What is different about vertical ski mountaineering races?

In the context of ski mountaineering, the vertical race is distinct because it consists exclusively of an ascent. Unlike other disciplines that involve a combination of climbing and descending, athletes in a vertical race use only their skis to climb and do not walk in boots. These courses typically feature an elevation gain of between 500 and 700 meters (1,640 and 2,300 feet), and all competitors begin the race simultaneously in a mass start.1