"The sport-called ski mountaineering, or, colloquially, "skimo"-is the first entirely new sport at the Winter Olympics since 2002. As its name suggests, skimo combines elements of both skiing and mountaineering, requiring competitors to climb their way up a mountain slope before descending back down. It's a more rugged take on the winter sport genre that involves rougher terrain than a cross-country or alpine ski course, requires athletes to change their own gear mid-race, and balances both technical skill and endurance."
"The sport held its first world championship in 2002, seeing the most popularity in Europe's wintery climes. Per the article, Italy has become "a hotbed for skimo," with the sport's popularity booming over the past decade: In 2010-11, there were 33,000 participants in the country, compared to more than 94,000 today. This expansion makes skimo's debut at Milano Cortina especially fitting."
Ski mountaineering combines skiing and mountaineering by requiring competitors to climb up slopes and then descend. Thirty-six athletes will compete in the Milano Cortina events, including Americans Anna Gibson and Camerson Smith. The sport traces back to prehistoric travel across snowy Europe and has a modern milestone in 1897 when Wilhelm Paulcke crossed Switzerland's Bernese Oberland on skis. The first world championship occurred in 2002. Italy has seen major growth in participation, rising from about 33,000 in 2010–11 to over 94,000 today. Races break into ascent and descent segments, with climbs sometimes marked by green flags where skis stay on.
Read at Fast Company
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