We’re back with Catie Friend to break down everything that’s happened since the Olympic debut of skimo and there’s a lot to unpack.

Catie takes us inside her experience on the ground in Bormio, from calling races in front of a roaring crowd to the emotional highs (and lows) of watching athletes she’s known for years step onto the Olympic podium. We also get into what happens after the biggest moment in the sport, and why the comedown can be just as real as the buildup.

Then we shift into race mode:

• Pierra Menta and how Olympic athletes like Emily Harrop and Margot Ravinel turned around and dominated one of the hardest stage races in the sport
• A breakdown of the ISMF World Cup Val Martello, including standout performances, technical courses, and why this venue might be the most fun on the circuit
• Sprint and mixed relay results, surprises, and what’s changing in the depth of the field

We also look ahead to what’s next—Youth World Championships, World Cup finals, and the final stretch of the season as athletes balance fatigue, momentum, and one last push.

This one is equal parts insight and energy: what it felt like, what it means, and where skimo is heading next.

Let’s go!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.

This week on Skimo Gold, Travis Macy sits down with Joe DeMoor for a wide-ranging conversation on endurance sport, ski mountaineering, and the path that led Joe from elite collegiate running to the skimo podium.

Joe shares what it was like growing up in Buena Vista, Colorado, competing in multiple sports, and eventually running for the University of Colorado. He and Travis get into the realities of high-level college running, how Joe transitioned from post-collegiate racing into ski mountaineering, and why multi-sport training continues to shape him as an athlete today.

They also talk through Joe’s recent run of strong results, including second at the Power of Four with Jacob Dewey and podium finishes at U.S. National Championships, along with his experiences racing internationally at World Championships and Pierra Menta. Joe offers thoughtful insight on fueling, recovery, strength work, ski racing in Europe, and what it takes to stay competitive across both running and skimo.

If you want a deeper look at one of the most consistent and versatile athletes in U.S. skimo, this is a fun one.

Let’s go!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.

The skimo season isn’t slowing down. In this episode of Skimo Gold, Travis Macy sits down with Olympian Cam Smith for a full race roundup covering a packed stretch of ski mountaineering competition.

They break down results and storylines from the Power of Four in Colorado, U.S. National Championships at the Wasatch Powderkeg, and the ISMF European Championships and World Cup races in Azerbaijan. Cam shares insight on the athletes who stood out, the dynamics of each race format, and what these performances say about the current state of skimo in the U.S. and internationally.

They also preview the legendary Pierre Menta, one of the most iconic stage races in ski mountaineering, and discuss which teams could make an impact over four demanding days in the Alps.

Along the way, Cam reflects briefly on life after the Olympics, the excitement surrounding skimo’s growing global stage, and what’s next as the season continues.

In this episode, they cover:

• Power of Four results and course changes
• Highlights from U.S. National Championships at the Wasatch Powderkeg
• Sprint, relay, individual, and vertical race standouts
• European Championships and World Cup racing in Azerbaijan
• Athletes and teams to watch at Pierre Menta
• A quick look at the skimo scene after the Olympics

Let’s go!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.

The long-distance world championships are here, and on this episode of Skimo Gold, Travis Macy is joined by two of America’s top ski mountaineers, Logan Gray and Colin Kelly, for a deep dive into Pierre Menta — the iconic four-day stage race known as the Tour de France of ski mountaineering.

Logan and Colin join from France just days before the race to break down what makes Pierre Menta so unique: massive vertical gain, technical terrain, ever-changing snow conditions, huge crowds, and four straight days of racing that demand fitness, precision, and resilience. They talk about the atmosphere on the ground, what it takes to prepare for an event like this from Colorado, and why this race remains one of the purest and most demanding tests in the sport.

They also get into their training philosophies, from highly data-driven preparation to more feel-based approaches, along with the tactical decisions that can make or break a race like this. If you want a better understanding of elite skimo, long-distance race strategy, and the American athletes taking on one of the sport’s most legendary events, this is a fun one.

Let’s go!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.

Trail running legend and multi-time national champion Max King joins us on Skimo Gold for a wide-ranging conversation about mountain sports, aging as an endurance athlete, and why ski mountaineering might be the ultimate cross-training tool.

Max shares how watching European mountain runners—especially athletes like Kilian Jornet—inspired him to pick up skimo as a winter training strategy. What started as cross-training turned into racing, and he now credits ski mountaineering with elevating his performance in iconic mountain events like the legendary Mount Marathon Race in Seward, Alaska.

