U.S. SKYRUNNING

US Skyrunning promotes youth and adult skyrunning activities within The US and Internationally; Coaching athletes of all ability levels; assembling teams to represent at Skyrunning World Championship events. We provide a network for athletes who Run Without Ceilings.

Head Coach Ryan Kerrigan

​Ryan competed as a youth athlete in track, cross coutry, and cross country skiing, qualifying for numerous national championship events. He also competed at The University of Vermont as a member of the UVM Nordic Ski Team for 4 years, while also earning a bachelors degree in Kinesiology.

More recently Ryan has been a coach with Ridgeline Athletics based in Squamish, BC and Head Coach of US Skyrunning. He also sits on General Assembly with The International Skyrunning Assocation, and has assembled and coached several World Championship Teams at the youth and adult level.

"It is a privilege and an honor to be building a network of Skyrunning athletes of all ages and backgrounds throughout The USA. I hope to bring awareness and structure to the sport, and in turn a medium that athletes can be a part of to build their Skyrunning identity and passion." -Ryan Kerrigan

Looking to add some know-how and structure to your training or outings? Whether you're chasing Sky or Trail Races, or looking to simply cover more ground in the mountains more quickly- reach out to Ryan and the Ridgeline Athletics Crew.

Skyrunning is a mountain running discipline that takes place at high altitude, often above 2,000 meters, where the terrain is steep, technical, and exposed. The sport was born in the early 1990s in the Italian Alps, and it has since grown into a global movement governed by the International Skyrunning Federation (ISF). Races are categorized by vertical climb, distance, and technical difficulty, with disciplines including the SkyRace, SkyMarathon, and Vertical Kilometer.

At US Skyrunning, we embrace the philosophy of "Running Without Ceilings" — pushing beyond perceived limits, whether you're a seasoned mountain runner or just beginning to explore the vertical world. Our community welcomes athletes of all backgrounds, from trail runners looking to test their climbing legs to elite competitors aiming for World Championship podiums.

US Skyrunning organizes both youth and adult programs that provide structured coaching, training camps, and competitive opportunities. We field national teams for the annual Skyrunning World Championships across multiple age groups and disciplines. Our youth program focuses on developing fundamental mountain skills, aerobic capacity, and a love for the mountains in a safe, supportive environment.

Adult athletes can join our national team selection process through a series of qualifying races and performance criteria. Once selected, team members receive coaching support, team kit, and logistical assistance for international competitions. We also offer development squads for those aiming to make future teams.

• Youth development camps and race series
• Adult national team selection and coaching
• Training plans tailored to vertical, sky, and ultra distances
• Access to team training camps and international race experience

Whether you're an athlete, coach, volunteer, or fan, there are many ways to be part of the US Skyrunning community. Athletes can start by joining our mailing list to receive updates on training camps, qualifying races, and team announcements. We also encourage participation in local skyrunning events across the country — check our event calendar for races near you.

For those interested in coaching or volunteering, we offer mentorship opportunities and roles at national team events. US Skyrunning is a volunteer-driven organization, and we rely on passionate individuals to help grow the sport in the United States.

Skyrunning races are divided into several official disciplines, each with its own distance and elevation gain requirements. The most common are the SkyRace (20–49 km with at least 1,300m of vertical climb), the SkyMarathon (42 km with at least 2,000m of climb), and the Vertical Kilometer (1,000m of climb over less than 5 km). Ultra SkyMarathons exceed 50 km with significant vertical gain.

US Skyrunning athletes compete across all disciplines, and our coaching staff helps athletes identify which discipline best suits their strengths. We also support athletes in SkySnow events, which bring skyrunning to winter conditions with micro-crampons and technical snow running.

US Skyrunning was founded to bring the international skyrunning movement to American athletes and to create a pathway for US competitors on the world stage. Over the years, we have sent teams to numerous World Championships, including the 2022 Skyrunning World Championships, the 2022 SkySnow World Championships, and multiple youth championships such as the 2022 Youth Skyrunning World Championships, Youth Skyrunning World Championships 2023, and Youth Skyrunning World Championships 2024.

Our athletes have achieved top-10 finishes and podium results in international competition, and we continue to build a pipeline of talent through our youth programs. We are proud to be part of the global skyrunning community and to represent the United States with integrity, sportsmanship, and a deep respect for the mountains.