What Is The United States Ski Mountaineering Association (USSMA)?

The USSMA sanctions and governs competitive ski mountaineering racing in the US and promotes and fosters recreational ski mountaineering through access, resources, education and community.

The USSMA endeavors to enable United States athletes to achieve competitive excellence in the sport of ski mountaineering.

USSMA Mission

The mission of the USSMA shall be to promote and grow the sport of ski mountaineering racing in the United States.

USA Skimo Governing Representation

The International Ski Mountaineering Federation (ISMF) is ‘recognized’ by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the international governing body for the sport of ski mountaineering. The USSMA works directly with the ISMF to uphold their rules and regulation and meet their standards in the United States.

The ISMF along with many national skimo federations spend many years working to get ski mountaineering racing included in the Winter Olympic Games. In July 2017 the IOC accepted the sport to be included in the 2020 Youth Olympic Games in Switzerland. On July 20, 2021 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) unanimously approved to add Ski Mountaineering to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

The USSMA is currently working with the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee to be certified as the “National Governing Body” for the sport of ski mountaineering racing in the US. The USSMA will be expanding the depth of our organization by developing an Olympic development program to properly train, select and take a team to the Winter Olympic Games.

USSMA Bylaws

USSMA Strategic Plan

Select this link to read the full USSMA Strategic Plan.

USSMA 3-5 Year Focus

Select this link to read the full USSMA 3-5 Year Focus.

USSMA Past & Present Activities

  • Establish and maintain race rules documentation and educate and communicate rules to athletes, coaches, event organizers, referees and race directors.
  • Sanction ski mountaineering races in the United States.
  • Maintain a points rankings system for US licensed athletes.
  • Select a US national team and facilitate athlete competition at World Cup and World Championship races.
  • Initiate awareness to promote the overall growth of the sport.
  • Develop youth programs to educate young athletes about the sport and provide learning opportunities for them to develop their skills.
  • Be a resource for the public, race directors, athletes, and more to answer questions and provide information about the sport to promote awareness, education, and growth.

Transgender Athlete Policy

The USSMA supports equal opportunity, athlete support and pay across genders with cisgender divisions in competition. The goal of the USSMA Transgender Policy is to establish guidelines that encourage and facilitate the participation of transgender athletes in USSMA sanctioned events. Additionally, the objective of this policy is to enforce fair and inclusive practices that respect the personal rights and dignity of all athletes. View the full USSMA Transgender Athlete Policy here.

Inclusivity Statement

We stand together in our journey up, over and down mountains – whatever form they may take. The USSMA was built on the idea that ski mountaineering racing and having fun in the mountains should be accessible for all. The USSMA does not tolerate discrimination of any kind including on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status.

The USSMA recognizes that the sport of ski mountaineering in the United States does not come close to being racially diverse within its operational structure, member database and event participants. While this lack of representation was not built by design, we recognize that by listening and continuing to educate ourselves on the obstacles and opportunities, we can find a path forward to better support all people interested in the sport of skimo. The USSMA supports the spirit of equity demonstrated by the Black Lives Matter movement and the nation wide effort toward equality for black, indigenous and people of color, toward this end.

We have a plan in place to partner with organizations that align with our values to increase mountain access for all and to begin the efforts of meaningfully contributing to the awareness and diversity of our sport. We have some work to do and look forward to sharing our progress throughout the season. Have any feedback or ideas for us? Please reach out and contact us.