Remember ski ballet? That was fun while it lasted.
Ski ballet won’t be making a return to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, but Ski Mountaineering will be make its debut with 5 new events.
The new medal events are: 2 men’s events (sprint/individual), 2 women’s events (sprint/individual), and 1 mixed-gender relay event.
Ski Mountaineering, also known as skimo, has exploded in popularity over the last two decades. Skimo is a little more intense than your average backcountry day on the skin track, but the appeal lies in athletes showcasing their uphill and downhill prowess in the same competition.
The IOC added skimo to the 2026 slate after the same 5 events were included at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland in 2020.
I’ll most likely watch the skimo competitions in 2026, but part of me is a little skeptical about how enjoyable they’ll really be to watch. I guess I’m just not a huge fan of watching people in spandex and skinny skis fly up and down the mountain.
I’d rather the Olympics adopt a model like Red Bull Raid. The Raid has skiers and snowboarders race uphill, and their downhill riding is judged based on technical ability rather than time.
^Event Participants compete during Red Bull Raid Credit: Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool
I think it provides a better blend to showcase the athlete’s true skills. You can read more about my experience at Red Bull Raid 2022 here.
Are you excited for skimo in 2026? Let us know!
Ski Mountaineering Photos Credit: FACEBOOK/ISMF World Cup Ski Mountaineering
