March 03, 2026

Skimo’s Olympic Debut—Cam Smith on Process, Community, & Seizing The Moment

25 minutes

Cam Smith just competed in the sport of skimo’s Olympic debut in the Milano Cortina Olympics, including a 4th-place finish in the mixed relay. Cam is an 11-time US Ski Mountaineering national champion, holds course records for The Grand Traverse, Gothic Mountain Tour, and Power of Four, and has also represented Team USA at the Mountain & Trail Running World Championships. As a professional mountain athlete, both in the sport ski mountaineering and as an elite professional trail and mountain runner, Cam has smashed records and established himself as a favorite in the sports for both his performances and how he carries himself as a person.

I had the opportunity to talk with Cam less than a week removed from competing, immediately after he arrived back in the U.S. His reflections from the Olympics are fresh, candid, and personal. In our conversation it is abundantly clear that Cam’s recent success, and the ascendance of skimo, is the result of well over a decade of building up to this Olympic moment. His commitment to that process in the bigger picture shines through admirably.

Cam told me he said yes to my interview request so soon after returning stateside because it was on a chairlift, not a Zoom call—so you know I loved hearing that. We linked up in his home of Crested Butte, Colorado. Everyone I talked to was so excited for him, proud of how he represented their community, and lauded him for so much more than being an Olympian.

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This episode is brought to you by Protect Our Winters. To learn more and to join Team POW, visit protectourwinters.org.

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