[1] The events were originally sanctioned by the International Council for Ski Mountaineering Competitions (ISMC).
The first official world mastership of the ISMC was carried out in the "International Year of Mountains" (2002), declared by the United Nations.
[5] [8] Further venues of the ISMC World Championships were the Aran Valley (Spain) in 2004, the Italian Province of Cuneo in 2006, and Portes du Soleil (Switzerland) in 2008.
In 2002, only individual and team (2 racers) races were held and rated, added with a combined ranking.
In 2006 the relay race was canceled because of bad snow conditions, and consequently there was no combined ranking.