World Extreme Run Challenge - Kitzbühel (WERC) 2026

The World Extreme Run Challenge in Kitzbühel directs runners up and down the Streif, the well-known ski-racing slope above the Austrian town. This October mountain-style running race follows a straightforward format: begin in the town center, ascend to the Streif start house, then descend. The complete course measures 8.8 km with 950 meters of elevation gain, making the distance short on paper but demanding on the legs. Participants must be at least 16, and the field has grown beyond 200 women and men. The race originated from an idea by extreme sports pioneer and athletics coach Josef Sepp Resnik and the sports4everybody association, with net profits supporting sports talents. The field includes serious mountain runners alongside athletes from other disciplines: Christian Stern, a two-time winner on the Streif course, has recorded a time of 58:40 here, while Austria’s Military Pentathlon national team, boxer Marcos Nader, and women’s boxing champion Michaela Kotaskova are also on the start list. The event’s nature is direct: ascend one of Kitzbühel’s toughest sporting landmarks, turn at the summit, and demonstrate your capabilities on the way down.