CHAPTER II:
RACE RULES
The Series is officially sanctioned by the ISF.
As such, the SWS follows the ISF rules, with certain additional requirements as outlined below.
For the 2025 season, MSWS shall feature two race statuses: SkyRace and the SkyMasters.
The U23 Trofeo Esteban Olivero category is also in effect and will conclude with a final of its own.
1. MSWS General Classification
At each race, points will be attributed to the top 30 finishers. A different number of points will be awarded for SkyRaces and the SkyMasters.
The maximum number of points an athlete can get in a regular season SkyRace is 100 (first place). 2nd place will receive 15% fewer points (85 points). this includes a 15% bonus compared with second place (85). Places 3 through 16 are awarded 10% fewer points than the person ranked above them. For example, 3rd place is awarded 77 points, 4th place is awarded 69 points, and this continues to 16th place, awarded 19 points.
17th through to 20th place receive 2 points fewer than the preceding position. 21st (receiving 10 points) to 30th place (receiving 1 point) will receive 1 point fewer than the preceding position.
All points are rounded to the nearest whole number.
The SkyMasters is identical to this, except that it awards 1.5 times the number of points compared to a SkyRace. Again, all points are rounded to the nearest whole number.
2. U23 Trofeo Esteban Olivero
At each race, points will be attributed to the top 20 finishers. A different number of points will be awarded for U23 SkyRaces and the U23 Final.
The maximum number of points an athlete can get in a regular season SkyRace is 100 (first place). 2nd place will receive 15% fewer points (85 points). this includes a 15% bonus compared with second place (85). Places 3 through 16 are awarded 10% fewer points than the person ranked above them. For example, 3rd place is awarded 77 points, 4th place is awarded 69 points, and this continues to 16th place, awarded 19 points. 17th through to 20th place receive 2 points fewer than the preceding position.
All points are rounded to the nearest whole number.
The U23 Final is identical to this, except that it awards 1.5 times the number of points compared to a U23 SkyRace. Again, all points are rounded to the nearest whole number.
4.1. Overall
Athletes scoring points in any race will enter the Overall Ranking. Their best six (6) results will count for the final ranking – this includes the SkyMasters. To qualify for the Overall Prize Money, athletes must have completed at least four (4) SkyRaces + the SkyMasters.
The maximum number of races that count towards an athlete’s overall ranking is five (5) SkyRaces®, plus the SkyMasters. The overall score of an athlete is made up of the highest number of points obtained from five (5) SkyRaces® and the SkyMasters.
To clarify, to qualify for the SkyMasters and overall prize money pool, athletes only need to complete four (4) SkyRaces® plus the Skymasters. However, as many as 5 SkyRaces® plus the SkyMasters will be considered towards an athletes accumulation of points.
To be eligible for the final ranking and end-of-season prize pool, athletes must complete the SkyMasters.
4.2. Tie Break rules
If at the end of the season two athletes are tied, the following rules will apply until the tie is broken:
- The athlete with the higher position at the SkyMasters.
- In the event of cancellation of the SkyMasters and a tie between two or more athletes is in place, the ranking will favour the tied athlete who, at the event most recently attended by both athletes, finished above the other athlete with whom a tie is shared.
- If neither athlete has competed against each other at the same Skyrace throughout MSWS24, the tie will remain. Prize money will be distributed and calculated according to the average of the two (or more) places a tie is shared.
For example if two athletes occupy jointly 6th position, money will be distributed accordingly:
Prize money for 6th: €1,500
Prize money for 7th: €1,000
Prize money distributed to both athletes: €1,250.
The minimum age for the U23 or youth category is 18 at the time of the race and the maximum age is 23, before the end of the year.
The ranking will take into consideration the athlete’s best three (3) race results plus the final. Athletes can only score points for the U23 category at selected YOUTH RACES. These races are official MSWS races, selected because they have less distance and elevation. The races awarding points for the U23 category are as follows:
- Mexico Sky Challenge
- Calamorro Skyrace®
- Merrell Andes Mountain Skyrace®
- Kailas Penang Skyrace®
- Corendon Tahtali Run to Sky
- SkyRace des Gorges du Tarn
- Arc’teryx Minotaur SkyRace®
- Ibarra SkyRace®
- Cordillera Blanca SkyRace®
- Tatra SkyMarathon
- Saint Jeorie SkyRace®
- Mourne Skyline
- U23 FINAL – Sobrescobio SkyRace®
4.4. Under-23 Tie Break rules
If at the end of the season two athletes are tied, the following rules will apply until the tie is broken:
- The athlete with the higher position at the U23 Trofeo Esteban Olivero Final.
- In the event of cancellation of the Final and a tie between two or more athletes is in place, the ranking will favour the tied athlete who, at the event most recently attended by both athletes, finished above the other athlete with whom a tie is shared.
- If neither athlete has competed against each other at the same Skyrace throughout MSWS24, the tie will remain. Prize money will be distributed and calculated according to the average of the two (or more) places a tie is shared.
For example if two athletes occupy jointly 1st position, money will be distributed accordingly:
Prize money for 1st: €1,500
Prize money for 2nd: €1,000
Prize money distributed to both athletes: €1,250.
At the conclusion of the Series, the first male and female competitors with the highest score will be declared: “2025 Merrell Skyrunner® World Series Champion”.
At the conclusion of the Series, the first male and female competitors from the U23 category with the highest score will be declared: “2025 Merrell Skyrunner® World Series U23 Champion”.
6.1. End of Season Bonus Pool
SkyMan shall distribute an “End of Season Bonus Pool”. This will be a total of €93,500 for the Overall Category, and an additional €6,500 for the youth category.
6.2. Eligibility
The End of Season Bonus Pool will only be distributed to athletes who fulfill the following eligibility criteria:
The athlete must have competed in and completed at least four races, and the SkyMasters (five races in total).
Prize money will be distributed within 90 days of the SkyMasters Final, following drug testing. In the event of a positive test, the athlete will not be eligible for prize money.
To receive the end-of-season Bonus Pool prize money, all eligible athletes are required to be physically present at the prize-giving ceremony of the final race (SkyMasters).
Every race can have only one male and one female winner. Any perceived tie will be determined by a photo finish or other control system. If the photo finish shows a perfect tie, then the SkyMan Jury, and organization will make a final decision.
9.1. Finish line photo
The first two athletes must wait at the finish line area for the top five finishers for the “finish line photo”.
9.1.1. Winners’ obligation
The winner will be requested to wear an “SWS Winner Cap” supplied and branded by a sportswear manufacturer and/or wear an “SWS Winner Jersey”.
9.2. Official Podium
The top ten athletes of each race must attend the official podium / prize-giving ceremony.
Their presence is compulsory to receive the prize money.
To qualify for the SkyMasters, athletes must compete in and complete at least four (4) SkyRaces, finishing in the top 20 in at least one. The criteria for an invite is outlined below:
- Be in the top-20 (man or woman) of a SkyRace, and
- Complete at least 4 Skyrunner® World Series races from the current season (i.e. 2025).
OR
- Be in the top-3 (man or woman) of a nominated race in a Skyrunner® National Series country
- Be in the top-3 (man or woman) of the final ranking of a Skyrunner® National Series
- Finish top-3 (man or woman) in a Skyrunning Continental Championship
- Finish top-3 (man or woman) in a Skyrunning World Championship.