SKIMO GOLD

The Olympic debut of ski mountaineering continues with one of the sport’s most dynamic formats: the mixed relay.

In this episode of Skimo Gold, Travis Macy is joined by Team USA athletes Ian Clark and Sarah Burke to break down the results and key moments from the Olympic mixed relay race in Bormio. Together they analyze how the race unfolded, from Emily Harrop’s aggressive opening leg for France to the dramatic final laps that decided the podium.

The conversation dives into the tactical elements that defined the race, including transition efficiency, pacing on the climbs, and the high-speed downhill sections that kept teams tightly packed. Travis, Ian, and Sarah also highlight the strong performance from Team USA’s Cam Smith and Anna Gibson, who stayed in contention throughout the race and finished just off the podium in fourth place.

Along the way they discuss the growing visibility of ski mountaineering thanks to its Olympic debut, the strategy behind the mixed relay format, and what this race says about the future of the sport.

Special thanks to TrainingPeaks, DYNAFIT, POMOCA, REVANTA Creatine by NEURORESERVE (use code SKIMOGOLD), and CAMP for sponsoring Skimo Gold's Olympic Dispatch!

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Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel 

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith 

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show 

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Ski mountaineering has officially made its Olympic debut and the sprint race delivered drama, chaos, and history.

In this Olympic Dispatch episode of Skimo Gold, Travis Macy is joined by former U.S. National Team coach Joe Howdyshell and U.S. athlete rep Rory Kelly to break down the first-ever Olympic Skimo medals.

They analyze:

• Marianne Fatton and Oriol Cardona Coll’s gold medal performances
• The impact of heavy snowfall and ultra-dynamic conditions
• Key transition mistakes that changed podium outcomes
• Why smooth transitions mattered more than raw speed
• Team USA’s strong showing from Anna Gibson and Cam Smith

Plus, they look ahead to the Mixed Relay where endurance, team tactics, and cleaner conditions could shake up the podium picture.

Beyond the results, this episode captures what it felt like to witness Skimo’s Olympic moment in person from packed spectator stands to fans discovering the sport for the first time.

If you’re new to Skimo, welcome. If you’ve been waiting for this moment for years, this one’s for you.

Special thanks to TrainingPeaks, DYNAFIT, POMOCA, REVANTA Creatine by NEURORESERVE (use code SKIMOGOLD), and CAMP for sponsoring Skimo Gold's Olympic Dispatch!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel 

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith 

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show 

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Germany’s Tatjana Paller didn’t start in skimo — she came up through alpine skiing and later raced for Germany’s national cycling team on the road and track before realizing she was missing the mountains. In this Olympic Dispatch episode of Skimo Gold, Tatjana shares what pulled her away from cycling, how quickly skimo clicked when she made the switch in her mid-20s, and why the sport finally felt like home.

We talk about her World Championship bronze medal, what elite skimo training actually looks like as she prepares for the Olympics, and how racing on the World Cup circuit has shaped her confidence under pressure. Tatjana also reflects on the mental side of competing on a bigger stage and what it means to represent Germany as ski mountaineering steps into the Olympics for the first time — and why she’s trying to soak in every part of this once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Special thanks to TrainingPeaks, DYNAFIT, POMOCA, REVANTA Creatine by NEURORESERVE (use code SKIMOGOLD), and CAMP for sponsoring Skimo Gold's Olympic Dispatch!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel 

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith 

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show 

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Racing starts tomorrow.

Ahead of the Olympic skimo sprint, this episode tells the story of Team USA — how the team got here, who these athletes are, and why the U.S. skimo community is so fired up right now.

This is a narrative episode built from standout moments across the Skimo Gold archives, brought together to introduce the people behind Team USA. You’ll hear from Cam Smith before the Olympic picture was fully real, reflecting on injuries, staying grounded, and the values that drive him. You’ll hear Cam and Griffin Briley on the World Cup circuit, unpacking what it actually takes to level up for the Olympic disciplines and why “less is more” has changed how Griffin trains. You’ll hear the origin story of Cam and Anna Gibson as teammates, and how Anna went from elite trail running into skimo faster than anyone expected.

