Olympic qualifier, World Cup for Skimo comes to Solitude Ski Area on Dec. 6, 7

Park City's Griffin Briley, pictured here winning a previous event, will compete at Skimo World Cup at Solitude this weekend. Photo: ISMF Skimo // courtesy of Griffin Briley

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — The International Ski Mountaineering Federation will kick off the 2025/26 World Cup season at Solitude from December 5 to 7, marking the first Ski Mountaineering World Cup held in the United States. These races will serve as the final qualifying events for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Spectators are welcome at all events, and viewing is free.

Griffin Briley, a Park City High School alumnus and competitor from Park City, told TownLift, “It’ll not only be awesome to have a bunch of people come out from Park City to cheer on all the Utah athletes, but it’ll also be super entertaining and exciting for them to watch all the countries race.”

Briley began his journey with the Park City Ski & Snowboard Skimo Team, where they trained at the Utah Olympic Park. Adam Loomis, the team’s coach and a former member of the National Ski and Nordic Combined Teams, recently returned from competing in a global trail running race in South Africa.

The sport of ski mountaineering, or Skimo, is set to make its Olympic debut this February in Italy. Utah’s upcoming World Cup will provide a crucial opportunity for Canada and the USA to compete against each other and the rest of the world to determine which of the two countries will secure the single Olympic slot allotted to North America.

The sprint race consists of both an ascent and a descent. The ascent has three stages: athletes start with their skis attached, then remove them to climb a set of steps while carrying them in their backpacks, and finally ascend once more on skis before removing the skins for the descent to the finish line. Various elimination rounds lead up to the final event, where medals are awarded. Each heat typically lasts around 3.5 minutes.

The mixed relay involves two ascents and a section on foot, with skis attached to the backpack for each ascent, followed by two descents.

Griffin is a member of the U20 male National Team and has already earned several international podium finishes.

Schedule:

Friday, December 5
4:30 to 6:00 p.m.
Opening Ceremonies
Last Chance Lodge

Saturday, December 6
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Mixed Relay
Starting near the bottom of Eagle Express
1:00 p.m.
Flower Ceremony (Last Chance Lodge)
4:00 p.m.
Podium Awards (Last Chance Lodge)

Sunday, December 7
8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Sprint
Starting near the bottom of Eagle Express
1:00 p.m.
Flower Ceremony (Last Chance Lodge)
4:00 p.m.
Podium Awards (Last Chance Lodge)