Nina Silitch is a historic 2× Ski Mountaineering World Cup gold medalist, mother, lifetime educator and coach, artist, and mountain lover whose life has been shaped by movement, creativity, and the mountainous places she calls home.
From an early age, Nina’s life as a multisport athlete shaped far more than her physical strength — it shaped her leadership. Growing up in horseback riding, soccer, ski racing, field hockey, lacrosse, and later rock climbing, Nordic skiing, and alpine racing, she learned to adapt, work with others, take risks, and stay grounded in challenge.
Her path reflects what research shows about women in sport: that girls who compete across multiple disciplines develop the confidence, resilience, and communication skills that later translate into strong leadership. These qualities still guide her today in her classroom, her school community, her coaching, and her family — anchoring the clarity, courage, and heart she brings to all she does.
Hailing from New England, she learned to ski on the slopes of Vermont and Maine from the age of four. A graduate of Dartmouth College with a history steeped in skiing, she raced for the Dartmouth Nordic Ski Team and was active in the Dartmouth Mountaineering Club before moving to the Alps, where she and her husband, UIAGM mountain guide Michael Silitch, raised their two boys at the base of Mont Blanc.
It was in the high Alps that Nina discovered ski mountaineering. After completing her first Haute Route with Michael, the blend of endurance, technical climbing, and the speed of ski descents resonated deeply — and the rest was history. Nina has over 40 World Cup starts and became the first North American athlete to win a Ski Mountaineering World Cup gold medal in 2012. She followed this with a World Championship silver medal and a second World Cup gold in 2013 at age 41, cementing her place in SkiMo history.
Known for her powerful starts, Nina earned a reputation as a sprint specialist, drawing inspiration from U.S. Nordic legend Kikkan Randall. She claimed numerous podiums and delivered standout performances, including a top-ten overall finish in a World Cup sprint qualification — famously outpacing even Kilian Jornet.
Though celebrated for her sprinting, Nina also excelled in the legendary Grand Course races, repeatedly placing in the top ten in the Pierra Menta, Patrouille des Glaciers, and Trofeo Mezzalama. For Nina, these long, technical team events embodied what she loved most about the sport: shared effort, deep bonds, and the mountain camaraderie that lasts long after the finish line.
To stay strong for winter ski mountaineering, Nina embraced trail running as her primary summer cross-training, discovering in it another joyful way to build endurance, explore the mountains, and compete at a high level. She went on to become both a race winner and consistent top-ten finisher in major European mountain events, including the CCC (UTMB), Trail des Aiguilles Rouges, Lavaredo Ultra Trail, and many others across the Alps.
Despite medals and accolades, one of Nina’s fondest memories remains the day she left her home near the church in Chamonix, climbed to the summit of Mont Blanc, skied the North Face, and returned in time to pick up her boys from school at 4 p.m. — a perfect intersection of mountains, motherhood, and meaning.
After returning to the United States, Nina founded the Park City Ski Mountaineering Team , helping introduce youth to the sport and contributing to its growth nationwide. She is deeply proud to see ski mountaineering officially included in the 2026 Milan–Cortina Olympic Games, especially given the sport’s origins in Chamonix, where she helped found and later served as president of the Chamonix Ski Mountaineering Club.
Alongside her athletic achievements, Nina has been an educator for over 24 years, creating a love of learning and belonging for her students and helping them grow to their own potential. As an artist, she draws inspiration from nature in all its forms — its beauty, its movement, and the way color and landscape shape our sense of place.
Nina continues to teach, create, coach, and explore — always seeking the intersections between endurance, creativity, education, and the joy of moving through the mountains.