The first VK format on Stara Planina!
Less than 5 km with 950 m of ascent and 80 m of descent. The start is scheduled for June 10th (Saturday) 2023 at 8AM from the asphalt, just at the road curve near the entering into the valley of Kozarnica (1 km from Konjarnik). 10:15 č.

Soon right from the start (asphalt) you’ll go along a macadam road. After couple hundred meters you’ll enter the trail of the 34 km race, Sky Race Dupljak. The macadam road will lead you uphill about 1 km, and then you’ll turn left towards a ridge which the valley of Kozarnica surrounds from the left side. You’ll climb that ridge where on it’s top a beautiful coniferous forest will await you, a real small labyrinth. When you go out the forest, you’ll be in front of the last challenge of the race – the steepest part of the trail and finishing ascent on Žarkova Čuka peak. In 500 m you have about 250 m of ascent, one fourth of the whole ascent. Bear in mind that after this ascent there is a short descent of some 50 m and again ascent on the real peak of Žarkova Čuka. But all that pain will be forgotten when you reach the top and cross the finish line. You will enjoy the view on Babin Zub, Midžor, Kozarnica valley, Topli Do valley...
The trail fits into VK format, and the race itself will be check for the national team, exclusively this discipline. Only uphill!

Time limit:
Finish – Žarkova Čuka peak 12:15 (2 hours from the start)

Profile and map: Required equipment: adequate sneakers (trail sneakers), rain/wind jacket and properly placed starting number (always visible, frontally placed). If one item is missing, the disqualification will follow. Take this seriously. We recommend that you use poles, but then you must have them to the finish. All additional information about the race will be presented through the final e-mail and the race guide (Race Guide 2023). This distance does not require the technical meeting before the race. The Association will provide the transfer to the start of the VK by minibuses. It leaves from Babin Zub Hotel and picks up those who will be at turn towards Stara Planina Hotel. From Žarkova Čuka peak you’ll return to Plaža towards Babin Zub (by foot). More information in the race guide.

You can get your starting package in the race office at the Stara Planina Hotel on Friday, June 9, 2023 from 6PM to 11PM.The packages must be picked up in person. Medical certificate is not obligatory for this race. GPS record of the trail can be downloaded here.

Applications are open in October and closed on Monday, May 15th, 2023, 4PM (meaning that the payments have to be regulated by this time). Within the participant package every runner will get a unique finishers medal and a cotton T-shirt. The registration fee is 1.800 RSD (EUR 15) until November 5th, from November 6th, 2022 it is 3.000 RSD (EUR 25).

Applications can be submitted through trka.rs.
The minibus for the participants (20 seats) will operate as it did the year before. Anyone who pays the registration fee and wants to be on the participants bus will have to pay extra 2.000 RSD at the same payment reference number. So, the same day you decide to pay registration fee you can book your seat on the bus immediately with another payment. The payment purpose – registration fee additional payment. The bus leaves on June 9, at 3PM from the Štark Arena parking lot. It will be taking the participants back on Sunday at 9:00AM in front of the Stara Planina Hotel.
Those who do not make the additional payment within the registration fee will not be included in the bus list.
Each participant must wear their starting number in the visible place, frontally. So, between the chest and hips. It can be placed on the jacket or shirt, but must not be covered by the jacket! You must not fold it because the chip will be broken. The loss of the starting number means automatic disqualification. Should you have any complaints, contact us at skyrunning.serbia@gmail.com within 48 hours after the race. After this time no complaints will be taken into consideration.

The race will carry points in the Skyrunning League of Serbia and Montenegro for 2023 in category V-KM. The race doesn’t meet the requirements for ITRA/UTMB rating.
For accommodation for all participants in V-KM race we recommend Crni Vrh village. If you choose the camp, bear in mind that the beginning of June may be quite fresh at that height, so bring your winter equipment, as well. More information will follow as of January in our new race guide.
Weather forecast link – https://www.yr.no/place/Serbia/Other/Babin_Zub/long.html
Link for live tracking of runners will be in the Race Guide.

Award ceremony: Stara Planina Hotel, Saturday, June 10th, 2023 at 6:30PM at start/finish gate. In case of bad weather, the ceremony will be held in the hotel hall. The first three places in both categories, men and women, will receive the awards.

Get ready for the mountain running festivity and the tenth jubilee edition, the race you can’t miss!
See you at Stara Planina!