Ski mountaineering

In ski mountaineering athletes climb a mountain on skis fitted with special "skins", carry their skis on their shoulders over the steepest sections and then ski back down. The Olympics feature a sprint and a mixed relay.

History

The sport grew out of military patrol races in the Alpine countries; Switzerland's famous Patrouille des Glaciers is one example. The International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) was founded in 2008. Ski mountaineering joined the Olympic programme for the first time at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games.

Major competitions

The Olympic Games (from 2026), the ISMF World Championships and World Cup, the Patrouille des Glaciers and the Pierra Menta.

In the Turkic world

The mountains of the Turkic world — the Caucasus, Tian Shan, Pamir and Altai, and Anatolia's Erciyes and Kaçkar peaks — are natural arenas for ski mountaineering, and Olympic status is boosting the sport in Türkiye, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.