SKIMO GOLD

What is skimo…and why on earth are these people skiing uphill instead of taking the lift? Today we're kicking off Skimo Gold's Olympic Dispatch with Travis Macy and Andrew Vontz (host of Choose the Hard Way and co-host of Beyond the Peloton ) for a rapid-fire, beginner-friendly breakdown of ski mountaineering—built for the skimo-curious and anyone watching the sport hit the Olympic stage...

Two major World Cup weekends. One deep dive into what actually mattered. On this episode of Skimo Gold, Travis Macy is joined by longtime ski mountaineering commentator Catie Friend to break down the Andorra Vertical World Cup and the Boí Taüll Sprint and Mixed Relay. Together, they analyze the results, the racing dynamics, and the small moments that decided big outcomes—especially in the sprints...

This week on Skimo Gold , we're diving deep into one of the most ambitious and soulful ski mountaineering races in North America: the Kulshan Randonnée . Think European-style grand course racing— but fully untamed . Glaciers, rope work, teams of three, real consequence, and an active volcano (Mount Baker) as the backdrop. Kulshan isn’t about groomers or convenience. It’s about wild mountain s...

Getting into skimo can feel overwhelming — the gear, the races, the rules, the learning curve. So where do you actually start? On this episode of Skimo Gold , Travis Macy sits down with Mark Koob, race director, coach, educator, and the driving force behind Rocky Mountain Skimo, to break it all down. Mark shares his path from Idaho snowboarder to Colorado skimo lifer, what it really takes to organ...

With Milano Cortina 2026 fast approaching, the Skimo Gold team dives into the latest action from the Courchevel World Cup and what it means for the Olympic picture. Catie Friend and Travis Macy break down the standout performances, rising stars, and surprising shake-ups across the individual, vertical, and sprint events. They analyze who's peaking at the right time, how different countries ar...

Join hosts Travis Macy and Cam Smith on Skimo Gold as they welcome special guest, Sage Canaday—elite runner, mountain athlete, and YouTuber for an exciting dual sport conversation! Sage shares his evolution from running prodigy and ultra-marathon champion to embracing the learning curve of ski mountaineering in Colorado. Discover how running and skimo complement each other, the role of gear and tr...

Join hosts Travis Macy and Cam Smith as they go deep on one of the world’s most iconic ski mountaineering events: The Power of Four. Featuring special guest Doug Stenclik, course architect, veteran racer, and founder of Cripple Creek Backcountry.  This episode is a masterclass for anyone curious or passionate about skimo racing. You’ll get a detailed, insider breakdown of the race’s four-mountain...

In this episode of Skimo Gold , Travis Macy is joined by co-host Cam Smith and special guest Doug Stenclik of Cripple Creek Backcountry to unpack one of North America's most iconic endurance races: The Elk Mountains Grand Traverse . From gear choices and sleep strategies to course beta and big-picture training plans, this episode is packed with practical insights for anyone tackling the Grand...

What happens when two of skimo’s most cerebral minds sit down to talk training? You get this episode of Skimo Gold .  Travis Macy and Cam Smith are joined by longtime coach Joe Howdyshell for a deep dive into the principles that drive high performance in endurance sports—and how those principles apply to athletes of all levels. From heart rate zones and strength training to mindset, nutrition, and...

Join host Travis Macy for a special episode of the SKIMO Gold podcast as he sits down with trailblazing American ski mountaineering athlete Nina Silitch. Nina shares her remarkable journey from competing (and winning) on the World Cup stage in Europe to pioneering ski mountaineering clubs and mentoring new generations of athletes in both France and the U.S. Listeners will hear Nina’s insights on b...

Team USA is officially headed to Milano Cortina 2026 and they’re doing it in style. In this episode of SKIMO Gold , Cam Smith, Travis Macy and some special friends break down Team USA’s historic World Cup victory where the Mixed Relay squad clinched an Olympic quota spot with a gold medal finish. Cam takes us behind the scenes of the race, including what it felt like to cross the line first, the s...

What does it really take to bring a grassroots mountain sport onto the world’s biggest stage and advocate for the athletes behind it? In this episode of Skimo Gold , Travis Macy and Cam Smith sit down with skimo racer, engineer, and Athlete Advisory Council liaison Rory Kelly for a candid look at the rise of ski mountaineering in the U.S. Rory shares how he found the sport later than most, climbed...

