Ski mountaineering makes its debut at the Milano Cortina Winter Games

Anna Gibson and Cameron Smith will be household names during the 2026 Games.

If you think downhill skiing is a challenge, wait until you see skimo, a brand-new ski event set to debut in the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games. In this event, participants wearing specialized lightweight skis and carrying a backpack and other equipment run uphill.

The sport is *** unique mix of backcountry and downhill skiing. It's picked up steam over the years and is growing in popularity. Personally, I've been doing ski mo uh for over *** decade, uh, in Utah,