The new season of the Stirnu Buks trail running series is approaching, featuring several exciting updates

Text: Stirnubuks.lv

The opening stage of the new season of the trail running series “Stirnu Buks” 2025 in the Pietukums forests is less than three months away! If you haven’t resumed your training during the off-season, now is the time to start, as the new season will, as always, arrive before you know it – and it’s packed with exciting updates.  

This year, the trail running series organizers promised their loyal tribe of trail runners a fresh experience – introducing new methods for calculating individual and team standings, announcing new challenges, and introducing innovative competition formats. More details will follow in the next announcement, but let’s explore where the “Stirnu Buks” trail series will take runners and hiking enthusiasts this year!

The Irresistible Charm of Āžu Hill and Vilkači Forest

At the end of last year, after analyzing the participant survey results of the “Stirnu Buks 2024” series, the organizers happily concluded that, much like the Latvian folk tale hero Sprīdītis, all paths for the runners lead to their happy place – home. Participants chose to have at least one stage each season in a location they can return to annually.

Where better for this to happen than in the beloved and native Pietukums forest – the true home of “Stirnu Buks”! As Tukum-born writer Imants Ziedonis said: “There must be a place where you arrive, burdened with worries, and suddenly your heart aches from the beauty. Latvia is a wondrously beautiful land, but beauty needs help to be seen.”

We recommend all participants take a moment to pause atop Āžu Hill, breathe deeply, and admire the beauty of Latvian nature and the Pietukums forest.

It was in these Rauda forests in 2014 that the trail running series was born. This location is surrounded by natural beauty and mystical stories and legends – the true Vilkači (Werewolf) Forest! Mystics claim that the Rauda forest holds energetic power comparable to that of the legendary Pokaiņi forest. It is a place of contrasts, where positive and negative energies meet like nowhere else in Latvia. These forest mysteries are also described in theologian Ralfs Kokins’ book “Kurzemes Vilkaču Nostāsti” (Werewolf Legends of Kurzeme).

The 2025 “Stirnu Buks” season will kick off on April 5 in the Pietukums forest, Rauda region.

Seeking the Ancient Semigallians: A Debut Beyond Latvia’s Borders

The second stage of the season will mark a historic moment for the “Stirnu Buks” series – for the first time, the competition will be held entirely outside the borders of Latvia!

Since the series promises to trace the footsteps of the Semigallians who fled to present-day Lithuania in the 13th century due to Christian military pressure, it’s only fitting to delve deeper into Lithuanian territory – to Jaunakmenė!

Jaunakmenė’s sandstone quarries are a treasure for nature and geology enthusiasts, resembling the canyons of Mars. Majestic landscapes and unique sandstone formations blend with a peaceful atmosphere, offering a retreat from daily life.

These quarries are not just natural attractions – they are an active industrial area with giant machines reminiscent of Star Wars! Though plans are in place to develop a stunning recreational complex within the next 50 years, now is the time to seize the opportunity.

The Jaunakmenė stage will take place on May 11 (Sunday), with easy access from Latvia (130 km from Riga).

Summer Solstice Stage in Kurzeme

The most mystical stage of the season will take place on June 21, during the Summer Solstice, in Kurzeme. Together, we will celebrate the year’s longest day with energy and enthusiasm!

The exact location remains a secret to avoid invoking the envy of the mythical Spīganas.

Stirnu Buks and Wolves in Sēlija for the First Time

This season, on August 2, the longest-distance enthusiasts will sharpen their shoes for Sēlija, where Wolves (Vilki) will trace the region’s heritage and culture.

The course master of this stage, Jānis Puida, promises routes highlighting the history, beauty, and wild essence of Sēlija. Distances will not exceed 80 km but will feature a mix of cultural landmarks and nature gems.

Urban Trails: Gauja Bends in Valmiera

The urban leg of the series will take place on September 13, with a race center near the iconic St. Simon’s Church in Valmiera. This stage, led by the dedicated Valmiera patriot Artis Ločmelis, will blend the town’s charm with the magic of the Gauja River.

Season Finale at the “Jaujas – Jankas” Sports Base

The season’s grand finale will happen on October 11 at the “Jaujas – Jankas” sports base in Pļaviņas, hosted by the Eiduka family. The season’s champions will be crowned here amidst the picturesque landscape. Patrīcija Eiduka, the world’s U23 vice-champion in skiing, calls these trails her training grounds and invites everyone to experience the beauty of her childhood paths.

See You on the Trails!