Solitude Mountain Resort, Utah – The road to the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games took a decisive turn this weekend at the Salt Lake City Skimo World Cup. In a high-stakes showdown on North American snow, athletes from 24 nations gathered to close the Olympic qualifying period, resulting in a historic performance for Team USA and the official securing of the North American Olympic quota spot.
The Battle for the Olympic Quota
The atmosphere was electric as the United States and Canada faced off for the continent’s singular Olympic quota. The pressure peaked during Saturday’s Mixed Relay, where fresh snowfall set the stage for a defining moment in North American ski mountaineering.
While the U.S. team of Cam Smith and Anna Gibson took the victory and the quota spot with a time of 32:17.6, the Canadian squad fought a valiant battle in the A Final.
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Canadian Results: The Canadian duo of Emma Cook-Clarke and Aaron Robson battled hard against the world's best, finishing 7th overall (+1:31.7 back). Despite missing the quota spot in this head-to-head matchup, their presence in the A Final against elite European teams underscores the rising level of Canadian ski mountaineering.
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Team USA Victory: Smith and Gibson (in her first-ever World Cup appearance) executed a flawless race to claim the first Mixed Relay World Cup victory in U.S. history.
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US Depth: The U.S. team also swept the B Final, with Griffin Briley & Hali Hafeman taking 1st, and John Gaston & Jessie Young taking 2nd.
“This weekend was a defining moment for U.S. ski mountaineering. Winning the Mixed Relay on home snow... reflects years of progress and the remarkable commitment of our athletes and staff.” — Sarah Cookler, Head of Sport for USA Skimo
Sprint Day: Speed and Strategy
Sunday brought clear skies and a fast, technical track for the Sprint races. With Olympic qualification on the line, the racing was aggressive and thrilling.
Women’s Sprint Results:
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Margot Ravinel (FRA) – 3:14.8
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Giulia Murada (ITA) – +13.1
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Katia Mascherona (ITA) – +13.2
Men’s Sprint Results:
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Jon Kistler (SUI) – 2:40.7
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Arno Lietha (SUI) – +2.7
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Maximilien Drion du Chapois (BEL) – +11.0
A Historic Step for North American Skimo
This event marked the first time the ISMF World Cup tour has stopped in the U.S. since the Federation was founded in 2007. With global broadcast coverage and a packed crowd, the event showcased that North American Skimo is ready for the world stage—looking ahead not just to Italy in 2026, but to the 2034 Winter Games returning to Salt Lake City.
For full results and more details on the qualification process, check out the ISMF official website.
