Great Divide Skimo 2026

Follow @skimo.greatdivide on Instagram

The first annual Great Divide Skimo in 2026 will be a race to remember. A Big Sky Skimo Cup race including a Vertical Race Friday night Feb 20 and Long/Short Course Individual racing Saturday morning Feb 21st. [Course maps...]

Sign up for one, both, or volunteer with us for the weekend. And get the DoubleTree hotel discount downtown while it lasts.

It’s a race for friends, families, and anyone who wants to give it a try. It’s an endurance sport, but one with room for everyone: from the “heavy metal” category with backcountry touring gear, to speedy pros in race suits and carbon sneakers. 

 

THANK YOU to Great Divide Ski Area and your team for partnering to launch skimo this year. Please ALWAYS CHECK the Great Divide UPHILL POLICY page on their website before heading up. The designated uphill route is open only before and after operating hours. Learn more...

Follow @skimo.greatdivide on Instagram

 

Subject to Change* Due to conditions and operations the course may change at any time. 

• Long Course will be about 9 miles, 4400 feet give or take. 4 climbs, 2-3 bootpack sections.
• Short Course will be about 5 miles, 2300 feet. 2 climbs, 1 bootpack section.
• Vert Course is 1.75 miles, 1300 feet.

LARGE/ZOOMABLE QUALITY COURSE MAPS...

 

Vert

Friday night from the Belmont Chair load area up, up, up and finish this @1400' short course at the tippy top of the Belmont Lift. Start 6:30pm

Individual Long/Short Courses

Up, down, up, down for the short course and about 2500' climbing. The long course has 4 ups/4 downs and covers the mountain from edge to edge for about 10 miles/4500' of climbing. Everybody gets a bootpack! 8 am Saturday Start. [Full Schedule...]

 

 

 

FRIDAY NIGHT VERTICAL RACE

Required Gear

• Headlamp
• Helmet
• Skis/Splitboard w/ touring bindings (no snowshoes or approach skis)
• Climbing skins
• Poles
• Multiple clothing layers, including wind shell
• Ski on Course. During all uphill and bootpack skiiers must stay on course set by race organizers and Great Divide
• Competitors that fail to make the specified cutoff time will not be able to continue
  racing and will be required to exit the course.
• Participants must adhere to all applicable Great Divide Ski Area rules and policies
  including the Montana Skier Code of Conduct.  
• Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. Race Directors reserve the right to
  disqualify participants for unsportsmanlike conduct with no refunds.
  
  Participants may not pre-run the course and must obey Great Divide's uphill policy when not participating in the race itself.

 

SATURDAY LONG/SHORT COURSE INDIVIDUAL RACING

Required Gear

• Helmet
• Hydration [No aid stations on course]
• Eye protection/ goggles/sunglasses
• Gloves 
• Backpack (with ski/board carrying attachment)
• Ski Brake, leash or retention
• Skis/Splitboard w/ touring bindings (no snowshoes or approach skis)
• Climbing skins (Skins must be put away in backpack or ski suit before leaving transition areas)
• Poles
• Multiple clothing layers, including wind shell
• Great Divide Season Pass or Ticket required. All participants will be required to carry a season pass or wear an event-specific lift pass (included with registration fee).
  
  
• Ski on Course. During all uphill and bootpack skiiers must stay on course set by race organizers and Great Divide. General public skiers have the right of way. Participants must yield to the general public in all instances and stay on their designated route.
• Competitors that fail to make the specified cutoff time will not be able to continue
  racing and will be required to exit the course.
• Participants must adhere to all applicable Great Divide Ski Area rules and policies
  including the Montana Skier Code of Conduct.  
• Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated. Race Directors reserve the right to
  disqualify participants for unsportsmanlike conduct with no refunds.
• This is an individual competitor race and athletes cannot receive support from other competitors or outside personnel at any time during competition.
• Helping others in distress or injured is required. The race director may adjust competitor’s final time to account for their assistance to a distressed competitor.
• No littering, gear ditching or gear caching.
  
  Participants may not pre-run the course and must obey Great Divide's uphill policy when not participating in the race itself.

 

Great Divide Skimo Weekend

Friday night Feb 20th Vertical Race

4:00pm check in opens

6:15pm quick safety talk at start line

6:30pm race start

 

Saturday Feb 21 Individual Race

6:00am - 7:15am Required check in

7:50am quick safety meeting at start line

8:00am race start - Long & Short Course

(tbd) cutoff times on course

1:00pm Awards

 

Base Camp

Check out our local gear, clothing, and ski shop, The Base Camp. 5 W. Broadway (406) 443-5360
Store Hours: Monday- Saturday 9:30am - 6pm, Sunday 11am - 5pm

 

Hot Springs

We highly recommend a visit to Broadwater Hot Springs in Helena. Food and drink, sauna, steam and cold plunges...
Friday 6AM-11:30PM  / Saturday 7:30AM-11:30PM / Sunday 7:30AM-10:30PM

 

Uphill at Great Divide
This season, you can ski uphill at Great Divide only before and after operating hours. Headlamps are required. Please check the Great Divide Uphill Travel Policy page for regular updates before heading up. Skiing up is on a designated route. Please avoid high voltage electrical snowmaking equipment, snowcats and grooming equipment, stay off the terrain parks, and only ski up using the designated route. 

 
 

Launch Party!
Tuesday January 20th at Blackfoot Brewing's downtown taproom

5-8 pm

Tuesday, January 20, 5:00 - 8:00 pm

Kick off skimo season with a community gathering and friendraiser at Blackfoot River Brewing.

Celebrate local athletes, sponsors, and the start of Helena’s newest mountain tradition.

Blackfoot Taproom, 66 S. Park Ave. 

 

Helena will kick off Skimo Season 2026 with a Thursday night race and chili feed at Great Divide, Thursday January 22nd. Details and registration...

Book at The DoubleTree downtown  (right by the Blackfoot Brewing Taproom and the Base Camp;)
Use this link to get the skimo discount or call (406) 443-2200 DoubleTree by Hilton Helena Downtown 22 N. Last Chance Gulch

Camping at Great Divide

Camping is allowed in the Great Divide BACK LOT. Follow signs to Event Parking.

 

Get gear at the Base Camp!

Visit Helena's beloved gear and ski shop at 5 W. Broadway
Store Hours: Monday- Saturday 9:30am - 6pm, Sunday 11am - 5pm
(406) 443-5360

 

Hot Springs

We highly recommend a visit to Broadwater Hot Springs in Helena. Food and drink, sauna, steam, and cold plunges...
Friday 6AM-11:30PM  // Saturday 7:30AM-11:30PM \\ Sunday 7:30AM-10:30PM