This weekend in Solitude, Utah, Canadian ski mountaineering athletes are competing at a World Cup event with their Olympic aspirations hanging in the balance. The mixed relay race will determine which country, Canada or the United States, secures the final two quota spots for Milano Cortina.
Among the Canadian teams participating, all attention is on the top-ranked mixed relay pair, Emma Cook-Clarke and Aaron Robson. Over the past year, they have accumulated Olympic qualification points from various competitions, positioning themselves close to achieving their goal.
Ski mountaineering, a new addition to the Olympic program, is a physically demanding sport that combines uphill climbing and downhill skiing. Skimo athletes use ‘skins’ on their skis to ascend slopes instead of using chairlifts.
Ski mountaineering, or ‘skimo’, is returning to the Winter Olympics after 1946. ‘Skins’ on skis help athletes climb slopes without chairlifts.
For Cook-Clarke, 32, and Robson, 39, securing a spot at the Winter Games is a significant goal. They believe that their success will not only fulfill personal dreams but also elevate the sport in Canada by attracting more attention and support through Olympic participation.
“Becoming an Olympian for Canada is beyond belief. It would mean the world to me to achieve this for our country,” expressed Cook-Clarke. “Regardless of the outcome, I am proud of our journey and excited to further develop the sport in Canada.”
Canada’s last opportunity to qualify skimo athletes for Milano Cortina lies in the mixed relay race on Saturday through the continental quota system. The top relay team from each continent earns a quota spot for both men and women at the Olympics.
With just a one-point lead over the U.S., the Canadian team