How do I get into Skimo Racing?

Skimo Racing - Beginners

A great way to experience what a Skimo race is by taking part in Recreational races, which usually take the form of a Vertical race or a Circuit race or a race around a simple route. These races are generally for the first timers starting out and are open to all.

They are a brilliant opportunity to see what a race involves, and try it out. For many, this is a chance to have a fun race using their everyday touring kit, without having to invest in race kit or licence without knowing if they enjoy the sport.

UK Recreational Races

The Skimo race scene in the UK is enabled and championed by Skimo Scotland. This race series is held in Scotland each winter. They warmly welcome both newcomers and seasoned competitors.

Or try one of the several Virtual Skimo Races (self led challenges) with Skimo Scotland available for when the Scottish snow permits. Race at a time convenient to you, on split board, skis anyway you want. Available for all level of competitors, newcomers and seasoned skimo racers.

When abroad

Keep an eye out for local recreational skimo races, usually organised by National Bodies or Local Clubs or have a look in Skimostats.com for lots of information and locations fo races.

Or watch a race, then take advantage of the manufacturers (like Dynafit) accompanying ski touring tryouts.

Skimo Races - Intermediate

This is the first step to true Skimo racing using lightweight racing equipment and practising kick turns and transitioning. Races are longer and more technical giving the athlete a chance to build up experience and improve techniques. Such races are governed by the ISMF (international ski mountaineering federation) or ‘La Grande Course’ who require competitors to have a racing licence

The ISMF sanctioned races include ISMF, Continental and National Series Races. In addition, there are the ISMF Continental Cup and Championship Races which give athletes a chance to benchmark themselves against peers. All Skimo disciplines are included.

La Grande Course is a series of six long-standing team races held over a two year rolling cycle. Some of these are multi-day stage races across whole mountain ranges.

A good place to find races is Skimostats.com which has lots of information.

Skimo Races – Elite Racing

Elite Racing is for those selected to be in the GB Team allowing athletes to potentially compete in ISMF World Championships and ISMF World Cups Races representing GB.

The ISMF races include a ‘World Cup’ series and a biannual European or World Championships. These competitions see teams of athletes competing for their country in sprint, individual, team and vertical races. Each country can put forward 4 male and 4 female athletes for competition in each discipline (sprint, individual etc) at these championships. ISMF also organise the Youth and Masters World Championships. More details about these race formats can be found here ISMF (ismf-ski.org).

Frequently one of the La Grande Course races is chosen as the ISMF Long Distance Team Championship for that particular season, and with their historical significance these races can be considered to be the Monuments of the sport.

How do I become a Champion?

The development pathway (“from Zero to Hero” firstly requires the athlete to gain the requisite skills for Skimo racing, then to gain experience and placings to qualify for the GB Team and finally to realise their potential in becoming a Champion.

In the UK, the Governing body for Ski Mountaineering Racing is the British Mountaineering Council, and it is managed by the Skimo Racing Steering Group within it.

Find out more information about Skimo Racing on the BMC GB Skimo webpage.

The process to progress to stardom is:

1. Get a Race Licence. For ISMF events obtained through BMC Skimo.
2. Get on the GB Squad. Those who are good enough can try for the GB Squad which is supported by training camps and advice. See the BMC performance news page for how they are getting on.
3. Meet the criteria for Olympic selection of win a World Championship.

But don't worry if you are not yet a skimo superstar, there is support and guidance available for how to develop in the sport.

Get in touch for any further information or advice by emailing: skimo@thebmc.co.uk

Learn to Skimo

Grassroots athlete’s who have general fitness and confidence in the mountains, who may already know how to ski can progress to ski touring learning uphill movement on

skis, safe route choices and avalanche awareness. Progress and instruction can be found via websites or by joining more experienced skiers in clubs. As more experience is gained the advance to Recreational Skimo races gives the athlete chance to practise more technical skills, such as boot packing or transitions and to progress to the use of lightweight equipment.

Entry into ISMF, Continental and National Series Races enable to athlete to gain real race experience learning pace, transition speed and race tactics, along with learning

points systems and licencing requirements.

Qualify for the GB Team

Progressing from the Series races are the ISMF Continental Cup and Championship Races, such as the French National Championships, which enable athlete’s to consolidate their skills and benchmark themselves against other GB athletes and their international peers.

By gaining placings athletes at the end of the season are able to apply to be a Team GB member. The selection process is update annually, but is based on the athlete;s best placings and the weighting of the race (e.g. a Championship race has more weighting than a Series race).

The GB Team consists of no more than 20 athletes split into the the Performance Development Programme (PDP) and seven development athletes on the National Team Programme (NTP).

In the UK, athletes wishing to be considered for the GB Skimo Racing Team should consult the BMC Selection Policies for Winter GB Teams Selection.

Become a Champion

GB Team members are selected to represent GB in ISMF World Cup and World Championships, enabling all Athletes to gain experience and, under the guidance and coaching of the BMC Skimo Steering Group Coaching team, improve to realise their potential. Along with winning events and being World Champion, both the ISMF and GC have individual ranking which enable visibility of progression and performance relative to other GB Team members and international peers.

The ultimate championship is to the Olympics, where it is necessary for the nation to meet the criteria for selection.

Skimo Race Licences

Entry to Skimo events usually requires a licence for which you will need to demonstrate varying levels of skimo competence and mountain skills.

• Recreational Races usually need no licence or the licence will be included with the entry registration

• ISMF events have 3 levels of licences

- Open Licence which the Athlete applies for an Individual and allows entry into Open/National Series or Continental Series Races such as.

- Competition Licence which the Athlete applies for an Individual and allows entry into National and Continental Cup and Championship Races, such as French National Championships. In addition this Licence allows entry in the Masters World Cup

- Elite Licence, for which you must be a member of GB Team. The GB Skimo Steering Group facilitates obtaining these licences, which allow the Athlete to enter World Cup and Championship Races. Also in this category is the Youth Licence for GB Team Youth members, enabling e try into the Youth World Cup. Further details and the process for obtaining these licences can be found in the ISMF website (ismf-ski.org).

• La Grande Course races require the athlete to have a GC Card which allows registration for any of their events. See La Grande Course for full information.

Get in touch for any further information or advice by emailing: skimo@thebmc.co.u