Ski Mountaineering - 2025/26 Season Wrap

Australia’s ski mountaineering program reached a historic milestone in 2025/26, with the sport making its Olympic debut at Milano Cortina.

Phil Bellingham and Lara Hamilton were selected to compete at Bormio after Australia secured the Oceania quota place.

Bellingham also created history as Australia’s first male athlete to compete in two Winter Olympic sports. Having represented Australia at the previous three Games in cross-country skiing, he made his fourth Olympic appearance in SkiMo.

In the men’s sprint, Bellingham was drawn in a strong heat and crossed the line fifth, progressing as a lucky loser into the semi-finals. He finished sixth in his semi to place 12th overall.

A day earlier, Hamilton made history as Australia’s first Olympic SkiMo representative. She finished sixth in her heat in the women’s sprint to place 18th overall.

The pair combined in the mixed team relay to finish 12th.

Across the World Cup season, Bellingham continued to build his experience at the highest level, taking his career tally to 25 starts. Hamilton also added to her record, securing her third career top-20 result with 18th place in the vertical race at Villars.

At the next level, Ava McCann continued her development across domestic and international competition. She opened her campaign with three wins across Australia New Zealand Cup events at Falls Creek and Perisher, before claiming the U20 individual title at the French National Championships.

McCann also delivered a strong Youth World Championships campaign in Puy St Vincent, finishing sixth in the women’s U20 individual race and 12th in the sprint, while combining with Bayley Sadler for 11th in the mixed relay. Across the Youth World Cup season, she recorded two sixth-place results to finish 17th overall, while also gaining experience through starts at senior World Cup events in the United States and France.

Also progressing through the pathway, Sadler recorded two podium finishes on the Australia New Zealand Cup circuit and gained further experience at Youth World Cup level.

Other athletes to make their mark this season included:

• Daniel Trevena claimed two Australia New Zealand Cup victories at Perisher and added international experience racing in Europe.

• Bastian Missud competed across World Cup and French National Cup events, while also finishing eighth in the 40+ category of the individual race at the Masters World Championships.

• Isaac Thompson made a World Cup appearance in Solitude, building on his debut at the level last season.

• Anna Trnka combined SkiMo with cross-country skiing commitments, with her standout result a ninth-place finish at the Sellaronda Ski Marathon in the Dolomites.

With the sport gaining greater visibility following its Olympic debut and more athletes becoming competitive on the international stage, the platform is set for the continued growth of SkiMo in Australia.