As the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics officially unfold, the global spotlight has shifted to Bormio, Italy, where ski mountaineering—affectionately known as “skimo”—is making its historic Olympic debut. This high-altitude discipline, which combines the endurance of uphill climbing with the technical precision of downhill racing, represents the only entirely new sport added to the 2026 programme.
The Olympic Format: Speed and Strategy
Unlike traditional backcountry touring, which can span days, the Olympic iteration focuses on explosive speed. The competition in Bormio features three primary events:
- Men’s and Women’s Sprints: A frantic, three-round knockout format where athletes must ascend 100 metres of elevation, transition their gear, and descend in roughly three minutes.
- Mixed Relay: A strategic team event that has already seen unexpected dominance from the United States, with Anna Gibson and Cameron Smith emerging as gold-medal contenders after a recent World Cup victory.
Athletes to Watch
The inaugural Olympic podium is expected to be a battleground between established European powerhouses and rising North American talent:
- Oriol Cardona Coll (Spain): The 2023 World Champion and technical maestro is the heavy favourite in the men’s sprint.
- Emily Harrop (France): A chief sergeant in the French military, Harrop has overcome near-retirement to become the woman to beat in the sprint and relay events.
- Marianne Fatton (Switzerland): A consistent podium finisher who recently secured a World Cup sprint victory, posing a direct threat to Harrop.
- Michael Woods (Canada): The Ottawa native and professional cyclist has drawn significant attention for his transition into skimo, leveraging his world-class aerobic engine for the uphill climbs.
The Gear: Engineering for the Ascent
Olympic skimo requires highly specialized, lightweight equipment designed to minimize “uphill tax.” Standard kits include:
| Equipment | Specifications & Purpose |
|---|---|
| Skis | Ultra-narrow (60–90 mm) and lightweight to balance climbing speed with descent control. |
| Climbing Skins | Detachable, high-friction strips applied to the base for uphill traction. |
| Boots & Bindings | Minimalist designs with a high range of motion for “skinning” and quick-lock mechanisms for descending. |
| Safety Gear | Athletes carry lightweight backpacks, often containing shovels and probes, reflecting the sport’s alpine roots. |
A Sport “As Old as the Hills”
While 18 February 2026 marks its Olympic birth, the roots of ski mountaineering date back thousands of years. Archaeological evidence from the Altai region and Scandinavia suggests skiing emerged as a survival necessity between 8,000 and 5,000 BCE. Today, the sport has evolved from a niche backcountry pursuit into a mainstream Olympic discipline, driven by a surge in popularity in regions like Colorado and the Canadian Rockies.
As the races commence in the Italian Alps, the “breakdancing of the Winter Olympics”—so named for its frantic transitions and unique movement—is set to redefine what it means to be a complete mountain athlete.