HYROX has two main individual divisions: Open and Pro. The course, the order and the distances are the same. What changes is the weight on the stations. The exact loads for each division are published in the HYROX rulebook for the current season, and they do change, so check there before entering.
Who Open is for
Open is the default for most people, and the right choice for a first race. The loads are heavy enough to be a real test but manageable for anyone who has trained for the event. Most of the field races Open, so you will have plenty of people around your level.
Who Pro is for
Pro is for experienced racers who are strong enough that the Open loads no longer limit them. If you are finishing Open races and the stations feel like the easy part — especially the sleds and wall balls — Pro might suit you. If the sleds are already your slowest stations in Open, Pro will make that gap bigger.
Signs you are ready for Pro
- You can complete the sled push and pull in Open without stopping.
- Your station times are strong compared with your run times.
- You can handle heavier sleds and a heavier wall ball in training without your form breaking down.
- You want a different challenge rather than a faster Open time.
Signs to stay in Open
- Your runs are fast but your stations are slow.
- You stop regularly on the sleds.
- You are still learning pacing.
Getting faster in Open is a perfectly good goal. Moving to Pro is not a promotion; it is a different race.
World Championship qualification
Qualification places are offered in several divisions, and the rules for which divisions and age groups qualify can change each season. If qualification is your goal, read the official qualification page for the current season. We covered the 2027 system in how a Hong Kong slot actually works.
Doubles and Relay
If neither individual division appeals, Doubles and Relay share the work. They are good ways to enter HYROX with friends or to race a different format. See HYROX Doubles and HYROX Relay.
Train for the load you will race
Whichever division you pick, train with the loads you will use on race day. Especially for the sleds, where the surface and weight change everything, training lighter gives a false sense of how the station will feel.