What is the individual race in ski mountaineering?
I · Intermediate · Races and categories · 1 of 6The individual race has three to seven climbs and descents, off-piste where possible: seniors climb 1,300 to 1,600 m (men) or 1,150 to 1,400 m (women), and the winner takes at least 1 hour 15 minutes. The team race is longer, for pairs who stay together. The vertical race is one climb of 500 to 700 m.
How it works
- Individual: three to seven climbs; the longest no more than half the total.
- On skis: at least 85 per cent of the individual race.
- Team: 2,100 to 2,400 m (men) or 1,800 to 2,100 m (women); up to 3 hours.
- Team size: two of the same gender and nation, three in some cups.
- Vertical: one climb on skis, no foot section, average gradient 15 per cent.
- Vertical Kilometer: exactly 1,000 m of climb.
- Start: usually a mass start.
- Feed: a refreshment area on individual and team races.
The glossary has the individual race, the team race, the vertical race, the Vertical Kilometer, the mass start and the team gaps.
Tricky cases
Must team partners finish together?
Yes. More than 5 seconds apart at the line costs extra time.
Can one partner tow the other?
Yes, with a rope or elastic, except on descents, in the first 15 minutes and where the jury bans it.
If one team member gives up?
The other must give up too.
Does the vertical race have a descent?
No. It ends at the top.
Why the rule exists
Long races test endurance and mountain skill; the vertical tests pure climbing. Limits on climb length keep a race from turning into one big hill.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | Three to seven climbs | 24.1 |
| Team | Partners within 30 seconds on climbs | 26.4.15 |
| Vertical Kilometer | Split times every 250 m | 24.1.2 |
From the rule book
ISMF, Rules & Guidelines, version 2026-2027, rules 20.2, 24.1, 24.1.2, 26.4.13 and 26.4.15. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the ISMF Rules & Guidelines 2026-2027.