Ski Mountaineering: The Thrilling New Sport at the Winter Olympics
It’s been roughly 102 years since the inaugural Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, but this year’s Games in Milan Cortina will mark a historic moment: the debut of skimo, short for ski mountaineering. While new to the Olympic stage, skimo boasts a rich and fascinating history spanning decades.
CNN Sports recently spoke with Cam Smith and Anna Gibson, the two athletes representing Team USA in this exciting event, to give fans an inside look at what to expect.
What is Ski Mountaineering?
Skimo is a demanding combination of uphill climbing and downhill skiing, requiring athletes to adapt their equipment based on the terrain. The sport encompasses various disciplines, including individual races, sprints, and team relays. This year’s Olympic program features the men’s and women’s sprints, as well as the mixed relay.
The Adrenaline of the Sprints
The sprint races are fast-paced and intense, typically lasting around three minutes and involving one ascent and one descent. Success hinges on swift and precise equipment transitions. Athletes begin by attaching “skins” – materials that provide traction on snow – to their skis for the uphill climb. They then switch to ski boots for a short section, before transitioning back to skis for the final ascent. Removing the skins, competitors then slalom down the descent to the finish line.
Teamwork in the Relays
The relays showcase teamwork, with one man and one woman completing four alternating laps of a course that includes two ascents and two descents per lap.
“I think what makes the sport really dynamic is that you have this uphill aerobic component, you have this downhill gravity racing component, and then the transitions in between make the racing incredibly dynamic,” Smith explains to CNN Sports. “The lead changes constantly and something is always happening, and no lead is ever safe in the race.”
The Challenge of Transitions and Competition
The transition sections, where athletes switch equipment, are crucial and often nerve-wracking. Fatigue and snowy conditions add to the challenge, with mere seconds separating victory from defeat. While competition is fierce, with athletes vying for the best line and position, unsportsmanlike conduct is rare.
“It certainly can be physical because you’re racing for the same line, you’re trying to get ahead of the other competitors before the descent, trying to find the more advantageous place in the transition area,” Smith says. “So it’s definitely competitive. There’s contact and there’s strategy from that component of trying to get out of that chaos and get ahead of it. You have to be strong and resilient when you are in the midst of it.”
A History Rooted in the Mountains
Skimo’s origins lie in backcountry skiing, a necessity before the advent of ski lifts. The sport has a strong connection to the military, with troops utilizing skinning techniques for mountain travel and patrol during World War II. Some national teams continue to receive sponsorship from military organizations.
In the US, however, US Skimo has been rapidly professionalizing since being announced as a future Olympic event in 2021.
Meet Team USA’s Skimo Olympians
Cam Smith and Anna Gibson are the two American athletes competing in skimo at the Winter Games. Both have unique paths to the Olympics.
Anna Gibson: A Natural Transition
Gibson only began competing in skimo in July, yet quickly rose to Olympic-level performance. Her background in skiing, track, and trail running provided a solid foundation for the sport. “I’ve always wanted to be an Olympian,” she shares. “When I was 10, if you had asked me, I would have said I wanted to go for downhill skiing… And then for track from that point forward.”
Smith convinced Gibson to pursue Olympic qualification, and the pair secured a spot for the Games by winning the mixed relay race at their first World Cup event.
Cam Smith: Resilience and Dedication
Smith, a veteran of skimo and trail running, has witnessed the sport’s evolution and is excited about its future. He’s eager to compete at his first Olympics after overcoming several injuries. “The Olympics was just something I was a fan of and I always thought it was the best sporting spectacle,” he says. “I didn’t have any reason to believe that I would be an athlete in summer or winter… It was just something that I enjoyed watching as a fan, which makes it even more special that now I can be a part of that from the inside.”
The skimo events kick off on February 19th with the individual sprints, followed by the mixed relay on February 21st.