You’ll also hear from Rory Kelly, reflecting on what the Solitude World Cup meant for Team USA and for the future of the sport in the U.S. That weekend marked a turning point for the program and captured how much work, belief, and community went into making that moment happen.

If you’re new to skimo, welcome — this is the place to start. If you’ve been following along, these stories land differently with the Olympics right in front of us.

Watch the races, share this episode with someone who’s curious about skimo, and let’s roll.

Special thanks to TrainingPeaks, DYNAFIT, POMOCA, REVANTA Creatine by NEURORESERVE (use code SKIMOGOLD), and CAMP for sponsoring Skimo Gold's Olympic Dispatch!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel 

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith 

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show 

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

The Olympics are here—and skimo is finally on the biggest stage. Catie Friend is back on Skimo Gold to help us set the table for what you’re about to watch in Bormio: the Sprint (Feb 19) and the Mixed Relay (Feb 21).

We break down the formats in plain English (yes, including the transitions, the boot/binding chaos, and that “800m-lactic-acid-then-technical-downhill” feeling), and then we zoom out: this is just a taster of a much bigger sport. Whether you’re here for the head-to-head chaos or you’re the “skins up for coffee with friends” type, skimo has a lane for you.

From there, we get into the fun stuff: can France realistically take all three gold medals? Who’s hunting in the men’s sprint, why the women’s field is stacked, and why you absolutely can’t sleep on the Swiss—especially the next wave. We also talk Bormio specifics (course setup, altitude, atmosphere), what “professional” even means in a small but wildly elite sport, and what success looks like after the Games—from future Olympic inclusion to more disciplines, more nations, and more kids discovering uphill travel for the first time.

Let's go! 

Special thanks to TrainingPeaks, DYNAFIT, POMOCA, REVANTA Creatine by NEURORESERVE (use code SKIMOGOLD), and CAMP for sponsoring Skimo Gold's Olympic Dispatch! 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel 

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith 

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show 

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

On today's Olympic Dispatch, Marianna Jagerčíková (Team Slovakia) joins Travis to talk about her preparation for skimo’s Olympic debut and what it’s taken to stay competitive into her 40s in one of the most demanding disciplines in endurance sport.

They get into how Marianna structures her training now compared to earlier in her career, what she learned from overtraining, and why durability, recovery, and nervous system management have become non-negotiables for her. She shares what a typical training week looks like, how much of her training she does alone, and how she balances high-intensity work with a big aerobic base.

Marianna also talks about racing sprints and mixed relay at the Olympic level, navigating qualification down to the wire, and what it means to represent Slovakia as skimo enters the Olympic stage for the first time.

This episode is a practical look at training smarter, listening to your body, and staying competitive over the long haul as the sport enters a new era.

Let's go!

Special thanks to TrainingPeaks, DYNAFIT, POMOCA, REVANTA Creatine by NEURORESERVE (use code SKIMOGOLD), and CAMP for sponsoring Skimo Gold's Olympic Dispatch!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel 

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith 

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show 

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

On today's Olympic Dispatch episode, Italian skimo standout Alba De Silvestro joins Travis Macy for a deep dive into what it really takes to prepare for skimo’s Olympic moment. Racing for Italy since she was just 17, Alba has lived through the evolution of the sport. From long, grueling endurance races to today’s short, explosive sprint and mixed relay formats.

They talk about how training changes when races go from 90 minutes to just a few minutes, why transitions have become one of the biggest performance differentiators in modern skimo, and how marginal gains in gear can decide podium places.

Alba also shares what it’s like racing World Cups across the globe, from dealing with jet lag and altitude in Utah to competing at home in Europe, and what the pressure feels like inside Italy’s incredibly deep skimo team as Olympic spots get decided.

This episode offers a rare, detailed look at how an elite skimo athlete adapts her training, equipment, and mindset for the biggest stage the sport has ever had. Let's go!

Special thanks to TrainingPeaks, DYNAFIT, POMOCA, REVANTA Creatine by NEURORESERVE (use code SKIMOGOLD), and CAMP for sponsoring Skimo Gold's Olympic Dispatch!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel 

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith 

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show 

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

In this episode of Skimo Gold’s Olympic Dispatch, Travis Macy sits down with two members of Team Australia Skimo: Phil Bellingham and Lara Hamilton—right in the middle of the chaos leading into the first-ever Olympic ski mountaineering races.

