Psotkov memoriál 2026: Extreme and Basic courses as a relief
· 4 min read
Psotkov memoriál is a high mountain run in the High Tatras of Slovakia, starting and finishing at Štrbské Pleso. The 2026 edition ran on Saturday 17 October over two courses: Extreme is 37.9 km with 2,490 m of climbing over the Bystrá lávka saddle, and Basic is 25.3 km with 1,540 m below Kriváň. You can have either made as a 3D relief on a wooden base, from €59.
Psotkov memoriál 2026 in numbers
| Course | Distance | Elevation gain | Start | Time limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme | 37.9 km | 2,490 m | 7:30 | 8 hours |
| Basic | 25.3 km | 1,540 m | 9:00 | 6 hours |
- Official name: Memoriál Jozefa Psotku (the Jozef Psotka Memorial), 41st edition.
- Date: Saturday 17 October 2026.
- Start and finish: Štrbské Pleso, cross-country ski area.
- Field: capped at 400 runners, 200 per course. There is a 3 hour cut-off at Tri studničky.
- Organiser: the JAMES mountaineering club through OZ Psotkov memoriál, with the Tatra Mountain Rescue Service.
- Website: psotkovmemorial.sk
All figures are from the race rules. The Extreme course is not ranked on total time but like a rally on four timed sections, so the winning time is shorter than the actual time on the course.
Who was Jozef Psotka
Jozef Psotka was born in Košice in 1934. On 15 October 1984, aged 50, he reached the summit of Mount Everest with Zoltán Demján and the Sherpa Ang Rita without supplemental oxygen. He died on the descent on 16 October. According to the organiser, the memorial is dedicated to the Slovak climbers who died on Everest, including Jozef Just, Peter Božík, Dušan Becík and Jaroslav Jaško, who died in October 1988.
On race day a memorial ceremony is held at 10:00 at the Symbolic Cemetery, attended by members of the 1984 expedition. The GoTrail portal describes Psotkov memoriál as one of the oldest high mountain runs in Europe.
Where the courses go
Basic, according to the course description:
- Štrbské Pleso
- Jamské pleso
- Krivánsky žľab junction, just below the summit of Kriváň
- Tri studničky
- site of the former Važecká hut
- junction below Furkotská valley
- Škutnastá poľana
- Chata pod Soliskom hut
- Štrbské Pleso
Extreme follows the same course to Chata pod Soliskom and then continues:
- down the Esíčko ski slope to the lower chairlift station
- Mlynická valley with the Skok waterfall and Capie pleso
- Bystrá lávka saddle, about 2,314 m, with chain-secured sections
- Furkotská valley with the Wahlenberg lakes
- Škutnastá poľana and Chata pod Soliskom
- finish at Štrbské Pleso
The 2026 edition
111 runners started the Extreme and 91 finished. On Basic 137 started and 130 finished. According to the results, the winners were:
| Course | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| Extreme, sum of timed sections | Peter Fraňo, 2:37:37 | Iwona Górowska, 3:28:32 |
| Basic | Miroslav Hraško, 2:38:12 | Izabela Wysłuch, 2:54:31 |
Peter Fraňo spent 6:08:42 in total on the Extreme course. Basic was again the final of the Slovak skyrunning league.
What the courses look like as a relief
Both courses are compact loops below the main Tatra ridge, so they fit a small area and the peaks stand out strongly on the relief. On the Extreme you can clearly see the cut of the Mlynická and Furkotská valleys with the Bystrá lávka saddle between them.
The relief is 3D printed in matte PLA at real elevations, and the course stands out as a raised line in a contrasting colour. It is screwed onto a solid wooden base, and we laser engrave your text into its front edge.
How to order a relief of your course
- Open your course straight in 3D: Extreme or Basic. The preview is free.
- To use your exact track, upload a GPX from your watch or paste a Strava activity link. See How to export a GPX from Strava.
- Choose a finish and size, and write the text for the base, for example your name, the date and your time.
- Add the relief to your cart. We make it within a few days and ship it with Packeta or a courier.
| Size | Price in EUR | Price in CZK |
|---|---|---|
| 10 cm | €59 | 1,499 CZK |
| 15 cm | €69 | 1,749 CZK |
| 20 cm | €79 | 1,999 CZK |
FAQ
Where can I find the Psotkov memoriál course?
The organiser describes both courses on its course page and the GPX is on the pretekaj.sk race portal. You don't need to download them for a relief: open the Extreme or Basic course in 3D straight away.
Why does the preview show a different elevation gain from the race rules?
The base text is pre-filled from the measured GPX track and terrain heights, which gives about 2,590 m for the Extreme, while the rules state 2,490 m. The engraving is yours to edit, so you can change it to the official figure or your watch reading.
How much does a relief of the course cost?
A 10 cm relief costs €59, 15 cm costs €69 and 20 cm costs €79. Prices include VAT and the 3D preview is free.
Can I engrave my time on the base?
Yes. Three lines of 40 characters fit, for example Psotkov memoriál Extreme 2026, your name with the date, and your time. For the Extreme you can give the sum of the timed sections or your total time on the course.
How long do production and delivery take?
Every relief is printed, engraved and assembled to order, which takes a few days. We then hand it to Packeta or a courier and send you a tracking link.
