Back with a bang: British Skimo Championships 2026 return to Glenshee

Header photo: Raymond Leinster

Ski mountaineering is heading to the Olympic stage at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on 19 February. But before the world tunes in, Britain crowned its own champions in proper Scottish style.

“Back with a bang”

“Back with a bang. 33 racers. Your 2026 British Champs are Felix Wilson and Jo Hickman Dunn. They've done us proud,” said race organiser Di Gilbert of Skimo Scotland. “The best thing? As Felix sprinted towards the finish line the entire recreational community got into the spirit and cheered him on. It was like being in the Alps. The public were amazing. Get them behind the sport, it’s a win win situation.”

And she was not exaggerating.

The course carved its way around the Càrn Aosda and Cairnwell side of the hill, using a mix of piste and off piste terrain with support from the Glenshee Ski Patrol. Recreational skiers shared the mountain with lycra clad racers moving at full tilt. It created an electric atmosphere that built with every lap.

Being the the British Championships, it had to go big. Three laps. Each around roughly 5km with around 450 metres of ascent and descent per lap.

An open field and a fast start

33 racers were on the starting line, 28 males and 5 females. With previous winners. Donnie Campbell and Ursula Catton both noticeably absent from the starting line and many unknown names it really was an open field. However, GB Skimo Team member Felix Wilson was a standout name. Seasoned Skimo racer Emma Holgate always provides the goods on Skimo race days but again she was competing against unknown racers on the Skimo Scotland racing circuit.

From the start, Wilson made his intentions clear. He set a relentless pace, clocking lap times of 00:32:12, 00:31:48 and 00:34:23. Strong on the climbs, composed on the descents, he powered to his first British Championship title as the cheers echoed across the snow.

Behind him, the race for second was anything but settled. Sam Dixon of the newly formed Old Hutton Skimo Club locked into a fierce battle with seasoned racer James MacLeod and Fergus Wood. Positions shifted, seconds mattered. In the end, Dixon snatched second place by only a couple of seconds ahead of MacLeod.

A new champion crowned

Jo Hickman Dunn won not only her first Skimo Scotland race but with a total time of 02:05:48, Jo becomes the new British Champion. Emma Holgate was never far away taking second place and Emily Walmsley kept Lucinda Condor off the podium to secure third place.

“One of the best races yet by Skimo Scotland. Thanks Di, you are a star bringing the optimism and it's always worth entering.” said Emma Holgate

Community, commitment and momentum

As the snow settles after another #SkimoSaturday we continue to look forward. We are extremely grateful to Dynafit who have supported us since the inception of Skimo back in 2011. Without the amazing staff at Glenshee Ski Centre we would not be able to race. It is only with their support and commitment to the Scottish Skimo (and ski) communities that allow the sport to grow.

With the Olympics on the horizon and fresh champions crowned at home, British Skimo feels very much alive and kicking. If Glenshee is anything to go by, the community is ready to get behind it.