Phil is heading into his fourth Olympic Games (after three Olympics in cross-country skiing) and shares what it’s like to step into a brand-new Olympic sport, manage the pressure cooker of the Olympic environment, and stay grounded through years of elite competition. Lara, competing in her first Olympics, opens up about finding skimo through the Gunnison, Colorado community, navigating life as a multi-sport athlete, and balancing intense training with creativity, music, and marketing work off the snow.

They talk about what it’s really like to train for skimo as Australians (yes, there is snow), the financial reality of racing World Cups, the tight-knit skimo community, and the behind-the-scenes chaos of Olympic prep. Lara also shares what it’s been like managing ankylosing spondylitis while competing at the highest level, and why having her family in Italy means more than any result.

This conversation is a real look at what it takes to show up mentally, physically and emotionally for the Olympics. Plus, why skimo’s debut on the Olympic stage is such a meaningful moment for athletes from smaller winter sport nations.

If you’re curious about skimo, the Olympic experience, or what it actually takes to chase a dream like this, this one’s for you. Special thanks to Lara Hamilton (@solara.dj) for sharing some of her music on this episode! 

Special thanks to TrainingPeaks, DYNAFIT, POMOCA, REVANTA Creatine by NEURORESERVE (use code SKIMOGOLD), and CAMP for sponsoring Skimo Gold's Olympic Dispatch! 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel 

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith 

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show 

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

Emily Harrop has a British last name, a hint of an English accent, and a very French skimo story: raised in the Alps, shaped by alpine ski racing, and ultimately pulled into ski mountaineering by curiosity, adventure, and the sheer love of training.

In this Olympic Dispatch episode, Travis Macy and Cam Smith sit down with the three-time overall World Cup champion to talk about the path from “late to skimo” to the very top of the sport—and what it takes to stay there. Emily shares how the French military athlete system makes pro skimo possible, what her summers actually look like, and why an Olympic year isn’t the time for radical changes… just smarter timing and a few key upgrades.

You’ll also hear Emily’s breakthrough “belief” moment (and why nerves can be a sign you’re ready), Cam’s take on treating the Olympics like any other race—just with a bigger parade—and a preview of what it means for the sport to bring a World Cup to the U.S. this December. Plus: Tour de France fandom, bucket-hat bartering, and why skimo’s future (hello, 2030 in France 👀) might be bigger than any single hour of TV.

Let’s go!

Special thanks to TrainingPeaks, DYNAFIT, POMOCA, REVANTA Creatine by NEURORESERVE (use code SKIMOGOLD), and CAMP for sponsoring Skimo Gold's Olympic Dispatch! 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel 

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith 

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show 

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co. 

In this Olympic Dispatch episode of Skimo Gold, Travis Macy sits down with two people who embody the idea that performance is never solo: Belgian sprint podium contender Max Drion and his on-snow coach/supporter Pablo Ruiz de Almirón.

Max shares how he’s approached this Olympic year differently—prioritizing quality, recovery, altitude, and especially cleaner transitions—plus the mindset work that’s helping him carry confidence into the biggest start line of his life. Then Pablo breaks down the “behind-the-scenes” side of skimo: mentorship, athlete development, skill progression, and why the sport (and the Olympics) are built on community and team culture.

You’ll hear about:

• Sprint-specific training without overtraining
• Why transitions are the great separator in skimo sprint racing
• Altitude + travel strategy (and why arriving early matters)
• The mental coaching routines that keep pressure from piling up
• How Pablo’s camps and coaching help athletes shortcut the learning curve
• Why “life is a team sport” isn’t a slogan—it’s the strategy

Let's go!

Special thanks to TrainingPeaks, DYNAFIT, POMOCA, REVANTA Creatine by NEURORESERVE (use code SKIMOGOLD), and CAMP for sponsoring Skimo Gold's Olympic Dispatch! 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel 

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith 

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show 

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.