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Dillon, Colorado (November 2021) – The United States Ski Mountaineering Association (USA Skimo) announced today that it will host two qualifying events for elite athletes in Colorado in December as the team begins its regular march towards its highly anticipated debut in 2026. Winter Olympics in Italy.

USA Skimo will host a vertical race and an individual race at the Arapahoe Basin ski area on December 10 and 12, respectively. Members of the United States National Team will serve a term from December 2021 to April 2022 and will represent the United States in February 2022 at the European Championships in Spain.

The qualifying events follow the International Olympic Committee’s summer announcement that the sport of ski mountaineering will be officially included in the 2026 Olympics in Cortina, Italy. The sport is best known for its endurance athletes traversing alpine courses with scorching climbs and dizzying descents, and skimo races have a long history in Europe. While skimo has long been primarily a niche sport in the United States comprised primarily of mountain athletes and endurance junkies, the sport has seen a significant increase in participation in a variety of geographic regions and regions. age groups at the national level. USA Skimo was reorganized in 2017.

The organization hopes that with the announcement of its Olympic debut and competitive qualifying events such as those scheduled for December, USA Skimo is ready to identify and develop the next generation of competitive athletes.

“Growth in the United States and other countries has helped make ski mountaineering a unique and respected sport around the world. This growth has been a catalyst to help bring skimo onto the Olympic stage, ”said USA Skimo President Ram Mikulas. “This will open a new chapter for the sport of skimo and we look forward to preparing and propelling America’s athletes to the top ranks.”

Skimo is not the only downhill skiing sector to have seen growth in recent years; Uphill fitness butchering in seaside resorts and ski touring have taken off. USA Skimo is poised to recruit and develop these audiences, showcase the year round benefits to crossover athletes in sports like mountain biking and trail running, and introduce the sport to various demographics and areas. geographic.

This season will feature an introduction to skimo clinics, equipment demonstrations, youth development training and a host of sanctioned races across the United States for all ability levels and ages. To learn more about the sport, support USA Skimo, and find the full racing schedule for the 2021/22 season, please visit https://usaskimo.org.

Please find the USA Skimo Photo Library here.