Canadian ski mountaineering athletes are competing this weekend at a World Cup event in Solitude, Utah, with their Olympic hopes on the line.
The mixed relay race is crucial for Canada and the United States as they compete for the final two quota spots for Milano Cortina. Canada’s top-ranked mixed relay duo, Emma Cook-Clarke and Aaron Robson, have been accumulating Olympic qualification points over the past year and are close to achieving their goal.
Ski mountaineering, a physically demanding sport combining uphill climbing and downhill skiing, will debut at the Olympics. Skimo athletes use ‘skins’ on their skis instead of chairlifts to ascend slopes and ski back down.
Ski mountaineering, or ‘skimo’, returns to the 2026 Winter Olympics after a long absence. Skimo athletes use ‘skins’ on their skis instead of chairlifts to climb and descend slopes.
Earning a spot at the Winter Games is a major goal for Cook-Clarke, 32, and Robson, 39, who also see the potential impact on promoting their sport in Canada through Olympic participation.
“Becoming an Olympian for Canada is a surreal prospect that would mean the world to me,” Cook-Clarke expressed. “Regardless of the outcome, I’m proud of our journey and excited to further develop the sport in Canada.”
Canada’s chance to qualify skimo athletes for Milano Cortina hinges on the mixed relay race on Saturday through the continental quota system. The top relay team from each continent secures a quota spot for the Olympics.
With just one point separating Canada from the U.S., the mixed relay race outcome will determine which country earns the final quota spots for the Olympics.
Watch the live coverage of Saturday’s mixed relay event on the </
