A newcomer to the program, ski mountaineering will be one of the attractions of the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games. It will be featured on Thursday, February 19, with the men's and women's sprint events, as well as on Saturday the 21st, the day of the mixed relay. Regula Meier, the president of the International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF), took the time to speak about it. Francs Jeux before this historic meeting.
What is your state of mind ahead of the big Olympic debut of ski mountaineering?
I feel great! People around me ask, "Why aren't you more nervous?" I have an amazing team behind me, who have everything under control, so I can only be thrilled. It was truly the dream of a small group of enthusiasts to be at the Olympic Games. Sometimes I felt a bit like David versus Goliath, up against the big federations, in terms of the sheer number of people involved. We fought, we worked hard, and I'm very proud of what we've accomplished. It also shows that together, we can achieve great things.
Does this mark a turning point for your sport?
For us, this is a very important step. First, for the athletes' careers, and then for the development of the sport because it brings in more money. Our goal is obviously to stay there, for our visibility, our development, and especially for the athletes who can join the Olympian family. It will give visibility to our sport, which has the advantage of being aligned with sustainable trends and being practiced outdoors.
What will allow you to say that ski mountaineering has successfully made its debut at the Olympics?
Viewership will be an important indicator. We're pleased with the feedback we've received regarding ticket sales, as almost all available tickets were already sold out by September. We even received congratulations. Beyond that, success will also depend on our competitions running smoothly without any major incidents. In short: we want to be seen, noticed, and for our competitions to go well.
Regula Meier, on the right, alongside IOC President Kirsty Coventry.
What will ski mountaineering bring to the Olympics?
It's a true snow sport, and with the selected competitions, you'll see all the elements that make up ski mountaineering: the ascents, the portages, the descents, etc. It's technical, it's very fast-paced, there's always something happening. At the Olympic Games, in the sprint, there will be three three-minute races at very high intensity for the best athletes. (series, semi-finals and final, editor's note)The mixed relay will be a team race, lasting approximately 30 to 35 minutes. It's captivating, and the spectator always has a clear view of the entire course. Just because an athlete is in the lead doesn't mean they'll win; anything can change right up until the end. The transition areas, where athletes have to remove their skins or put their skis on their backs, offer plenty of opportunities to overtake. You can't know who will win until the end of the run. It's the same with the mixed relay.
How were the formats included in the program chosen?
We proposed the individual, sprint, and mixed relay events. We discussed them with Milan Cortina, who agreed to all three. Ultimately, the individual event was not selected, and the athlete quota was adjusted from the initially planned 48 to 36. Work is continuing to explore the possibility of integrating more disciplines in the future, such as the individual or vertical events, and potentially including a larger number of athletes.
Is individualism more or less the essence of ski mountaineering?
Exactly. Part of our community was actually unhappy that we were included in the Games with the sprint but not the individual event. Being on the program is a very important step, as it brings increased visibility and generates real interest in the sport, benefiting both athletes and national federations. However, we are not giving up on the individual event and we will push for its inclusion in future events, particularly with a view to 2030.
The selection of the sprint, which only appeared at the World Championships in 2011, shows that your federation has been able to launch a more modern format, better suited to external expectations?
Yes, the idea was to show people a condensed version of ski mountaineering. Other sports have also developed formats that are easier to broadcast on television. When you discover something new, do you stay glued to the TV for an hour to watch it all the way through? Usually, you only stay for a few minutes, so it's also a way to capture the viewers' attention.
The impact of the Olympics has already been felt, even before this year?
As you can see, we've grown from 38 to 56 members since 2021. We've grown and truly professionalized this federation: when I started as president in 2021, we had a general manager and one or two secretaries. Today, we have three departments – administration and human resources; sports and events; and marketing and communications – each with its own manager and general manager. I want to extend a huge thank you to Italy for proposing us as an additional sport. Since we learned we'd be at the Games, many countries have made progress: recently, China and the United States reached the podium at the World Championships. It's not just European countries; our sport is becoming increasingly universal. Moreover, athletes are now specializing more and more, some in longer formats, others in shorter, more dynamic ones.
How are your discussions going with the French Alps 2030, who will select their additional sports by June?
Very good. I sense genuine interest; we have a fantastic collaboration with the French federation and the organizing committee. France boasts a very strong national team, with a long tradition in ski mountaineering and mountain sports, as well as recognition at the highest international level. This heritage naturally contributes to the organizing committee's interest and is a significant asset in the proposals we are putting forward. This gives us confidence, and we dream of participating in the Games again!
