Ski Mountaineering debuts at 2026 Winter Olympics after centuries-old alpine tradition

Ski mountaineering, known as “ski-mo,” makes its Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, bringing a sport rooted in human survival and military necessity into the global spotlight. Competitive events, including sprint races and a mixed-gender relay, will be held in Bormio.

Ski mountaineering began as a practical means for shepherds, hunters and soldiers in snowy mountain regions. Early skiing techniques first appeared in prehistoric Scandinavia for transportation and hunting. By the late 1800s, the practice had reached the Alps, where English tourists and mountaineers used skis to ascend Alpine peaks on foot before skiing down.

Formal competitions emerged in the 20th century. The Italian Trofeo Mezzalama began in 1933, and Switzerland’s Patrouille des Glaciers followed in 1943. Between 1924 and 1948, ski-based “military patrol” events—precursors to modern ski mountaineering—appeared in Winter Olympics, though later replaced entirely by biathlon.

Organized sport governance solidified from the late 20th century. The Comité International du Ski-Alpinisme de Compétition (CISAC), founded in 1988 by European ski federations, evolved through mergers into the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) in 2008. The ISMF now oversees World Championships, continental events and an annual World Cup circuit.

“The first timed competitions truly shaped ski mountaineering as a sport,” the Milano-Cortina organizing committee noted, citing events like the Trofeo Mezzalama and France’s Pierra Menta as cornerstones.

Ski mountaineering’s Olympic inclusion followed its successful Youth debut at Lausanne 2020 and gained official approval in July 2021. Bormio, a classic venue in the Valtellina valley, was selected in October 2021, bringing top athletes to Italy’s “Magnificent Land.”

The competition format features individual sprint events for men and women—with around 70 meters of elevation gain over multiple heats—and a mixed relay where teams perform four laps over steep terrain with transitions between climbing and skiing.

Athletes will compete for historic first Olympic medals on Feb. 19 and 21, 2026, on Bormio’s Stelvio Ski Centre.

The addition of ski mountaineering reflects the International Olympic Committee’s effort to diversify winter sports and honor tradition while appealing to new audiences.