SkiMo season ready to get underway

The road to Milano-Cortina moves into full swing this season for the sport of Ski Mountaineering as athletes attempt to qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time.

The Australian SkiMo team continues to grow in size and experience as athletes who debuted two years ago are joined by up-and-comers keen to try their hand at the newest Winter Olympic discipline.

The most experienced athletes returning to the tour this season are Phil Bellingham and Kate Zander, while Innika de Rosa, Anna Trnka and Lara Hamilton are also back.

Brian Lichi, who is also a community representative on the AUS SkiMo committee, is scheduled to compete at four events on top of the World Championships in Morgins, Switzerland.

"With both returning and new faces, the Aus SkiMo team has almost doubled in size from last season as everyone works towards Milan-Cortina '26,” said Lichi. “At the moment, we have around 13 athletes ready to test themselves against the absolute best in the world and put their best foot forward as they vie for Olympic selection.”

As entries currently sit, Australia may have a presence at all nine World Cups this season including the Olympic Test Event in Bormio, Italy.

The highlight of the season is set to be the World Championships in March however the season is focused on results which will ultimately determine who books their ticket to Milano-Cortina.

“The team is looking to put together a strong showing at Boí Taüll, the Bormio Olympic Test event, the World Championships in Morgins and finally Schladming where results across both the Sprint and Relay events will be used to determine Olympic selection,” said Lichi.

The World Cup season starts this weekend in the French resort of Courchevel with Bellingham and de Rosa competing alongside debutant Ava McCann.

A talented cross country skier, McCann represented Australia in biathlon at the Winter Youth Olympic Games in January and is now setting her sights on the world of SkiMo.

Over the course of the 2024/25 season, six more athletes are expected to make their World Cup debuts: Noah Bradford, Elliot Brown, Dan Trevena, Bastien Missud, Isaac Thompson and Sean Murphy.

2024/25 ISMF World Cups
14-15 December | Courchevel FRA (Sprint, Vertical)
10-13 January | Shahdag AZE (Sprint,Vertical, Individual)
25-26 January | Arinsal-La Massana AND (Individual, Mixed Relay)
1-2 February | Boí Taüll ESP (Sprint, Mixed Relay)
22-23 February | Bormio ITA (Spring, Mixed Relay) Olympic Test Event
14-15 March | Schladming AUT (Vertical, Sprint)
20-22 March | Val Martello ITA (Individual, Mixed Relay)
4-5 April | Villars-sur-Ollon SUI (Mixed Relay, Sprint)
10-13 April Tromsø NOR (World Cup Finals - Vertical, Sprint, Individual)

2025 ISMF World Championships
2-9 March | Morgins SUI (Mixed Relay, Vertical, Sprint, Individual, Team)