Introduction

Ski mountaineering, or Skimo, has been gaining traction among winter sports athletes for years. With the recent announcement that the sport will be included in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Skimo will soon be elevated to a worldwide stage. 

Grace Staberg, 19, is an accomplished ultramarathon runner and a hopeful to represent the United States in the inaugural Skimo event at the Olympics. Grace and her coach, Joe Howdyshell of Summit Endurance Academy, join Dirk to discuss the sport of Skimo, the Olympic inclusion and the training and preparation that has led to Grace becoming one of the top female ski mountaineering athletes in the U.S.