Lara Hamilton’s journey to ski mountaineering (skimo) is rooted in a lifetime of endurance sports. Growing up in a family of Nordic skiers—her father raced for Australia in World Cups during the 1980s—Lara developed a love for competition early on. She excelled in Nordic skiing and trail running before discovering backcountry skiing during her college years in the U.S., eventually falling in love with skimo toward the end of her time there. Trading a marketing job for her first skimo setup, Lara relied on her trail running, Nordic skiing, and alpine racing experience to adapt quickly to this demanding sport.
Lara’s proudest achievements include qualifying for the Olympics and placing 13th in the vertical race in Schladming—a historic result for an Australian athlete. Another milestone was helping Australia qualify for the mixed relay at the World Championships for the first time, a significant accomplishment for a country better known for sun than snow. Challenges along the way have been immense; Lara was diagnosed at 23 with Ankylosing Spondylitis, a progressive arthritic condition affecting her spine. Despite this, her resilience and dedication allow her to continue performing at an elite level.
A typical training day for Lara is rigorous: she rises at 6 a.m. for coffee, breakfast, and mobility work, followed by 2 hours on snow starting at 8 a.m. After lunch, she hits the gym for 1.5 hours, completes 3 hours of work, runs 45–90 minutes, finishes another 1.5 hours of work, and wraps up with dinner and rest. Mental preparation is key—she focuses on joy, balance, and fun, whether chasing powder turns or sharing meals with family and friends.
Outside of sport, Lara has a rich artistic life. She holds both a master’s and undergraduate degree in opera singing and continues to DJ and produce music. She also enjoys trail running, surfing in Australia, and exploring other mountain adventures.
Looking ahead, Lara aims to achieve top-10 finishes in the vertical and individual races, qualify for Australia in the sprint, and grow mountain sports back home. She hopes to inspire others through her story of perseverance, showing that resilience and passion can overcome even the toughest challenges.
