Avertical race is a special kind ofski mountaineering without the typical downhill skiing after ascending. At the mountain running and climbing passages the runners have to carry their skis in their backpacks. Vertical races for women and men are part of all international ski mountaineering competitions of theInternational Council for Ski Mountaineering Competitions as well as at many national competitions. TheUnion Internationale des Associations d'Alpinisme (UIAA)is working toward the goal of having vertical race become an Olympic discipline at the2018 Winter Olympics, .[1][needs update]
AtWorld Championships of Skimountaineering a vertical race was firstly rated in 2004 an at theEuropean Championships in 2005.