The Rise of Ski Mountaineering: Belgium’s Drion Leads the Charge into Olympic History
Ski mountaineering, or “skimo” as it’s affectionately known, is making its Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. This demanding sport, born from the necessity of ascending mountains on skis before the advent of lifts, is capturing the attention of athletes and fans alike. Belgium’s Maximilien Drion is poised to be a key figure in this exciting modern chapter for winter sports.
What Exactly *Is* Ski Mountaineering?
At its core, skimo is about ascending and descending mountains on skis, combining elements of trail running, cross-country skiing, and alpine skiing. It requires exceptional endurance, technical skill, and speed. What sets it apart is the use of specialized equipment – skis with “skins” that allow for uphill traction, and bindings that quickly switch between walking and skiing modes. As Drion explains, “You climb at your own rhythm with synthetic skins under your skis. Those skins let you glide forward, but prevent you from sliding backward.”
The Olympic Sprint Format: A Rapid-Paced Introduction
The Olympic program currently features only the sprint discipline, a format Drion acknowledges isn’t the purest representation of the sport. “For the people who do ski-mountaineering, it’s not the discipline that best represents our sport. It’s like if you only chose the 100-meter sprint in athletics.” The sprint course, approximately 750 meters long, is a whirlwind of activity, demanding rapid transitions between skiing, running with skis on the back, and navigating steep inclines. Critical to success are the transitions – quickly removing skins and locking boots into bindings – where a mere three-second delay can be costly.
Maximilien Drion: A Medal Hope for Belgium
Maximilien Drion, born September 28, 1997, is a leading contender for Belgium. He earned his first World Cup victory in the vertical race in 2021 and has continued to build his impressive resume, securing a bronze medal at the 2022 European Championships and a silver medal at the 2023 World Championships in the vertical race. He finished second overall in the 2024-25 ISMF Ski Mountaineering World Cup standings. Drion’s recent training has focused on optimizing his performance in the transition zones, a key area for improvement. He’s openly stated his ambition: “I make no secret of the fact that I want to leave the Games with a medal.”
The Competitive Landscape
Drion will face stiff competition from established skimo stars, including Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll, a two-time world champion, France’s Thibault Anselmet, and Switzerland’s Jon Kistler. The Olympic sprint will feature 18 athletes divided into three heats of six, progressing through a knockout tournament to determine the medalists.
Beyond the Sprint: The Future of Olympic Skimo
While the sprint is the initial Olympic offering, the long-term future of skimo at the Games is promising. The sport’s growing popularity and the increasing number of participating nations suggest that additional disciplines – such as the individual race and the vertical race – could be added in future Olympic cycles. The unique blend of physical and technical demands, coupled with the stunning mountain backdrops, makes skimo a compelling addition to the winter sports landscape.
Maximilien Drion in action.
Did you know? Ski mountaineering has deep roots in the Alps, originating as a practical means of transportation before the development of ski lifts.
Pro Tip: Focus on efficient transitions – practicing skin changes and boot locking can shave valuable seconds off your time.
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