skimo

Each new Olympics brings a new sport to our attention.  This time it is skimo, the name being an abbreviation of ski mountaineering.  In this sport the contestants have to climb a snowy slope, either by using skins on their skis to help them ascend or by carrying their skis on their back.  They then adjust their skis and make the downhill run.  Skins are adhesive strips that attach to the underside of the skis.  They have long mohair or nylon fibres running in one direction on the non-adhesive side to grip the snow.

Obviously, leaving aside the laborious uphill climb, the moment of difficulty comes in the swift readjustment of the skis before making the descent.  Some people find it odd that a competitive event should involve precision in fiddling with the equipment so skimo has its detractors as well as its supporters.