Latvia’s most extensive mass-participation running series, “ERGO Stirnu Buks 2025,” will conclude this year’s surprise-filled trail season on 11 October at the “Jankas – Jaujas” sports base in Aizkraukle Municipality, long popular among endurance athletes. The Bucks will leap here for the first time in the series’ history, with the host of the event being Latvia’s strongest cross-country skier, Patrīcija Eiduka, who has confirmed she will be present at the event.
Patrīcija Eiduka: “Pļaviņas is in a picturesque spot where forest paths wind like a living landscape with sports bases, cross-country and alpine skiing tracks. ‘Jautrā stiga’ and ‘Balto bērzu taka’ are perfectly suited for all forest creatures. See you on the trails of my childhood!”
At the series’ Grand Final stage, participants can expect not only heart-lifting little hills, trails maintained by local sports organizers, and a pleasant terrain, but also a new format to determine the season’s champions in each distance and in the STB Super League team standings.
In the season finale, “Pļaviņas Grand Final Stirnu Buks,” the TOP 20 participants will start using an interval method. The overall leader will set off first, based on the sum of points from their best three stages this season. The rest will start in ranking order at fixed time intervals of 5 to 20 seconds, depending on the distance.
Following the leaders with a mass start will be the second wave, consisting of all who have scored in the season ranking by finishing at least three series stages. After another set interval, the third wave will set off for those who have not made it into the season’s overall classification. See more HERE. Start list HERE.
Whoever crosses the finish line first will be crowned the champion of that distance. Note that the individual classification will not be affected by the points usually earned in the sprint segment, though those points will still count toward the team’s overall standings.
Team winners this year are decided by a Playoff format, so this title will also be settled only at the final stage of the season.
The title of 2025 STB Super League champions will be contested by “Virsotne/LA SPORTIVA” and “Skrien Jēkabpils!/Mizuno.” The battle for 3rd place will be between “Rieksti mīl Vāveres” and “Trailinity.” For 5th place, “Talsu pakalnu sporta klubs” faces “Saule. Pērkons. Daugava.” Meanwhile, the following four teams — “Riga Trail Runners,” “ASK PATRIA SPORTLAND,” “Kocēni,” and “Talsu pakalnu sporta klubs 2” — will decide which two retain their STB Super League spot and VIP tent place at the first stage next season, and which two return to the STB First League. More HERE.
No less exciting battles await in the lower STB leagues. Let’s support our own.
First on the course will be the hiking distances without timekeeping, followed by:
“GARDU MUTI Susurs” (up to 10 years) – 1 km
“LVM Trail Running Championship for School Youth” – 7 km
“StarFM Vāvere” – 7 km
“KARTE VESELĪBA Zaķis” – 13 km
“VENDEN Stirnu buks” – 20 km
“GARMIN Lūsis” – 25 km
Artūrs Rudzītis, a sports event organizer in Pļaviņas, promises his support not only in shaping the courses and ensuring the unconventional starting order for trail runners, but also invites the Stirnu Buks community to gather on 11 October for the season’s most important matches: “The Pļaviņas final is where the entire Stirnu Buks family meets, where you feel the special end-of-season atmosphere and prove yourself on a dynamic, hilly course. You’ll find both a sporting challenge and a festive vibe that will stay with you for a long time. The forests around Pļaviņas are best enjoyed in autumn, and I can guarantee that everyone who reaches the finish will feel delighted with what they’ve accomplished.”
The organizers promise both sporting excitement and a family-friendly atmosphere with children’s distances, entertainment, and local flavors to enjoy.
Registration and stage info. Participant registration takes place on the official website: www.stirnubuks.lv. If you haven’t participated before, you must first create your participant profile page.
Race info page → https://www.stirnubuks.lv/race/2025/finals/
Course maps → https://www.stirnubuks.lv/race/2025/finals/distances/
If you plan to spend a bit more time around Pļaviņas and want ideas on what to do, see, or where to eat, check → https://visitaizkraukle.lv/
About the “ERGO Stirnu Buks” series
The “Stirnu Buks” trail running series has been organized since 2014, becoming the most extensive running series in Northern Europe and attracting over 20,000 participants each year. The series introduces runners to Latvia’s natural treasures, combining sport, adventure, and community spirit.
At the end of August this year, the organizers of the “Stirnu Buks” trail running series signed a long-term cooperation agreement with the organizers of the world’s most prestigious trail event, UTMB Mont-Blanc, to host a UTMB World Series stage, Gauja Trail by UTMB. For the first time, it will take place on August 1–2, 2026, in Gauja National Park.