United States Secures First Olympic Ski Mountaineering Quota, Local Winners

Team USA reached a milestone at the Skimo World Cup held December 6 and 7 at Solitude Mountain Resort when the A division pair Cameron Smith and Anna Gibson won the A race and secured the United States its first Olympic quota in ski mountaineering for the 2026 Games. The result marked a major development for a sport that has been building momentum in the United States, and it came during a weekend that doubled as high stakes Olympic qualification.

Local athletes were prominent throughout the competition. Park City skier Griffin Briley teamed with Hali Hafeman to win the B division mixed relay, and Briley advanced to the quarterfinals in the sprint competition. Briley noted enthusiastic support from the local crowd, evidence of rising community engagement with ski mountaineering in Summit County and the broader Wasatch region.

The immediate local impact is twofold. Sporting success by Summit County athletes raises the profile of Park City and neighboring resorts as development hubs, which can translate into greater youth participation, more demand for coaching services, and increased event tourism. For a county whose winter economy depends heavily on visitors, a sport entering the Olympic program creates a new narrative to attract spectators and training camps, particularly in nonpeak calendar windows for alpine skiing.

From a policy and funding perspective, securing an Olympic quota typically unlocks greater attention from national governing bodies, sponsors, and potential public investment in athlete development pathways. That can mean expanded support for local clubs, targeted grants, and partnerships with resorts and schools to build year round training opportunities. Over the longer term, successful international results may encourage Summit County leaders and private stakeholders to consider modest investments in infrastructure and programming that broaden winter sport participation and diversify the county s tourism offerings.

As the winter season progresses, Summit County will watch whether this weekend translates into sustained growth in participation, sponsorship, and visitor interest. For athletes from Park City and surrounding communities, the quota and local victories provide both momentum and a clearer pathway toward Olympic competition in 2026.