A brand new Olympic sport, ski mountaineering, will make its debut at the Milan Cortina Games

The Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina will introduce a new sport next month: ski mountaineering, which combines uphill sprinting (on boots and skis) and downhill skiing. Although the sport is relatively new on the global scene, it has roots dating back to the late 19th century. Backcountry winter sports have grown in popularity, and there is anecdotal evidence that participation has increased during the pandemic.