Guide to Ski Mountaineering in the Olympics

The 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics are just around the corner, bringing together the world’s best athletes in winter sports for an exciting showcase of talent. While familiar disciplines like alpine skiing, bobsled, and figure skating will be in the spotlight, this year introduces a new addition to the lineup – ski mountaineering.

Known as SkiMo for short, ski mountaineering combines elements of Alpine and cross-country skiing, along with uphill skiing and boot packing, to create a unique endurance race. Competitors will navigate a course that includes ascents, descents, and even on-foot sections, all while showcasing their skills in this adrenaline-filled sport that allows participants to connect with nature and pristine landscapes.

The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games will feature three new ski mountaineering events: men’s and women’s sprint races, as well as a mixed relay event. The sprint race is a fast-paced challenge with uphill, on-foot, and downhill sections, while the mixed relay involves teams of one man and one woman competing in multiple ascents and descents.

Historically rooted in the Alpine regions, ski mountaineering has gained popularity in countries like Italy, France, and Switzerland. Top athletes like Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll and Emily Harrop are expected to shine at the games, with Coll being a reigning world champion and Harrop dominating women’s sprint events in recent seasons.

For viewers eager to catch the action, ski mountaineering will kick off on Thursday, Feb. 19, with women’s and men’s sprint heats. The full competition schedule includes the mixed relay on Sunday, Feb. 21, airing on USA Network and streaming live on Peacock and NBC Olympics platforms.

As a relatively young sport in the United States, ski mountaineering has seen growth in recent years, culminating in Team USA’s qualification for the mixed relay event at the Olympics. With athletes like Cam Smith and Anna Gibson making history with their qualification win, the sport is set to make a memorable debut at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.

Don’t miss your chance to witness the excitement of ski mountaineering at the Olympics – tune in to watch the competition live and be a part of this thrilling new addition to the Winter Games.