What is 'skimo' and why is it the coolest new sport at this year's Winter Olympics?

If you’ve never heard of ski mountaineering before, you’re not alone. The competitive face of ski touring, this little-known sport involves climbing up a mountain then gliding down on skis, testing both the endurance and skill of enthusiasts. Scottish mountain guide Di Gilbert set out to popularise it in 2012, when she founded SkiMo Scotland — the UK’s only company to organise ‘skimo’ races — and began campaigning to get it recognised as an official speciality in the country. With the discipline soon debuting at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, it might finally get the attention she feels it deserves.

Where does your passion for the outdoors come from?

My mother — northeast Scotland born and bred — was quite formidable. I grew up in the countryside and was on skis at a very young age. That probably sowed the seeds. Then, I went to college for outdoor education. I got very close to a group of what I call ‘adventure people’ and fed off the enthusiasm that was around me.

What about ski mountaineering?

I’d done it recreationally. Then, I was approached to represent Team GB in the 2011 World Championships in Italy. I can’t stress this enough: I’m not a performance athlete. They just needed numbers to actually compete, and the industry was so small that there was no one else. I was so slow, so completely out of my depth; it was the most humbling, mortifying experience. Still, it was a baptism of fire and one of the reasons I decided to champion the sport in the UK.

So, you founded SkiMo Scotland.

While skimo is huge across Europe and North America, it wasn’t recognised as a discipline in the UK. I loved it so much — the sport, as well as the enthusiasm and network around it — and I couldn’t believe we didn’t do it here, that we had to travel to the Alps to compete. I still consider myself a recreational athlete, I just provide a platform for people to race.

Has the scene changed?

I tried to get skimo acknowledged for years, but none of the national bodies were interested. In 2023, I had a chance encounter with the then CEO of the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) while at a hut by Ben Nevis. By now, we knew it would feature in the 2026 Olympics. To cut a long story short, the BMC took skimo under its umbrella, and the SkiMo Racing Steering Group [which manages the GB Skimo Racing teams] was set up.

Where do you recommend skimo beginners go in the UK?

First, you must be able to ski and ski tour. In Scotland, we have clubs that organise meets, like Edinburgh Ski Club and Inverness Backcountry Snowsports Club. Once you’re proficient, you can come into the skimo side. The Lecht race is a short course — just over half a mile, with 100 metres (328ft) of ascent. The skiers do laps; if you’re slow, someone will overtake you, so you’ll never be left far behind.

What do you enjoy about it?

I’m not religious, but the mountains are my church. It’s just you and the environment — and hopefully a good companion. We mountain people are all kindred spirits.

What are your hopes for the future?

I’m keen to see the Olympic races raising awareness of the term ‘skimo’ and giving the discipline some momentum. It’s a good stepping stone. However, when I think about skimo, I think about massive courses like Switzerland’s legendary Patrouille des Glaciers or Italy’s Mezzalama Trophy, which take competitors over dozens of miles and the most amazing technical terrain. That’s where I’d love to see skimo go— up into the mountains.