Trail running legend and multi-time national champion Max King joins us on Skimo Gold for a wide-ranging conversation about mountain sports, aging as an endurance athlete, and why ski mountaineering might be the ultimate cross-training tool.

Max shares how watching European mountain runners—especially athletes like Kilian Jornet—inspired him to pick up skimo as a winter training strategy. What started as cross-training turned into racing, and he now credits ski mountaineering with elevating his performance in iconic mountain events like the legendary Mount Marathon Race in Seward, Alaska.

We dig into:

• Why skiing uphill builds specific muscular endurance for mountain running
• How Max balances 40–50 miles of running per week while ski training
• The physiology behind skimo as preparation for steep European mountain races
• Training structure: threshold work, VO2 intervals, and race prep on skis
• The role of friendly rivalry in staying sharp

Max also opens up about his evolving perspective as a veteran athlete in a sport now filled with teenagers and 20-somethings—and how experience, strength, and durability shift over time.

Beyond racing, Max is building the future of U.S. skimo. He shares the story behind launching a youth ski mountaineering program in Bend, Oregon—growing from just a few kids to a developing middle school team that’s starting to show up at regional races. It’s grassroots development in action, modeled after programs like Silver Fork, and a glimpse into how the U.S. can continue closing the gap internationally.

We also touch on:

• His return attempt at the brutal Barkley Marathons
• The evolution of skimo in the Olympics
• What it means to see U.S. athletes qualify on the world stage

This episode is about longevity, mountain culture, cross-sport performance, and investing in the next generation.

If you’re a runner curious about skimo, a skier looking to get faster uphill, or a coach building youth programming, this one’s for you.

Let’s go!

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Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.

The Olympic debut of ski mountaineering continues with one of the sport’s most dynamic formats: the mixed relay.

In this episode of Skimo Gold, Travis Macy is joined by Team USA athletes Ian Clark and Sarah Burke to break down the results and key moments from the Olympic mixed relay race in Bormio. Together they analyze how the race unfolded, from Emily Harrop’s aggressive opening leg for France to the dramatic final laps that decided the podium.

The conversation dives into the tactical elements that defined the race, including transition efficiency, pacing on the climbs, and the high-speed downhill sections that kept teams tightly packed. Travis, Ian, and Sarah also highlight the strong performance from Team USA’s Cam Smith and Anna Gibson, who stayed in contention throughout the race and finished just off the podium in fourth place.

Along the way they discuss the growing visibility of ski mountaineering thanks to its Olympic debut, the strategy behind the mixed relay format, and what this race says about the future of the sport.

Special thanks to TrainingPeaks, DYNAFIT, POMOCA, REVANTA Creatine by NEURORESERVE (use code SKIMOGOLD), and CAMP for sponsoring Skimo Gold's Olympic Dispatch!

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Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.

Ski mountaineering has officially made its Olympic debut and the sprint race delivered drama, chaos, and history.

In this Olympic Dispatch episode of Skimo Gold, Travis Macy is joined by former U.S. National Team coach Joe Howdyshell and U.S. athlete rep Rory Kelly to break down the first-ever Olympic Skimo medals.

They analyze:

• Marianne Fatton and Oriol Cardona Coll’s gold medal performances
• The impact of heavy snowfall and ultra-dynamic conditions
• Key transition mistakes that changed podium outcomes
• Why smooth transitions mattered more than raw speed
• Team USA’s strong showing from Anna Gibson and Cam Smith

Plus, they look ahead to the Mixed Relay where endurance, team tactics, and cleaner conditions could shake up the podium picture.

Beyond the results, this episode captures what it felt like to witness Skimo’s Olympic moment in person from packed spectator stands to fans discovering the sport for the first time.

If you’re new to Skimo, welcome. If you’ve been waiting for this moment for years, this one’s for you.

Special thanks to TrainingPeaks, DYNAFIT, POMOCA, REVANTA Creatine by NEURORESERVE (use code SKIMOGOLD), and CAMP for sponsoring Skimo Gold's Olympic Dispatch!

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Thanks to our sponsor CAMP

Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Learn more about Travis Macy and Cam Smith

Follow along with Skimo Gold and the Travis Macy Show

Skimo Gold is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.