Get The Games: SkiMo

How much do you really know about the disciplines our athletes compete in? To get you ready for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony, we’re launching a new series: Get The Games.

Across the next few weeks, we will be giving you an insider’s perspective on snowsport. The technical challenges, the speed, and what it’s really like in the start gate.

The Winter Olympics isn’t just skiing fast downhill—it’s a mix of speed, skill, style and more than a little bravery.

From blistering speed to gravity-defying tricks, these events are packed with skill, courage and the kind of wipeouts that make you watch through your fingers. 

Whether athletes are racing the clock, launching sky-high tricks or battling head-to-head on snow, each event brings its own unique thrill.

SkiMo (Ski Mountaineering)

One of the toughest events going. Athletes climb uphill on skis before racing back down, testing fitness, technique and pure grit, it is not for the faint-hearted.

Ski Mountaineering, often called SkiMo, is a brutal test of endurance, strategy and mountain skill. Athletes race across steep alpine terrain, climbing uphill on skis fitted with skins before ripping them off and charging back downhill at speed.

Events combine relentless climbs, technical descents and rapid transitions, rewarding competitors who can move efficiently under extreme physical strain. With roots in alpine adventure racing, SkiMo brings a raw, back-to-the-mountains feel to the Olympic program and showcases some of the fittest athletes in winter sport.

Here’s a simple breakdown of the must-know disciplines to help you watch like a pro.