In this numbers-packed episode of Skimo Gold , Cam Smith and Travis Macy welcome Roland Hric, the stat wizard behind Skimo Stats. Roland dives into what the data reveals about last season’s standout performances, Olympic qualification odds, and which athletes are trending up heading into 2025-26 skimo season. From who’s dominating the vertical events to which countries are best positioned,  Roland...

In this episode of Skimo Gold , Travis and Cam are joined by elite trail runner Anna Gibson to recap their 2025 trail season and look ahead to the upcoming skimo winter. They reflect on the highs and lows of racing in Europe, managing injuries, and staying mentally resilient through setbacks and surprises. Anna opens up about navigating a tough year with humor and perspective, while Cam shares wha...

In this episode of Skimo Gold , Cam Smith and Travis Macy chat with Italy’s Nicolo Conclini, a rising star on the international circuit and a strong contender for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. Hailing from the iconic ski town of Bormio, Nicolo shares what it’s like to grow up in a place where mountains and racing are a way of life. They dig into his breakout season, his approach to traini...

In this episode of Skimo Gold , Cam Smith and Travis Macy sit down with Michael Silitch, a trailblazer in American ski mountaineering whose roots run deep in the Alps and the global skimo community. Michael shares his decades-spanning journey from racing in Chamonix to mentoring young athletes and what it means to pass the torch while staying in the game himself. Michael reflects on the evolution...

Join hosts Travis Macy and Cam Smith for an unforgettable episode of Skimo Gold with Austria’s Johanna Hiemer, currently ranked #3 in the world. From World Cup podiums to parenting wins, Johanna opens up about what it really takes to chase elite performance while raising two young kids and running a business. She shares candid insights on the mental and physical challenges of returning to sport af...

Emma Cook-Clarke’s journey to the top of the skimo world is anything but conventional. In this episode, Emma joins Cam Smith and Travis Macy to share how a decade of firefighting, art, and endurance sports shaped her mindset and performance on the global stage. From racing in hand-me-down gear to chasing Olympic dreams, Emma opens up about mental performance, the power of play, and why trusting th...

She’s the reigning queen of skimo, but how did she get here? In this episode of Skimo Gold , Travis Macy and Cam Smith sit down with Emily Harrop, three-time overall World Cup champion and one of the sport’s most electrifying talents, for a candid and inspiring conversation. Emily opens up about growing up in a tiny mountain village in the French Alps, her transition from alpine skiing to skimo, a...

You know the voice, but do you know the story? In this episode of Skimo Gold , Travis Macy and Cam Smith welcome Catie Friend, the beloved voice of skimo, for a wide-ranging conversation about her unexpected path into race commentary and what it really takes to bring this quirky, high-stakes sport to life on screen. Catie shares how she went from total novice to front-row storyteller, becoming one...

What do carbs, cold weather, and cookie-cutter nutrition plans have in common? They’re all on the chopping block in this episode of Skimo Gold . Travis Macy sits down with Kylee Van Horn, sports dietitian, author of Practical Fueling for Endurance Athletes , and co-host of the refreshingly honest podcast Your Diet Sucks to cut through the confusion around nutrition and performance. Kylee brings a...

What happens when an Ironman World Champion trades the lava fields of Kona for the snowy mountains of Steamboat? In this episode of Skimo Gold , legendary triathlete Tim DeBoom joins hosts Travis Macy and Cam Smith for a wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation about the evolution of sport, identity, and finding new purpose beyond the podium. Tim reflects on his iconic triathlon career, inclu...

At just 19 years old, Griffin Briley is already making waves on the World Cup stage and he’s just getting started. In this episode of Skimo Gold , Griffin joins hosts Travis Macy and Cam Smith from Europe, fresh off the Olympic test event in Bormeo and prepping for the World Championships in Switzerland. Griffin shares what it’s like to train full-time at 2000 meters in Chamonix, France, and how h...

Before SKIMO hit the Olympic stage, Pete Swenson was already carving the path. In this episode of SKIMO Gold, host Travis Macy reconnects with one of the sport’s foundational figures in the U.S., a pioneer whose influence runs deep through the gear, culture, and competitive scene we know today. Pete reflects on his early days transitioning from pro mountain biking to ski mountaineering, racing the...

How do you train like an elite skimo athlete without losing yourself in the process?  In this episode of Skimo Gold , host Travis Macy sits down with longtime friends and legends of the endurance world athlete Jack Linehan and coach Joe Howdyshell for a conversation that’s as thoughtful as it is informative. Jack shares what it’s like training in Chamonix (yes, carbs and croissants are involved),...