New Changes for the 2025 Stirnu Buks Season!
Text: Stirnubuks.lv
This season, based on the results of a participant survey, the organizers of the trail running series “ERGO Stirnu Buks 2025″ are ready to announce several updates that will significantly impact the overall competition rankings, alter tactical race strategies, and, possibly, make the upcoming season even more exciting for the trail running community!
ERGO Becomes the New Leading Partner
The insurance company ERGO has become the leading partner of the 2025 trail running series, supporting the technical organization of the races and new initiatives by the event organizers.
“Grassroots and amateur sports contribute to public health, and when families with children participate, an active lifestyle becomes a habit for the next generation. This, in turn, lays the foundation for Latvia’s future sports achievements. For many years, ‘Stirnu buks’ has inspired people to stay active, transforming running into an adventure in Latvia’s nature. Movement means vitality and health, so we find it especially important to contribute to expanding and strengthening the passionate running community in Latvia,” says Aija Medne, Head of ERGO’s Latvian branches.
A New Team Competition Format – Even for the More Leisurely Participants!
To motivate all trail runners and hikers—including those who may not usually compete for top podium spots—to participate regularly and collect points, the organizers have introduced a brand-new competition format: “Friends League” in collaboration with AKROPOLE shopping centers.
In this format, small teams of 4–6 participants can register together—whether they are friends, family members, or colleagues.
To participate in the “AKROPOLE Friends League“, a team captain must register their team by filling out the registration form in their participant profile. Teams can include participants from both the trail running and hiking distances.
The competition will be based on successful finishes within the official time limit. At the end of the season, teams whose members have collectively completed at least 21 distances will enter a prize draw for the grand prize – a €1,000 AKROPOLE gift card – along with additional rewards.
Race EXPO Now at “AKROPOLE Alfa” Sportland Store
To make it even more convenient for STIRNU BUKS participants to collect their race bibs, they are encouraged to pick them up a day before the race at the Sportland store in “AKROPOLE Alfa” shopping center.
“By offering a diverse range of stores and services, AKROPOLE shopping centers provide visitors with everything they need for their well-being. One of the best ways to improve well-being is through physical activity, which is why we are thrilled to collaborate with the legendary ‘Stirnu Buks’ movement this year. We hope the ‘AKROPOLE Friends League’ will motivate more sports enthusiasts to join the trail running community. We invite everyone to take on this exciting challenge and experience the joy of being active together!”
— Aija Urbāne-Orbāne, Marketing Manager of “AKROPOLE Rīga” and “AKROPOLE Alfa”
Season to Begin at Āžu Hill and End at the Legendary “Jankas – Jaujas” with the Eiduks Family
In a participant survey, runners wanted at least one annual race location to remain the same each season. As a result, the “ERGO Stirnu Buks 2025″ season will begin in the Tukums region, near Rauda Forest—the birthplace of the series in 2014. The race center is carefully selected so that even the shortest race routes include a visit to Āžu Hill and the Stirnu Buks tribe’s symbols and rest areas.
The season finale will occur near Pļaviņas, in Aizkraukle Municipality, at the “Jaujas – Jankas” sports base. The large Eiduks family manages this venue, and it is here that Patrīcija Eiduka lays the groundwork for her performances in cross-country skiing on the international stage.
Changes to the Overall Standings Calculation
Previously, the season champion was determined based on the best 5 out of 7 races, which sometimes made the final event a mere formality. This year, however, everything will be decided in the last race.
In the season finale, the starting order will be based on each participant’s top 3 best performances from previous races. The Top 20 runners will start at 20-second intervals, with the leader setting off first. The new season’s overall champion will be the first runner to cross the finish line.
In the team competition, rankings will be calculated based on:
- The total points of a team’s 4 members, one from each race category:
“Vāvere or School Championship”, “Zaķis”, “Stirnu Buks”, “Lūsis/Wilks”. - The sum of the 3 highest individual scores, regardless of category.
During the first 3 races, teams will accumulate points to determine team ranking divisions, such as “STB Super League”, “STB First Division”, etc. Starting from Race 4, teams will compete in head-to-head matchups using a PlayOff system, with the season’s champion team decided in the final PlayOff round. Other teams will battle to stay in “STB Virslīga” (Premier League) or “STB First Division”, and so on.
New rules will apply to the ERGO Stirnu Buks 2025 School Championship Trail Runs. More details on these updates will be announced soon!
See You in the Forest!
“ERGO Stirnu buka 2025” races will take place:
• 05.04. “Dzimtā meža (Native Forest) Stirnu buks” I Āžu Hill, Tukums District
• 11.05. “Jaunakmenes (Naujoji Akmene) Stirnu buks” I Akmenė Quarry, Jaunakmene, Lithuania
• 21.06. “Kurzemes Saulgriežu nakts (Midsummer Night) Stirnu buks” I _________ District
• 02.08. “Sēlijas Stirnu buks & Vylks” I Bebrene, Augšdaugava District
• 13.09. “Valmieras Pilsēttakas (City Trail) Stirnu buks” I Valmiera, Valmiera District
• 11.10. “Pļaviņu Lielā fināla (Grand Finale) Stirnu buks” I “Jankas/Jaujas” Pļaviņas, Aizkraukle District