Enzo Giampaolo’s Journey to The Youth Skyrunning World Champs
We had a chance to catch up with Enzo Giampoalo. Enzo is 17 years old, lives in Lewiston, Maine where he is The Lewiston Highschool Team Co-Captain for both Track and XC.
Below Enzo retraces his steps to The 2025 Youth Skyrunning World Championships
October 14, 2025
We had a chance to catch up with Enzo Giampoalo. Enzo is 17 years old, lives in Lewiston, Maine where he is The Lewiston Highschool Team Co-Captain for both Track and XC.
Below Enzo retraces his steps to The 2025 Youth Skyrunning World Championships… Warts and all!
You applied for the youth skyrunning champs, and then what happened? How did that make you feel?
Enzo: I first heard about the champs from an Instagram post of Beckett Cote’s (Teammate and friend), back in late April. From there I was super intrigued and I started doing all that I could to find information about the event and also the US Skyrunning program. I had vaguely heard about a couple u20/u18 USATF ’trail’ running teams, but none ever seemed super appealing to me at the time. But I think Skyrunning, and this year's champs especially, really appealed to me for a couple reasons. One, it seemed like Skyrunning courses were all real mountain running with big vert and technical trails (which I like), and two, this year’s champs were in Abruzzo, which is the region of Italy where my family is from so getting to race there seemed extra special to me. I was pretty frantic to connect with the coaches since the deadline for applications had already passed, and once I did, realizing the team was already full up, I was a little dejected. But Coach Ryan Kerrigan told me I was 1st alternate, and if anyone pulled out before the race he would give me a call, so I just turned my focus to the spring track season ahead.”
Okay, then you got the call that another boy in your age group had to bail and you were IN! ! What did that feel like?
Enzo: It was pretty crazy. I remember telling the coaches I would only be able to go with at least 3 weeks notice since I would need time to prepare and tailor my training for the event, and I’m pretty sure I got the email on the last possible day. I was stoked though. I pretty much dropped everything and threw together a 3 week training block to try and get my mountain legs back. I was fit, but the last serious trail running I had done was probably about 3 years ago during the tail-end of Covid.”
You were out for a training run, and then what happened?
Enzo: It had already been a kind of subpar training block with some small sickness and other personal issues going on, but I was feeling fairly fit and ready, about a week out. I was on an easy 2 hr run with a good bit of vert; up Valley Way/down Airline Trail on Mt Adams for anyone familiar with the Whites. I had already made it through all the technical terrain, just moving very chill and with no issues at all, when about a quarter mile from the trailhead I stumbled on a root and landed on a stone water bar, crushing my wrist against my chest and snapping two bones in my right wrist. It was kind of a freak accident and definitely the worst injury I've ever had, both in pain and pride.”
Enzo rockin’ a sweet sky-blue cast…
Photo- ©Jakub Stryk
Despite suffering a broken wrist, you decided to go the champs anyway. How was this experience? Still a fun one? It didn’t end up being a cinderella story, but were there some small take-aways?
Enzo: For about 4 days after the fall I wasn’t sure if I was still going to go. The pain and swelling were super bad, but thankfully I had been able to get a cast put on the day after (shout out to Dr. Qvick, literally that was his name). About 2 days before my flights were supposed to leave, I was able to do a test run which while not great, gave me at least a little hope I would still be able to attend and race the VK. I think choosing to go was probably the best decision I ever made.
While I wasn’t able to race the second of the two races (the 'real’ skyrace with both an up/down portion) because of the risk of falling on the downhills with my wrist, I still did pretty well in the VK, placing 12th for the 17/18 yr old division and running the 2nd fastest time of the day for Team USA Skyrunning. So certainly not a cinderella story by any means, but I’m really confident that next year with proper, serious preparation, two functional hands for powerhiking, and regained downhill prowess (which tends to be one of my strengths…) I can put some really good efforts out in the mountains.
Racing aside though, the experience I had at Youth Skyrunning Worlds was honestly amazing. It was super cool to meet tons of interesting kids from the US and all around the world who all share the same passion for mountains. The hotel experience, with all the teams staying in 2 hotels across the street from each other, dorm style, was a blast and it was a nice escape for a few days. Pretty much all we did was eat, sleep, run, and hang out, which is honestly not a bad life to live! I made countless memories and met some really cool people, and the event opened my eyes to a whole world I didn’t really know existed. Coming from a city in Maine where explaining to someone that your sport of choice is trail running, involves a 3 minute oration, it was refreshing to be in an environment where not only does everyone understand what an endurance sport is, but skyrunning is literally all they’re focused on!
As I reflect on this summer now, my biggest takeaway is a shift in perspective and focus, away from the track (which is what I’ve engrossed myself with for the past few years, as it was the only endurance sport I could do with my friends) and look more towards the mountains/trails. I’ve always been really passionate about pushing my limits in the mountains, and as I go off to college next year I think I’ll have a lot more opportunity for it. I have some big goals for the next few summers and I’m excited to get after it!
Looking forward to returning in good health?
Enzo: Absolutely. My wrist has healed fully now after a very uncomfortable 4 weeks in a hard cast, and another stint in a soft brace. Cross country here in Maine has been going pretty well for me so far, and I’m looking to defend my title as top returner at the State Championships November 1st. I’ll have a couple post season meets after that too, where I’ll look to run some quick times and cash in on the fitness I’ve been building. While the cast definitely slowed me down at the start of my late summer/fall training block, it certainly didn’t stop me; I was feeling the momentum building steadily up until the last week of September, when I picked up a slight hip injury that slowed me down a little at the big invitational meet. Fingers crossed, I’ve worked that out and am back to crushing workouts as I sharpen up for States over these next 3 weeks.
I’m excited for the announcement of where next year's Champs will be held, and would certainly love to be invited back on the team next summer to compete while fully healthy and fit!
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Sending Peace, Skyrunning Love and Leaf Loads of Fall Adventures to all!