We dig into:

• Why skiing uphill builds specific muscular endurance for mountain running
• How Max balances 40–50 miles of running per week while ski training
• The physiology behind skimo as preparation for steep European mountain races
• Training structure: threshold work, VO2 intervals, and race prep on skis
• The role of friendly rivalry in staying sharp

Max also opens up about his evolving perspective as a veteran athlete in a sport now filled with teenagers and 20-somethings—and how experience, strength, and durability shift over time.

Beyond racing, Max is building the future of U.S. skimo. He shares the story behind launching a youth ski mountaineering program in Bend, Oregon—growing from just a few kids to a developing middle school team that’s starting to show up at regional races. It’s grassroots development in action, modeled after programs like Silver Fork, and a glimpse into how the U.S. can continue closing the gap internationally.

We also touch on:

• His return attempt at the brutal Barkley Marathons
• The evolution of skimo in the Olympics
• What it means to see U.S. athletes qualify on the world stage

This episode is about longevity, mountain culture, cross-sport performance, and investing in the next generation.

If you’re a runner curious about skimo, a skier looking to get faster uphill, or a coach building youth programming, this one’s for you.

Let’s go!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.

The Olympic debut of ski mountaineering continues with one of the sport’s most dynamic formats: the mixed relay.

In this episode of Skimo Gold, Travis Macy is joined by Team USA athletes Ian Clark and Sarah Burke to break down the results and key moments from the Olympic mixed relay race in Bormio. Together they analyze how the race unfolded, from Emily Harrop’s aggressive opening leg for France to the dramatic final laps that decided the podium.

The conversation dives into the tactical elements that defined the race, including transition efficiency, pacing on the climbs, and the high-speed downhill sections that kept teams tightly packed. Travis, Ian, and Sarah also highlight the strong performance from Team USA’s Cam Smith and Anna Gibson, who stayed in contention throughout the race and finished just off the podium in fourth place.

Along the way they discuss the growing visibility of ski mountaineering thanks to its Olympic debut, the strategy behind the mixed relay format, and what this race says about the future of the sport.

Special thanks to TrainingPeaks, DYNAFIT, POMOCA, REVANTA Creatine by NEURORESERVE (use code SKIMOGOLD), and CAMP for sponsoring Skimo Gold's Olympic Dispatch!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.

Ski mountaineering has officially made its Olympic debut and the sprint race delivered drama, chaos, and history.

In this Olympic Dispatch episode of Skimo Gold, Travis Macy is joined by former U.S. National Team coach Joe Howdyshell and U.S. athlete rep Rory Kelly to break down the first-ever Olympic Skimo medals.

They analyze:

• Marianne Fatton and Oriol Cardona Coll’s gold medal performances
• The impact of heavy snowfall and ultra-dynamic conditions
• Key transition mistakes that changed podium outcomes
• Why smooth transitions mattered more than raw speed
• Team USA’s strong showing from Anna Gibson and Cam Smith

Plus, they look ahead to the Mixed Relay where endurance, team tactics, and cleaner conditions could shake up the podium picture.

Beyond the results, this episode captures what it felt like to witness Skimo’s Olympic moment in person from packed spectator stands to fans discovering the sport for the first time.

If you’re new to Skimo, welcome. If you’ve been waiting for this moment for years, this one’s for you.

Special thanks to TrainingPeaks, DYNAFIT, POMOCA, REVANTA Creatine by NEURORESERVE (use code SKIMOGOLD), and CAMP for sponsoring Skimo Gold's Olympic Dispatch!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.

Germany’s Tatjana Paller didn’t start in skimo — she came up through alpine skiing and later raced for Germany’s national cycling team on the road and track before realizing she was missing the mountains. In this Olympic Dispatch episode of Skimo Gold, Tatjana shares what pulled her away from cycling, how quickly skimo clicked when she made the switch in her mid-20s, and why the sport finally felt like home.

We talk about her World Championship bronze medal, what elite skimo training actually looks like as she prepares for the Olympics, and how racing on the World Cup circuit has shaped her confidence under pressure. Tatjana also reflects on the mental side of competing on a bigger stage and what it means to represent Germany as ski mountaineering steps into the Olympics for the first time — and why she’s trying to soak in every part of this once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Special thanks to TrainingPeaks, DYNAFIT, POMOCA, REVANTA Creatine by NEURORESERVE (use code SKIMOGOLD), and CAMP for sponsoring Skimo Gold's Olympic Dispatch!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.