World Youth Selection Criteria
2026 Australian & New Zealand Skyrunning Teams Selection
***We are accepting nominations for the World Championships and also World Youth Championships . Please complete the form if interested in either of the teams.
Celebrating ten years since the first World Championships in 2016, the Youth Skyrunning World Championships will be hosted – for the first time – in Croatia on 8-10 May, 2026.
The hub of the events is centred around the coastal town of Makarska and will feature two skyrunning disciplines – VERTICAL and SKY – disputed on three different courses: the youngest categories (Youth A & B), will run a SKY course between 10 and 14 km long, while the other categories will run over a 20 km course. The courses are being specifically designed for the Championships and will be announced in the coming weeks.
Seventy-five medals are at stake, split across four age categories – Youth A (15-16), Youth B (17-18), Youth C (19-20) and U23 (21-23). Individual, combined and national titles will also be awarded.
World Champs Selection Criteria
The 2026 Skyrunning World Championships featuring the VERTICAL, SKY and SKYULTRA disciplines will be held from 18-20 September 2026 in La Gomera, Spain at the Gomera Paradise Skyrunning.
World titles and 27 medals are at stake for Individuals and Official Teams, together with a Combined title based on the best results of the VERTICAL and SKY races.
Disciplines
September 18 – VERTICAL – Details TBC
September 19 – SKYULTRA – Details TBC
September 20 – SKY – 29 km and 1,900m vertical climb
Further details here!
To gain team selection for Australia or New Zealand, athletes are required to email their interest to Majell Backhausen (nr.runners.aus@itra.run) and complete this form. Within that email please include relevant recent race results and indicate which discipline/s you wish to be considered for at the Skyrunning World Championships.
Pending sponsorship, we intend to send as large a team as possible for both nations. As a minimum, we will provide administrative support and race entries, where possible we will also provide accommodation at the event, team management throughout the championships and some meals. The final details regarding athlete support will be determined at a later date.
Selection Criteria:
- First Open and Youth Age Category males and females AU or NZ in the 2026 Shotover Moonlight Marathon (Marathon/VK)
- First Open and Youth Age Category males and females AU or NZ in the 2026 Buffalo Stampede (SkyMarathon/SkyRun)
- First Open and Youth Age Category males and females AU or NZ in the 2025 Hounslow Classic (Marathon)
- Further additions to the team to be made using Committee discretion. Results in the 2025 and 2026 ANZ Series will be considered, as well as major domestic or international trail races.
*Final nominations for World Youth to be received by Midnight (EST) March 30th 2026.
**Final nominations for World Championships to be received by Midnight (EST) June 30th 2026.