Greg Vollet Doesn’t Like Skimo at the Olympics

Greg rants on Instagram (by the way, what’s up with all these rants on IG lately… something in the water?):

Let’s not forget that in ski mountaineering, there is one essential word: MOUNTAINEERING.

Tell me: in what you saw, was there even a hint of mountain?
A small rock? Something slightly intimidating?
Or just grandstands and influencers in puffer jackets?

The IOC has won again: another outdoor sport… brought in a stadium, and everyone congratulates each other. Bravo. Magnificent. “So inspiring.”

So, to quickly recap: Greg’s responsible for the Golden Trail World Series and his critics have largely said the same thing: the flower format, designed for TV will the spirit of trail running.

The addition of skimo to the Olympics have been largely praised as a positive: by product suppliers, general fans of the Olympics who got to experience a new sport, and the athletes who got to experience the actual event.

Do I consider this to be actual skimo racing? Of course not, in the same way mountain biking or climbing in the Olympics aren’t true to the sport either. So, what Greg is pointing out, and ranting against seems to be the inevitable. This is how this will go for the trail running if it’s to become an Olympic sport.

If you’ve been championing this trajectory for the sport over the past few years this post today seems rather confusing. Were you not aware that this would happen? Do you think you have a better solution in mind? Do you think the IOC will listen to you? And in addition: Aren’t the flower format courses you’ve designed not exactly taking us to a world where trail running will be great for TV on a largely artificial course to fit the Olympic presentation format?