sport 2004 world championship of ski mountaineering
A Vertical Race is a special kind of ___MASK42___ without the typical downhill ___MASK26___ after ascending . At the mountain running and climbing passages the runners have to carry their skis in their backpacks . Vertical Races for women and men are part of all international ___MASK42___ competitions of the International Council for Ski Mountaineering Competitions ( ISMC ) as well as at many national competitions . The Union Internationale des Associations d ' Alpinisme ( UIAA ) is working toward the goal of having Vertical Race become an Olympic discipline at the 2018 Winter Olympics , . ___MASK42___ is a ___MASK26___ discipline that involves climbing mountains either on skis or carrying them , depending on the steepness of the ascent , and then descending on skis . There are two major categories of equipment used , free - heel Telemark skis and skis based on Alpine skis , where the heel is free for ascents , but is fixed during descent . The discipline may be practiced recreationally or as a competitive sport . The International Council for ___MASK42___ Competitions ( ISMC ) located in the " Floridablanca 84 " in Barcelona was part of the Union Internationale des Associations d ' Alpinisme ( UIAA ) and responsible for ___MASK42___ and vertical race competitions . The ISMC , which was founded in 1999 as follow - up institution of the Comité International du Ski - Alpinisme de Compétition ( CISAC ), merged into the International ___MASK42___ Federation ( ISMF ) in 2008 . The Comité International du Ski - Alpinisme de Compétition ( CISAC ) was the international committee of competition ___MASK42___ and was founded in 1991 . The 2004 World Championship of ___MASK42___ was the second World Championship of ___MASK42___ sanctioned by the International Council for ___MASK42___ Competitions ( ISMC ) , held in the Spanish Aran Valley from March 1 to March 6 , 2004 . Compared to the 2002 World Championship a relay race and a vertical race competition was added .