 5.5 km / 1,400m+
13 June – Portugal – Santana VK – 4.8 km / 1,003m+
15 June – Spain – 2KV Collarada – 8.2 km / 1,933m+
30 August – Portugal – KM Vertical de Câmara de Lobos – 2.9 km / 1,000m+
14 September – Italy – Adamello Vertical Kilometer® – 3.7 km / 1,000m+
Grand Finale – 18 October – Bulgaria – Vertical Ruy – 4.3 km / 930m+
