With the 2024 DEKA World Championships now complete, Spartan DEKA has released several updates for the upcoming 2025 season. There are a few rule changes, as well as a new structure for heats at all DEKA FIT events.
We’ll also take a look at a few event-related changes in 2025, and a new masters division for ruck athletes.
DEKA Heats
The biggest change with how DEKA heats work in 2025 is that Age Group & Open heats are being combined into one, and simply referred to as age group heats. All athletes that compete in age group are eligible to qualify for DEKA World Championships.
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There will no longer be an option to sign up for an Open heat.
Also, when signing up for DEKA Teams races, there will just be a single Teams option for all ages/levels.
DEKA Rule Changes
There is one main change to the standards of movement for 2025, and it occurs in Zone 1 with the RAM reverse lunges.
Previously, only knee extension was required. You could be bent over at the hip as much as you’d like. No hip extension was required.
For 2025 DEKA events, all reps of the RAM reverse lunges now require knee AND hip extension. You can no longer lean forward on your lunges.
DEKA Teams Changes
For all DEKA FIT, DEKA MILE, and DEKA STRONG coed team races in the 2025 season, women must use the harder setting on the tank in Zone 9—3 on the Torque Tank, 8 on the Xebex tank.
Previously, men & women could switch the tank resistance based on who was pushing it.
Spectator Passes 👎
Starting in 2025, spectators are now charged a fee to watch a DEKA FIT event. All DEKA events used to be free for spectators.
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The listed price is $10 for a spectator pass, for each day that you want to come watch. However, it comes out to $13.05 with mandatory service fees.
If you’re attending events on both Saturday AND Sunday, it’ll run you a little over $26.
To our knowledge, athletes who have already purchased a ticket to race can watch the event for free.
DEKA FIT Knoxville
Seven of the eight 2025 DEKA FIT events qualify athletes for the 2025 DEKA World Championships. However, the eighth and final event, DEKA FIT Knoxville on October 18th happens after the qualifying date for World Championships, so it will be a qualifier for the 2026 DEKA World Championships.
2025 DEKA ULTRA Events
2024 was the inaugural year for the DEKA ULTRA. We only saw a single DEKA ULTRA event, which was the DEKA ULTRA World Cup on July 21st in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
In 2025, Spartan DEKA will host 5 DEKA ULTRA events, culminating in another DEKA ULTRA World Cup on September 7, 2025 in Austin, TX. All events take place in the U.S.
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- Sunday, Feb 16, 2025 – Ocala, FL – no prize money
- Sunday, May 4, 2025 – Sacramento, CA – no prize money
- Sunday, Aug 10, 2025 – Manheim, PA – no prize money
- Sunday, Aug 31, 2025 – Fort Wayne, Indiana – no prize money
- Sunday, Sep 7, 2025 – Austin, TX – 💰 prize money for the top 3 male & female elite
See all 2025 DEKA FIT events →
The Second Ever DEKA FIT in Australia
Spartan DEKA will run its second DEKA FIT event in Australia at the Caroline Springs George Cross FC soccer club based in Fraser Rise, a north-western suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. All times will be eligible for qualification to the 2025 DEKA World Championships.
Heats include:
- Age Group
- Elite
- Teams
Prize money is available for the elite men & women:
- $3,000 AUD
- $1,500 AUD
- $1,000 AUD
See our rundown of all DEKA prize money for 2025 here.
It doesn’t look like a ruck division is available for this event.
DEKA Ruck Masters Division
Previously, all DEKA Ruck athletes competed in a single division, regardless of age. Starting in 2025, a new Ruck Masters division has been created for athletes ages 45+. All athletes 44 and under will continue to compete in the general ruck division.
Brand New DEKA ATLAS Event
While not specifically a change from the 2024 season, Spartan DEKA has released a completely new event. Learn all about it in our comprehensive breakdown of the brand new DEKA ATLAS event.
Let us know in the comments what you think about these changes. Are they good for the sport? Did DEKA get it right for 2025?
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