Winter SIRCuit
In this January edition of the SIRCuit, we explore the forces shaping the road to the Games. From the debut of a demanding new Olympic discipline, to how AI and product testing influence performance in extreme conditions, to the long-term viability of winter sport in a changing climate, these stories reveal what it really takes to compete, and sustain success, on the world’s biggest winter stage.
IN THIS ISSUE
A sport born from survival is heading to the Olympic stage, and it’s not what most people expect. Ski mountaineering debuts at Milano Cortina 2026 in short, steep races that demand everything: uphill sprints, rapid transitions, and all-out finishes, where the climb is the race and seconds decide the outcome.
More data doesn’t always mean better decisions. As AI tools move deeper into athlete identification and development, this article unpacks the hidden assumptions, data gaps, and human skills that still matter most, and how to use technology without letting it run the show.
In winter sport, what you wear matters as much as how you train. The Sport Product Testing group goes beyond fit and feel, using cold-environment science to see how apparel and equipment influence movement, comfort, and performance in the cold.
What happens to winter sport when winter itself becomes uncertain? Declining snow, rising costs, and climate risk are reshaping everything from community skating to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and forcing sport to rethink what comes next.