From PBS NewsHour.

Ski mountaineering, also known as skimo, will make its Olympic debut in this year’s Winter Games. What exactly is that? Think of the sport, popular among Alpine nations, as a kind of mix between skiing and hiking. Athletes start at the bottom of the mountain, ascending both on skis and by foot before descending back down the course on skis.

PBS News’ Tim McPhillips spoke with Sarah Cookler of the U.S. Ski Mountaineering Association to learn more about skimo and how its inclusion in the 2026 Winter Olympics could boost its popularity.

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