Villars-sur-Ollon (Switzerland) (AFP)

"It would be incredible if ski mountaineering does not enter the Olympic Games!": Ophélie David, multiple Olympic medalist in skiing and head of mission of the French delegation is full of praise for a "fresh and fun" sport.

This discipline is on the program for the first time this year at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Lausanne.

Formerly a way of moving in the mountains in winter, the practice extended to leisure with ski touring before opening up to performance with legendary races such as the Patrouille des Glaciers in Switzerland or the Pierra Menta in France.

Originally practiced over long distances, ski mountaineering alternates ascents on light skis equipped with sealskin or on foot, skis in the bag, when the slope is too steep then descents.

On shorter formats, he presents at the YOG an individual test of around 1 hour, a sprint test of 2 to 3 minutes and a relay, as close as possible to the public.

Framed in France in a federation which also oversees climbing and internationally by a federation which still has only 38 member countries, this sport in full rise seduces.

- The "late" Olympic world -

"Ski mountaineering is becoming more and more popular and it is even the Olympic world which is behind," says Ophélie David, who came to support the Blues on Monday in Villars, in particular the young Frenchwoman Margot Ravinel, who won her 2nd medal in bronze in as many events.

"Ski mountaineering made a very big impression. It is very spectacular, compact and easy to understand, exactly what we need", enthuses Christophe Dubi, director of the Olympic Games at the International Olympic Committee (IOC), visiting he too, along with his president Thomas Bach for the sprint events won in the ladies' race by the Spanish Maria Costa Diez, with an Italian double in the men's.

"The dynamic sequence of men's and women's races on the same site is also a plus," adds Mr. Dubi, for whom "the notion of universality undoubtedly constitutes the greatest challenge".

Increasingly practiced in Europe, this sport is indeed much more confidential in North America or Asia, where a World Cup event is however organized.

- 17 countries at the YOG -

At the Lausanne YOG, only 17 countries, including 12 Europeans, were aligned in ski mountaineering. The Americas had only two representatives (Canada and the United States) and Asia three members (China, South Korea, Iran).

"The few practicing countries is not a problem, it is the case of other disciplines which are already Olympic", retorts Ophélie David.

"It is becoming universal," adds Pierre-Henri Paillasson, national technical director of the French Mountain and Climbing Federation, who worked for the entry of climbing to the Summer Olympics. The sport will make its big debut under the five rings this summer at the Tokyo Olympics.

"Ten years ago, we never imagined that climbing would be Olympic. For ski mountaineering, everything is open," he said.

If it is too late for the Winter Olympics in Beijing-2022, the Olympic dream could come true in 2026 during the Olympics in Milan / Cortina d'Ampezzo. "There is a real mountain culture in Cortina, it would be the ideal setting for the entry of ski mountaineering," says Ophélie David.

"At the YOG, the organizers have prepared the events well, so it's a good advertisement for our sport," adds Margot Ravinel.

"I hope that ski mountaineering will be present" at the Olympic Games in Milan. "I think there is a chance," wants to believe the young woman of 17 who could then represent one of the best chances of medal for France.

© 2020 AFP