OLYMPICS: SkiMo-New sport begins in snowstorm

BORMIO, Italy – Ski mountaineering, or SkiMo, made its highly anticipated Winter Olympics debut Thursday in Bormio, with heats for both the women’s and men’s sprint competitions.

Thirty-six of the world’s top ski mountaineers gathered at the foot of the famed Stelvio slope, ready to tackle the snowy challenge. Despite a snowstorm, fans flocked to the nearly sold-out event, while athletes were unfazed, accustomed to harsh mountain conditions.

What is SkiMo?

Ski mountaineering is the first new sport added to the Winter Olympics since snowboarding in 1998. Its roots trace back to the 19th century, long before ski lifts existed.

Sprint races feature an uphill section where competitors climb steep slopes on skis fitted with “skins”—thin strips that provide grip. Athletes then transition to running up stairs with their skis strapped to their backs, return to skinning, and finally stow the skins to ski down a short slalom course. Each race lasts about three minutes.

Transitions are crucial, and athletes spend countless hours training to avoid time penalties that can decide a race.

Competition Format

The sprint events start with three heats of six athletes each. The first three finishers in each heat, along with the three fastest “lucky losers,” advance to the semi-finals, also with six athletes per race. The six fastest from the semis then compete in the finals for gold.

The women’s final is scheduled for 1:55 p.m., followed by the men’s final at 2:15 p.m.

Athletes to Watch

In the women’s sprint, France’s Emily Harrop is the favorite, holding the top spot in the International Ski Mountaineering Federation rankings for 2025. Spain’s Ana Alonso Rodriguez, returning from injury, and Switzerland’s Marianne Fatton are strong contenders.

For the men, Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll leads the rankings, while Switzerland’s Jon Kistler and France’s Thibault Anselmet are also expected to challenge for the podium.

-Reporting by Marleen Kaesebier and Martyn Herman in Bormio; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne/Reuters