Climb, Breath, Adventure: That was the KufTrail 2026
- 21.05.2026
- Practical Project
Motivated runners at the start of the KufTrail UAM 2026 in Kufstein.
At the KufTrail UAM 2026, students from all over Austria gathered in Kufstein to determine the best trail runners from higher education institutions or universities. The 120 participants enjoyed a sporting event focused on performance, community, and sustainability.
On April 25, 2026, Kufstein once again became the hub of the Austrian collegiate sports scene: At the KufTrail UAM 2026, 120 students from all over Austria gathered to compete in the Austrian Collegiate Trail Running Championships. The event was organized by seven students from the Sports, Culture & Event Management degree program at the University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol.
With good equipment and a strong focus, the runners conquered the steeps.
Participants demonstrated their skills on courses ranging from seven to 14 kilometers in the Kufsteinerland region. The event offered not only athletic challenges but also opportunities for networking and exchange among higher education institutions or universities from across Austria.
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE KUFSTEINERLAND REGION
With 120 runners, the KufTrail saw an increase of 30 participants compared to the previous year. A total of 101 students competed in the official university rankings.
In the women’s 14-kilometer race, Verena Knieß from the University of Innsbruck took the win with a time of 1:22:36. In the men’s race, Lukas Hübner from the Kufstein University of Applied Sciences in Tyrol won with a time of 1:11:11.
Strong performances were also seen on the 7-kilometer course: Carla Schmidhuber from the University of Vienna secured victory in the women’s race with a time of 49:20 minutes, while Samuel Vorbach from JKU Linz won the men’s race with a time of 37:12 minutes.
PRACTICAL PROJECT WITH ACADEMIC RELEVANCE
The planning and execution of the event were entirely in the hands of the students at Kufstein University of Applied Sciences. In collaboration with the Genussmittel association, Unisport Austria, and the Federal Ministry, the KufTrail was established as an official component of Austrian university sports.
As a result, the event not only provided a platform for athletic competition but also an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge gained in the degree program to real-world situations - from organization and event management to communication and sustainable event planning.
Mirjam Berger from the organizing team emphasizes: “The KufTrail UAM 2026 was a particularly valuable experience for our team. It was exciting to be able to organize a sporting event entirely on our own, from planning through to execution.”
SUSTAINABILITY AS A CENTRAL ELEMENT
In 2026, there was also a special focus on sustainable event planning. Participants were encouraged to use eco-friendly modes of transportation; regional products were used for catering; and the medals were made of wood and produced on-site at the Kufstein University of Applied Sciences in Tyrol.
By combining athletic performance, outdoor experiences, and responsible organization, the KufTrail UAM 2026 once again set a strong example for innovative college sports programs.
Links:
- KufTrail UAM | Website
- Sports, Culture & Event Management | ft