Ski Mountaineering at Milano Cortina 2026: Olympic Debut Guide

A Historic First

Ski mountaineering — known as skimo — makes its debut as a full Olympic medal sport at Milano Cortina 2026, marking one of the most significant additions to the Winter Games programme in recent years. The International Olympic Committee approved the sport's inclusion in 2022, recognising its deep roots in alpine culture, its growing competitive circuit, and its natural fit with the mountainous terrain of northern Italy.

Five medal events will be contested, giving athletes the chance to become the first-ever Olympic champions in this demanding discipline.

What Is Ski Mountaineering?

Ski mountaineering combines uphill climbing on skis with downhill skiing across mountainous terrain. Athletes use lightweight equipment — skis with adhesive climbing skins for ascent, which are removed for descents — and must transition between climbing and skiing modes at designated points during the race.

The sport tests a unique combination of:

• Aerobic endurance — Sustained climbing at high intensity over steep terrain
• Technical ski ability — Fast, controlled descents on variable snow
• Transition speed — Switching between climbing and skiing modes, including attaching and removing skins, changing between walk and ski modes on bindings, and sometimes bootpacking (carrying skis and climbing on foot)

Courses feature significant vertical gain and loss, with athletes ascending and descending multiple times during a single race.

The 5 Medal Events

Sprint

The sprint is the most spectator-friendly format. Athletes race a short course with rapid transitions between climbing and skiing. A qualification round determines the starting field, followed by knockout heats leading to a final. Races last roughly three to four minutes, with explosive climbing efforts and fast descents compressed into a tight, visible course.

Individual

The individual race is the flagship event of competitive ski mountaineering. Athletes tackle a longer course with multiple ascents and descents, accumulating significant vertical metres over the duration. Races typically last 30 to 45 minutes for men and slightly longer relative to the course for women. Route-finding is not a factor at the Olympic level — courses are clearly marked — but pacing, transition efficiency, and descending skill all play decisive roles.

Mixed Relay

The mixed relay pairs one male and one female athlete from each nation. Each team member completes legs of the course, with a tag-zone handoff between partners. The relay format amplifies the spectacle and national team dimension of the competition.

Venue

Ski mountaineering events take place in the Bormio area within the Valtellina cluster. The steep, varied terrain around Bormio provides ideal conditions for course design, with natural elevation changes that showcase the full range of ski mountaineering skills. Courses are set at elevations between approximately 1,200 and 2,500 metres.

Nations to Watch

Ski mountaineering has its strongest tradition in the alpine nations where the sport originated as a practical means of mountain travel.

• Italy — A dominant force on the ISMF World Cup circuit, competing on home snow
• Spain — Consistently strong, with multiple world champions
• Switzerland — Deep talent pool and strong federation support
• France — A traditional powerhouse in the sport

Italy's position as both host nation and sporting leader in ski mountaineering makes this one of the most anticipated debut events in recent Olympic history. The Italian team is expected to be a serious contender across all five events, backed by passionate home support.

Why It Matters

The inclusion of ski mountaineering reflects a broader shift in the Winter Olympics toward sports with grassroots participation and strong connections to mountain culture. Millions of recreational skiers around the world practise some form of ski touring, and the Olympic platform introduces competitive skimo to a global audience for the first time.