PRESENTATION Presentation Dossier	DOSSIER Skyrunning Skyrunning: the term " Run in the sky" defines the sport of high altitude running Skyrunning races are divided in various categories: SkyRace: mountain running races over 2,000 meters altitude but less than 4,000meters. SkyMarathon: mountain running races over 4,000 meters altitude Vertical Kilometer: as the name suggests, the race has a vertical climb of 1,000 meters at varying altitudes and depending on the type of terrain, the distance varies from 3- 5 kilometers. Skyrunners: technical term to describe the athletes that practice the sport. These simple words define the whole philosophy of mountain running, a philosophy shared by thousands of people the world over and who, every year, are joined by athletes seeking a new challenge, new skyrunners. Skyrunning races are not just mountain running competitions - specific training is required, good heart, lungs and legs, and a different mentality. Skyrunning is about performance, the ultimate challenge where only the sky's the limit. Trails, glaciers and morains represent a typical skyrunning course. Emotions and fun are guaranteed right from the start. Where will the trail lead? What surprises are in store? Skyrunners are not just ordinary runners. These athletes live for running in the mountains, a daily goal to work and train for. Cold paved roads are bore. These are real skyrunners. Skyrunning races take part in many parts of the world although Europe represents the core and the birthplace of this exciting sport. The greatest concentration of races and skyrunners lies here and, consequently, the highest technical levels are achieved. The European skyrunners are for now the better than the world and, together with some south american and north American individuality, are comparable in technical level to the champions of marathon or country ski. Since 1995 the Federation for Sport at Altitude (FSA) regulates and coordinates skyrunning races every year and, since 1998, a worldwide circuit composed of a selection of the best races which, from 2004, known as the Buff-Skyrunner World Series. The circuit, made up of eight of the most important races, is extremely selective and the best skyrunners, men and women alike, strive to participate. Measuring strength and technical ability against the world's top athletes represents is a goal many athletes aspire to. The Catalan athlete, Agusti Roc, twice world champion, italian athlete Bruno Brunod (ex world champion), the Mexican, Ricardo Mejia, French athlete Corinne Favre (twice world champion), Catalans Emma Roca and Teresa Forn, the current world champion, American Matt Carpenter and Italian Fabio Meraldi are among the best known athletes on the world circuit, the ones that never take a wrong step, are always in the lead, setting the pace, preparing a stategy...putting in practice everything that represents skyrunning. Every year, the FSA selects the races that will take part in the world circuit. The choice is not only based on the course features that must comply with the rules, such as altitude and distance, but also on the quality of the organisation and the history of the event. Among the best known races on the worldwide circuit are the Kinabalu International Climbathon in Malaysia, the Pikes Peak Marathon in the USA and the Sentiero 4 Luglio in Italy, challenging and prestigious races that make the Buff Skyrunner World Series the most important mountain running event in the world
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