Beijing, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) — The global skiing industry is witnessing a strong boom ahead of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, with the debut of ski mountaineering as a new Olympic sport and cutting-edge tech innovations in gear driving growing enthusiasm among athletes and enthusiasts worldwide.
Ski mountaineering, which combines alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and uphill climbing, returns to the Olympic stage after 78 years with three medal events—men’s sprint, women’s sprint and mixed relay—set to take place in Bormio, Italy. Top athletes from France, Switzerland and Spain are among the favorites, with France’s Emily Harrop and Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll leading the rankings after impressive performances in 2025 World Championships.
Tech innovations are also reshaping the sport: Provuu XR goggles use AR displays to enhance visibility by 75% in blizzards, while Salomon has launched new high-performance gear including the S/Lab Shift Alpha S BOA boot and updated freeride skis for demanding terrain. AI-powered devices like Carv 2 also provide real-time feedback to skiers, helping improve skills efficiently.
The Milan 2026 Olympics, featuring 116 Olympic titles over 16 days, is expected to further boost global skiing participation and gear demand, with analysts noting tech integration and event excitement will sustain the industry’s growth through the year.