In 2026, the conventional wisdom that “skiing is about sliding downhill” will be shattered.
The Milan-Cortina Olympics will introduce a new event: Ski Mountaineering (SkiMo).
This competition will unfold scenes never seen before, where athletes spend more time panting and scrambling up snowy mountains than they do sliding down.
Heart rates constantly hit the limit, and athletes scramble to put on and take off gear. We explain how to enjoy this thrilling new sport, sometimes called an obstacle course on snow or a triathlon on snow.
What exactly is this sport? → The race has 3 phases
In short, “win by climbing the snowy mountain on your own two feet, skiing down, and reaching the finish line fastest.” But the journey is incredibly hectic. Athletes switch between these three modes during the race:
- Climb
Attach climbing skins to the bottom of your skis and scramble up steep, wall-like slopes while still wearing them. - Carry
On rock faces too steep for skis, remove them, pack them into your backpack, and scramble up in boots. It looks like something out of a ninja movie. - Downhill
At the summit, they peel off the skins and race down in one swift descent.
This sprint event, repeated in a short span of about 3 to 4 minutes, is contested at the Olympics. It creates a breathless, nail-biting race where there’s not a single second to rest.
The biggest highlight: “Transition” = F1 pit stops
Winning this event isn’t just about physical strength. The transition—switching modes (the gear change)—is the biggest highlight.
After climbing the snowy mountain, athletes reach the summit still wearing skis. They instantly rip off the anti-slip sheet stuck to the bottom of their skis and tuck it into the chest of their jacket, switching to glide mode.
This takes just a few seconds. Their hand movements are like watching fast-forward footage.
Here, if they panic and the sheet gets tangled, or if they fail to clip in the bindings, they’ll be overtaken by several competitors in an instant. It’s a tense scene where the slightest mistake can be fatal.
Seeing is believing. Witness this “busyness” for yourself.
Watching the video is quicker than any description.
The transition scenes are around 1:18 and 2:45. Focus on the elegant hand movements switching from ascent to descent. It’s practically an F1 tire change.
The Secret of the “Magic Sheet”
Watching the video, you might wonder, “How can you climb slopes on skis? Don’t you slide backward?” The secret lies in the sheet attached to the bottom of the skis.
It was once called a “Seal” because it used seal fur, but today it’s made of nylon or mohair.
Its surface has a texture resembling a cat’s back. Stroking it from top to bottom feels smooth, but stroking it the opposite way makes the fibers stand up, creating resistance. This principle allows skiers to move forward without sliding backward.
During transitions, athletes peel off this seal instantly to slide down in one swift motion.
Why is it an Olympic event now?
The IOC chose this deceptively grueling sport for two main reasons.
Reason 1: It’s overwhelmingly “Instagrammable”
The modern Olympics are making various attempts to attract younger viewers.
The Impact of Full-Body Tights
In pursuit of air resistance reduction and ease of movement, athletes’ suits are now full-body, tight-fitting. Their appearance, resembling “superhero teams” dashing across snowy mountains, creates a tremendous visual impact.
3-Minute High-Speed Decisions
From start to finish, the race lasts a mere 3 minutes. This format perfectly suits Generation Z, who are accustomed to short videos.
Reason 2: It’s Actually a “100-Year Revival”
Ski mountaineering isn’t entirely new.
Its roots lie in the “Military Patrol” event held at the first Winter Olympics in 1924 (Chamonix Games). This event later split into two disciplines.
- Biathlon
Biathlon emerged by dropping the climbing and focusing solely on flat-terrain movement and shooting. It later became a hugely popular event.
- Ski Mountaineering
Ski mountaineering emerged by dropping the shooting and focusing solely on ascents and descents in mountainous terrain.
In other words, this is also a historic comeback for Ski Mountaineering, the older sibling who was overtaken by its younger brother, Biathlon, returning to the Olympics in a new form after 102 years.
Witnessing the “corpses” after the finish
Ski mountaineering lacks the elegance of figure skating. What you get here is ragged breathing bordering on oxygen deprivation, the clanking sounds of gear adjustments, and snow spray.
The moment they cross the finish line, the sheer brutality leaves every athlete collapsed on the snow, unable to move for a while. The beauty of these spent corpses, having given their absolute all, is also part of ski mountaineering’s appeal.
In 2026, it will undoubtedly spark social media buzz with “What is that sport?!” If you study up now, you’ll definitely be able to explain it with a smug look on your face.
Want to know more? Must-watch sports at the 2026 Milan Olympics
After skimo, check out ice hockey, the combat sport on ice!
