USA Skimo announces ski mountaineering qualifying events ahead of 2026 Olympics

A new winter sport is coming to the Olympics. And the organizers have just announced its first qualifying events for American athletes.

The United States Ski Mountaineering Association (USA Skimo) announced that it will host two qualification events for ski mountaineering athletes in December. Qualifying events are the first step in making athletes a part of the US National Team. Members of the national team will serve a term from December 2021 to April 2022.

the The International Olympic Committee made an announcement earlier this summer, that skimo would be at the 2026 Olympics in Italy, but no qualifying or squad details were available.

“While skimo has long been a niche sport in the United States, the sport has seen a significant increase in participation in a variety of geographic regions and age groups,” USA Skimo wrote today.

Skimo races involve athletes traversing alpine courses with varied terrain uphill and downhill. Races can involve skinning, bootpacking, or both, and can span over 25 miles.

The two qualifying events will take place on December 10 and 12 in Colorado. One will be a vertical race, and the other will be an individual race.

“Growth in the United States and other countries has helped make ski mountaineering a unique and respected sport around the world,” said USA Skimo President Ram Mikulas. “This growth has been a catalyst in helping to bring skimo to the Olympic stadium. “

Do you feel like running yourself? To verify USA Skimo Race Calendar 2021-2022.

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