Take it from the Olympics, slushy winter sports may be th...

What’s Happening

Let’s talk about Ice arenas and artificial snow now dominate the winter Olympics.

Athletes there — and everywhere — may need to adjust how they train and perform. News Climate Take it from the Olympics, slushy winter sports may be the new normal Here’s how to enjoy skiing and ice skating in a warming world Cross-country skier Jessie Diggins of Team USA competes in slushy snow near Milan, Italy, on . (wild, right?)

Shorter, warmer winters are becoming more common in the Northern Hemisphere, affecting how winter athletes train and perform.

The Details

Michel Cottin/Agence Zoom/ Sport By Natasha Vizcarra 1 minute ago this: via email (Opens in new window) Email on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit on X (Opens in new window) X Print (Opens in new window) Print The 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, was a slushy affair. And the Paralympics, which start March 6, may be more of the same.

From ice rinks to ski slopes, conditions were warmer and wetter than expected. Some Olympians — including figure skaters, speedskaters and cross-country skiers — cited the slush as contributing to an unusual rash of falls, crashes and not it performances.

Why This Matters

But warm, wet conditions are something that elite winter athletes will have to get used to. Climate change is driving temperatures higher, leading to less snowfall and shorter periods of safe ice on frozen bodies of water. As competing on artificial snow or in indoor ice arenas becomes more common, what athletes learn could offer the rest of us tips for enjoying these environments safely.

Scientists and researchers are watching this development closely.

Key Takeaways

• For our We summarize the week’s scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
• Snow-fakes Sarah Cookler remembers the first time she saw a racecourse covered with just artificial snow.
• “It was in the Pyrenees Mountains in France,” she recalls.
• “The snow run had grass on either side.

The Bottom Line

Ski mountaineering — also known as “skimo” — is a sprint up and down a snow-covered mountain. It was March 2023, almost the end of ski season, and the snow run was beat up and compacted.

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