The Toughest 400 Meters Are Back: Red Bull 400 Returns to Ještěd

Red Bull 400 is an extreme uphill race to the top of a ski jumping hill, attracting both experienced athletes and amateurs alike. This year’s edition will also feature Eva Adamczyková, Martin Fuksa, and Maxim Habanec at the starting line.

400 Meters That Hurt

At Ještěd, runners face a direct climb up the ski jumping hill, combining speed and a brutal incline over the 400-meter course. The gradient reaches up to 35%, ranking the track among the toughest of its kind.

“What makes it unique is that it’s a relatively short distance. You can see the finish line the whole time, but to get there, you really have to dig deep,” says Jakub Šiarnik, winner of the last Czech edition held in Liberec in 2021. Šiarnik has been competing in the race since 2018 and has already collected six victories. He claimed his first Red Bull 400 win in Liberec in 2019 and hopes to secure his third triumph there this year.

The race is open to everyone aged 18 and over, regardless of performance level, and features men’s, women’s, and relay categories. Individual races will begin with qualification heats over the full 400-meter distance, with the winners advancing directly to the final. The remaining fastest runners across all heats will qualify based on their times. Relay races (4 × 100 meters – men’s, women’s, and mixed teams) will be held directly as finals without qualification rounds.

According to Šiarnik, the race is decided in the second half of the course. “The key moment is crossing the take-off edge, where you need to push again and increase your pace toward the finish. It’s also psychological — if you don’t go out too hard at the start, you know you can make it,” he adds.

How to Register

Registration for the race opens on May 19 at 12:00 CET at redbull.cz/400. Entry fees are CZK 1,590 for individuals and CZK 2,590 for four-member relay teams.

The race has long enjoyed strong participation in the Czech Republic, with the previous edition attracting more than 1,200 runners and selling out quickly.

The Road to the Start Begins with a Spring Challenge

A new addition this year is the Red Bull 400 Challenge on Strava, taking place from April 27 to May 17, 2026. Participants must climb a total of 1,200 vertical meters over the course of three weeks. Those who complete the challenge will receive a CZK 400 discount on the individual entry fee.

Red Bull 400 Beyond the Czech Republic

Red Bull 400 is an extreme race held every year on ski jumping hills across several European countries and beyond. Traditional stops include Austria, Germany, Slovenia, and Poland. While each course has its own specifics, the format always remains the same — 400 meters up a steep slope.

The event partners are Nova Action, Evropa 2, and Crivit. More information about the race can be found at redbull.cz/400.