Team Summit SkiMo: Youth Ski Mountaineering Training in Colorado
Ski mountaineering combines endurance, skiing ability, technical efficiency, and confidence in the mountains. For young athletes interested in developing those skills, the Team Summit SkiMo program provides structured training, coaching, and competition opportunities throughout the Colorado winter.
Team Summit SkiMo works with athletes ages 12 to 18 and provides a progression from shorter introductory race formats into longer, more demanding ski mountaineering events. The program is designed for athletes who want to improve as SkiMo racers while also becoming stronger, more independent mountain athletes.
Who Is the Team Summit SkiMo Program For?
The program is open to athletes ages 12 to 18 with coach approval. Athletes should be able to sustain at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity and ski at an intermediate level.
Younger athletes ages 12 to 14 generally focus on short-course, sprint, and vertical races. Athletes age 15 and older progress into long-course, sprint, and vertical events and may compete within ISMF Cadet and Junior categories.
Older Cadet and Junior athletes should also be comfortable skiing independently at Team Summit training venues.
What Skills Does Ski Mountaineering Develop?
SkiMo requires much more than simply skiing uphill. Athletes develop aerobic endurance, climbing efficiency, downhill skiing skills, pacing, transitions, equipment management, and decision-making in mountain environments.
Training also emphasizes independence and confidence. As athletes progress, they learn how to move efficiently across varied terrain and manage the physical and technical demands of longer training sessions and races.
Team Summit SkiMo Training
The Team Summit SkiMo season runs from approximately mid-November through mid-April, with additional dryland training beginning in October.
Regular program days are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The primary training location is Copper Mountain, with additional sessions at Arapahoe Basin and Breckenridge.
The program also includes two extended backcountry ski days lasting approximately four to six hours, giving athletes an opportunity to apply their endurance and mountain skills in a different environment. The season concludes with an end-of-year hut trip.
SkiMo Racing and Competition
Team Summit athletes have opportunities to compete in ski mountaineering events governed by USSMA and ISMF standards.
Competition opportunities include events within the Colorado Ski Mountaineering Cup, commonly known as the COSMIC SkiMo Series, along with national qualifying events and championship races.
Race formats can include vertical races, sprint events, short-course races, and longer ski mountaineering courses. As athletes develop, they can progress into increasingly competitive regional, national, and international pathways.
Training Locations and Season Passes
Team Summit SkiMo primarily trains at Copper Mountain, with additional training opportunities at Arapahoe Basin and Breckenridge.
A Copper Mountain and Arapahoe Basin season pass is required. Athletes should also have access to appropriate uphill passes for Arapahoe Basin, Copper Mountain, and Breckenridge as required for training.
Team Summit SkiMo Program Options
Complete Program: $3,035
Register for the Complete SkiMo Program
Saturday Only: $2,005
Register for the Saturday-Only SkiMo Program
A $400 Volunteer Service Fee (VSF) also applies.
Building the Next Generation of Ski Mountaineers
Ski mountaineering gives young athletes a unique opportunity to combine endurance training with technical skiing and mountain experience. For athletes coming from alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, running, cycling, or other endurance sports, SkiMo can provide an entirely new challenge while building skills that transfer across multiple sports.
Team Summit’s program provides a pathway for athletes to start with shorter events, develop their technique and fitness, and progress toward more demanding race formats as their abilities grow.
Whether an athlete is interested in trying their first SkiMo race or pursuing regional and national competition, the goal is the same: develop capable, confident athletes who enjoy moving through the mountains.
Skills: Participation is subject to coach approval.