Billed as the largest trail running festival in the southern hemisphere, HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB has been announced as the newest UTMB World Series Major.
The Australian ultra running event, which was acquired by IRONMAN in 2018, notes that it is… ‘set to take its place on the global stage in 2025, as one of four pinnacle events.’
The Oceania race joins three other UTMB World Series Majors across Asia, Europe and North America, with four UTMB World Series Major events in total:
- Americas: The Canyons Endurance Runs by UTMB
- Asia Pacific: Doi Inthanon Thailand by UTMB
- Europe: Val d’Aran by UTMB
- Oceania: Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB
The World Heritage listed Blue Mountains, less than an hour west of Sydney, Australia, will host the biggest-ever HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB on May 15-18, 2025.
Traditionally, the event has consisted of four races, UTA11, UTA22, UTA50 and UTA100 – all of which are now sold-out. Due to its new Major status, HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB will introduce a 100-mile (160km) race in 2025.
Set to the backdrop of the Blue Mountains in Australia, the ‘UTAMiler’ takes runners through the Grand Canyon, down more than 2,000 stairs past the Blue Gum Forest, along cliff tops, through valleys, and across scenic ridges, with expansive vistas rewarding runners along their journey.
Tanya Carroll, Regional Director of HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB, said “HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB has become an iconic event on the global trail running calendar and we’re excited to become a UTMB World Series Major next year.
“Since it began back in 2008 UTA has become a bucket-list event for trail runners from Australia and around the world and we can’t wait to take the event to the next level in 2025.
“In becoming a UTMB World Series Major we have added a new and exciting challenge for runners, the UTAMiler. This 100-mile event will provide an incredible test for runners, taking them on a journey along some of the best trails on offer in the region, with the new distance set to attract existing runners looking for their next challenge along with some of the top trail runners from around the world.”
With HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB joining the ranks of the UTMB World Series Majors, the 2025 event is expected to draw in more elite runners from Australia and around the world, thanks to the lucrative AU$120,000 HOKA Prize Pool on offer.
Fans of the sport are also set to benefit, with three days of action beamed into households globally as a live broadcast of HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB transports viewers to the Blue Mountains.
For the almost 7,000 runners already set to race in 2025, HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB will now offer double the amount of Running Stones compared to other UTMB World Series Events for the UTMB World Series Finals lottery, as well as increased automatic qualification slots for the UTMB World Series Finals, with 210 runners to secure their place on the start line in Mont Blanc, France, via Australia next May.
The event’s designation as a UTMB World Series Major brings with it a new name that features HOKA as a title partner, in line with the UTMB World Series Finals and Majors.
“We’re excited to see the continental majors expand to new global destinations,” said Erika Gabrielli, VP of Global Marketing at HOKA.
“The addition of this new UTMB World Series Major creates new opportunities to help bring trail running to more people, connect with runners around the world, and support the continued growth of the sport.”
Racing at HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB begins on Thursday May 15, 2025, with UTA11. The 11km event starts and finishes at Scenic World in Katoomba, providing a course that takes in the highlights of the area and is positioned as an entry point for those new to trail running.
The following day sees runners in the UTA22 take to the trails, with the 22km course also positioned as a fun and achievable introduction to distance trail running.
Also getting underway on Friday May 16, 2025 is the pinnacle event, the new UTAMiler, with runners beginning their 100-mile journey in the pre-dawn hours and given 42 hours to complete their race.
On the morning of Saturday May 17, UTA50 and UTA100 get underway, with runners covering 50km and 100km respectively, finishing at Scenic World on the edge of the Blue Mountains National Park.
HOKA Ultra-Trail Australia by UTMB is supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
