A skiing sport is making its Winter Games debut this year at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Though at first glance it may look like other skiing events, ski mountaineering adds a grueling twist to skiing and gravity itself.
Ski mountaineering, or "skimo" for short, is a discipline that demands an extra layer of athleticism: Skiers must run up the slope using modified skis and ultralight boots before making their downhill run.
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Ski mountaineering's debut in Milano Cortina will include two of the sport's four main disciplines — sprint (men and women) and mixed relay. The other two disciplines are team, similar to the individual but run in pairs, and vertical, which solely involves the ascent portion, with no downhill or transitions.
