"The Olympic version is a fast-paced race that typically lasts three to four minutes. It's a combination that consists of an ascent with skins - grippy, removable strips competitors use on the bottom of their skis - a section of steep terrain in which competitors carry their skis, and a final fast descent on a manicured, gate-marked slope featuring jumps, bumps and banked turns."
"The men's and women's sprint competitions take place Feb. 19 at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, with each field consisting of 18 competitors who race in three heats of six. The top three from each heat, plus the three fastest who didn't automatically qualify, advance to the semifinals. Those races consist of six competitors each. The two fastest from each semifinal - plus the two next-best times - move on to the six-racer final."
Ski mountaineering debuts as the only new sport at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. The Olympic sprint is a fast-paced race lasting about three to four minutes and combines uphill ascents with skins, a boot-off boot-carrying section on steep terrain, and a final technical descent on a gate-marked course with jumps, bumps and banked turns. Competitors climb roughly 230 feet during the ascent portion. Men's and women's sprints use 18-athlete fields in heats, progressing through semifinals to six-racer finals. Competitors use specialized carbon boots and ultra-light, mode-switching skis. The discipline draws athletes who seek intense physical challenge and mental toughness.
Read at Los Angeles Times
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