{"id":1777239,"date":"2026-02-18T06:38:56","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T03:38:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1777239"},"modified":"2026-02-18T06:38:56","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T03:38:56","slug":"aspen-snowmass-co-celebrates-15-years-of-skimo-heritage-as-the-sport-makes-olympic-debut-in-cortina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1777239","title":{"rendered":"Aspen Snowmass, CO, Celebrates 15 Years of SkiMo Heritage as the Sport Makes Olympic Debut in Cortina"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_391544\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-391544\" style=\"width: 686px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391544 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAGLAQMAAABtLLE+AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADRJREFUeNrtwQEBAAAAgJD+r+4ICgAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKABfPsAAYEmznsAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"395\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2754.webp?resize=640%2C395&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2754.webp?w=686&amp;ssl=1 686w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2754.webp?resize=300%2C185&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2754.webp?resize=600%2C370&amp;ssl=1 600w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"395\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391544\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2754.webp?resize=640%2C395&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"395\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-391544\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This year will mark the 15th Audi Power of Four SkiMo race. | Image: Aspen Snowmass<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-2 ai-viewport-3 ai-insert-2-17218028\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-2-17218028\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"2\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"ai-viewports ai-viewport-1 ai-insert-1-51485665\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;clear: both\" data-insertion-position=\"prepend\" data-selector=\".ai-insert-1-51485665\" data-insertion-no-dbg data-code=\"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\" data-block=\"1\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>When SkiMo makes its long-awaited debut at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d\u2019Ampezzo this week, the global spotlight will shine on a sport that has deep roots in Colorado\u2014particularly at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspensnowmass.com\/\">Aspen Snowmass<\/a>. <\/strong>And in perfect symmetry, Aspen\u2019s most iconic ski mountaineering race\u2014the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspensnowmass.com\/visit\/events\/audi-power-of-four-ski-mountaineering\">Audi Power of Four Ski Mountaineering Race<\/a>\u2014will take place on February 21, the exact same day as the Olympic Mixed Team Relay in Italy.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/moncler-opens-first-ever-u-s-moncler-grenoble-flagship-store-in-aspen-co\/\"><em><strong>Moncler Opens First-Ever U.S. Moncler Grenoble Flagship Store in Aspen, CO<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Long before SkiMo earned Olympic status, athletes were honing their legs and lungs in the rugged terrain surrounding Aspen.<\/strong> The Elk Mountains have quietly served as a proving ground for Olympic-caliber talent, including U.S. SkiMo Team members Jessie Young and Cam Smith.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Young, now a 2026 Olympian, won the Power of Four in 2024 and has called it her favorite race for its sustained effort and technical demands. Smith, a co-holder of the course record and an Olympic medal hopeful, built his endurance and mountain savvy in the same terrain that defines Aspen\u2019s backcountry culture.<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/introducing-ski-mountaineering-which-debuts-at-the-2026-winter-games-in-milan-cortina-italy\/\"><strong><em>Introducing Ski Mountaineering Which Debuts at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Both athletes represent a direct line between Aspen\u2019s grassroots ski mountaineering scene and the Olympic start line.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Now celebrating its 15th anniversary, the Audi Power of Four is no ordinary race.<\/strong> The course covers 24 miles and 10,000 vertical feet across all four Aspen Snowmass mountains\u2014Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass. It\u2019s a sufferfest. And it\u2019s earned a reputation as one of the most demanding SkiMo races in North America.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Athletes from across the Western U.S. descend on Aspen each February to test themselves on the route.<\/strong> For many, it has become a stepping stone toward international competition\u2014a domestic pipeline feeding the global SkiMo scene.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ski mountaineering isn\u2019t just an event in Aspen\u2014it\u2019s a way of life. <\/strong>Uphill travel is deeply embedded in the local community. From Buttermilk\u2019s Friday Morning Uphill Breakfast to Full Moon Dinners and the iconic dawn skin to Bonnie\u2019s on Aspen Mountain for pancakes, earning your turns is part of the mountain rhythm. That culture has helped foster elite endurance athletes while also making uphill skiing accessible and social for locals and visitors alike.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Olympic SkiMo schedule in Cortina includes:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Men\u2019s &amp; Women\u2019s Sprint \u2013 February 19, 2026<\/li>\n<li>Mixed Relay \u2013 February 21, 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>On that same February 21 date, Aspen Snowmass will host the 2026 Audi Power of Four\u2014an intersection of local heritage and global milestone. <\/strong>Later in the season, the legendary Grand Traverse will once again connect Crested Butte to Aspen on March 29, 2026, further cementing Colorado\u2019s role as a hub for endurance ski mountaineering.<\/p>\n<p><strong>As SkiMo takes its first Olympic steps in Italy, Aspen Snowmass stands as a reminder that for many athletes, the road to the Games started long before the rings\u2014on dark winter mornings, skinning uphill in the Colorado high country.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_391545\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-391545\" style=\"width: 1854px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391545 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAKCAQMAAAB7y\/prAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAElJREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T20ND6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPgyyyIAAWG1DpgAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"642\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2755.webp?resize=640%2C642&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2755.webp?w=1854&amp;ssl=1 1854w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2755.webp?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2755.webp?resize=1196%2C1200&amp;ssl=1 1196w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2755.webp?resize=768%2C770&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2755.webp?resize=1531%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1531w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2755.webp?resize=600%2C602&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2755.webp?resize=100%2C100&amp;ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2755.webp?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"642\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-391545\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_2755.webp?resize=640%2C642&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"642\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-391545\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Uphilling has a long tradition in Aspen. | Image: Aspen Snowmass<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 2 -->\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This year will mark the 15th Audi Power of Four SkiMo race. | Image: Aspen Snowmass When SkiMo makes its long-awaited debut at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d\u2019Ampezzo this week, the global spotlight will shine on a sport that has deep roots in Colorado\u2014particularly at Aspen Snowmass. And in perfect symmetry, Aspen\u2019s most [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,267],"class_list":["post-1777239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-snowbrains-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1777239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1777239"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1777239\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1777239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1777239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1777239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}