Minotaur Skyrace launches new grant to support women trail runners
Out of a cancelled year comes a grant aimed at helping more women make it to Minotaur's mountain start line
Ryan Legroulx
The Minotaur Skyrace is renowned for its steep, rocky climbs and stunning views in Crowsnest Pass, Alta., as well as for the vibrant community it gathers, comprised of elite athletes, weekend mountain enthusiasts and dedicated fans and volunteers. This season’s cancellation was tough on everyone involved. Instead of letting the unused podium prize sit there, the organizers decided to turn it into something useful.
Introducing the Arc’teryx Minotaur Skyrace Grant
Minotaur Skyrace, in partnership with the outdoorwear brand Arc’teryx, have launched the Arc’teryx Minotaur Skyrace Grant, aimed at helping more women get to the 2026 start line, including trans women and non-binary athletes. Mountain and trail races still see fewer women lining up, and the race team wanted to put real support behind changing that. Four grants of $1,000 will be awarded, and each recipient will also get a free entry into next year’s event. The organizers have been open about wanting to see a broader range of runners on the course, and this is one direct step toward that.
Support you can actually use
Applicants can use the funding however it actually helps them train or get to the race. That might be travel, coaching, mountain safety courses, gear that holds up in the rocks, childcare, time off work or something more personal. The idea is to back runners in the ways that matter to them, without trying to predetermine what that should look like.
Opening the door for more runners
Runners may have looked at Minotaur with interest but felt unsure about the logistics or the financial side of preparing for such a demanding race. This grant gives a bit of breathing room for those who want to take it on. The application asks for a sense of your goals and how the support would help, and doesn’t require anything polished or formal—just your own story.
Looking ahead
Applications close Dec. 2, 2025, with the link available here. Updates on next year’s registration will be coming through the Minotaur Skyrace’s Instagram at @meettheminotaur, along with a few hints that more news is on the way.
