Ski Mountaineering Races to Make Olympic Debut

Ski Mountaineering Races to Make Olympic Debut

Olympic rings are seen in the snow at the Stelvio Ski Center, venue for the alpine skiing and ski mountaineering disciplines at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Jan 16, 2025. (PHOTO / AP)

Emily Harrop wasn’t fast enough going downhill to make a mark in Alpine skiing, but she’s proving unstoppable going uphill.

The French athlete, who earned the title “queen of ski mountaineering,” made the switch to the sport at the age of 20. Harrop will be a favorite for gold when ski mountaineering makes its Olympic debut at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Games.

Harrop has dominated the World Cup sprint races this season, winning all four, including her most recent victory on February 22 at an Olympic test event in Bormio, which will host the ski mountaineering (or "skimo") events next year.

“It’s great to be able to come here a year before to test it out, it was really exciting for all of us,” Harrop said after her victory. “I think everyone had the test event in mind this year, so I’m really glad to end this day with a big confidence boost.”

Following her sprint win, Harrop earned a second-place finish in the mixed relay, alongside Thibault Anselmet.

The 27-year-old is a four-time world champion in relay and team events and has secured both the overall and sprint World Cup titles in the past three seasons.

What Is Ski Mountaineering?

Ski mountaineering requires athletes to ascend a mountain before descending.

“It’s kind of like combining cross-country skiing with Alpine skiing. You sprint up a mountain with your skis on, then ski down a mini Alpine course,” explained Cameron Smith of the United States.

In sprint races, competitors use specialized skis with climbing skins—materials that improve traction against the snow—to ascend, and sometimes climb on foot in ski boots. Once at the top, they switch to downhill skis to descend.

At the Olympics, 18 male and 18 female athletes will compete in individual sprint races and a mixed relay.

Sprint races typically last only about three minutes—far shorter than other ski mountaineering events like the vertical (uphill-only) and individual races, which can last well over an hour, but are not part of the Olympic program.

Training for the Olympic Format

With the sprint race as the Olympic format, athletes have had to adjust their training routines to focus on shorter, more explosive efforts.

“My training changed a lot because the races are short, so we do a lot of gym work and short intervals,” said Oriol Cardona Coll of Spain, who won the men’s sprint and the mixed relay with Ana Alonso Rodriguez. “We altered our preparation, and it worked.”

The course in Bormio, located at the foot of the famous Stelvio slope, will also host the men’s Alpine skiing events.

As one athlete described, the course features a bit of everything: an ascent with climbing skins, followed by foot climbing with skis on the back, then another short ascent before switching to skis to descend 70 meters downhill through raised banks and steep curves.

The mixed relay involves another descent halfway through the longer course, raced twice by each team member in alternating order.

Although the races are fast-paced, athletes must remain mentally sharp for the frequent transitions where they switch their skis or skins.

“I tell people we just practice taking our skis on and off a lot,” said American Jessie Young, who finished 10th in the relay with Smith.

Is the Sprint True Ski Mountaineering?

Some feel the sprint race is not representative of traditional ski mountaineering.

“I think the sprint is a really fun, spectator-friendly event. It’s very different, almost like a different sport compared to the longer races,” said US racer David Sinclair.

Many athletes in Bormio agreed that while the sprint differs from the sport’s traditional Alpine climbing, it will serve as a good introduction to ski mountaineering.

“It’s like saying the 100 meters isn’t a real race,” said Italy’s Nicolo Ernesto Canclini. “It’s true that someone doesn’t usually just run 100 meters, but it’s the most followed event in the Summer Olympics. Ski mountaineering had to make this compromise to get into the Olympics… Hopefully, in the future, we’ll have more classic races too.”

When asked about his preference for the sprint versus longer races, Canclini said: “My favorite is when I’m without a race number, just going up into the mountains and stopping at a rifugio (mountain lodge) for a nice beer—that’s the best ski mountaineering for me.”

Home Advantage

For Canclini, next year’s Olympics will be especially meaningful as the races will be held on his home turf. The two-time world champion grew up in Bormio and lives just 300 meters from the slope.

“It’s a great emotion to race at home,” he said. “As a youngster, I was an Alpine skier, so having seen all the greats race here, I dreamed of racing here myself. Then I switched sports, and in the end, I still got to race here. It’s a great satisfaction and feeling.”

Canclini’s family and friends were there to cheer him on during the weekend’s event. Unfortunately, he tripped during his ascent in the qualifiers, losing about three seconds as his skis became trapped in the strap holding them to his back. He didn’t make it to the quarterfinals, falling short by less than a second.

“Everyone said to me, ‘better that it happened this year than next’,” Canclini laughed. “But it would have been even better if it hadn’t happened at all.”