A live TV broadcast of races for children under 16, complete with professional graphics, a studio setup, and expert commentary — just like a World Cup event. Four disciplines across four venues in Slovakia, Czechia, Poland, and Austria, completely free of charge for all young racers. The competition culminates with an unforgettable main prize: an inside-the-ropes World Cup experience in Alta Badia, Italy. Add to that special guests from the world ski scene, valuable prizes, and a rich side program for visitors of all ages. Can you imagine a stronger spark for young athletes dreaming of a future in ski racing?
A Brotherhood Bringing Positive Change
Behind the idea of motivating young athletes for more than a decade stands a trio of brothers from Slovakia, well known within the ski community. Adam, Andreas, and Teo Žampa made history as the first brother trio to compete in the same discipline at the World Championships — lining up together in the giant slalom at Saalbach 2025. Their careers include notable achievements, such as a silver medal from the World Championships in the team parallel event and several top-10 finishes at major competitions.
In Slovakia, they rank among the country’s most popular athletes, not only because of their racing success but also because of the initiatives they actively support in alpine skiing development, along with the expert insights they regularly share on TV studios.
Giving young racers a taste of the World Cup
Together with his brothers, Andreas Žampa explained that they have been organizing the BILLA Žampa Cup for ten years and that he was genuinely happy to welcome last season’s winning club to Alta Badia. The overall points winner — the Czech club TJ Slovan Pec — earned a unique opportunity to experience the World Cup from the inside. The kids stood at the start, watched the top racers train, took part in the bib draw, and met the fastest men on the World Cup circuit. Žampa emphasized that experiencing life at the highest level firsthand can inspire young athletes to one day stand there as racers themselves.
The selection of the six children who participated in the trip was about more than results. The club considered discipline, regular training attendance, school performance, fair play, effort and overall attitude.
Inspiration beyond results
Žampa said the project’s goal is to give back to the next generation. He emphasized the importance of helping children feel motivated to improve a little every day and noted how meaningful it was to create something special in collaboration with World Cup organizers.
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When a Win Means More
“We watched the giant slalom training and saw all those world-class skiers up close. We were at the bib draw, collected autographs, and even met Jan Zabystřan — our successful compatriot who recently celebrated his first World Cup victory,” said Emilija Ivanovska from the winning Czech club TJ Slovan Pec. “It’s an incredible experience for our entire team.”
When asked who they would be cheering for, the answer was unanimous — the Žampa brothers — a fact clearly visible from the banners they proudly held. You can see how the winners enjoyed their time in Alta Badia here.
“For the kids, this is an huge motivation, and I’m really happy the guys are organizing this event. It truly inspires young athletes,” says Lukáš Wondráček, coach of TJ Slovan Pec.
Motivation that carries forward
And he’s not wrong. Slovakia was represented in Monday’s slalom by young skier Adam Nováček, a 20-year-old athlete who once competed at the Žampa Cup himself. In Alta Badia, he made his second World Cup start — and celebrated his first successful World Cup finish.
Ljutić Brought the Globe — and the Energy
One of the special guests at the Žampa Cup finals in Štrbské Pleso (SVK) in March 2025 was Zrinka Ljutić, the freshly crowned slalom globe winner, who arrived straight from the World Cup Finals in the United States. She visited the race start, spent time with thousands of fans during the autograph session, and brought not only her trophy but also an incredible dose of energy and motivation to the event.
Slovak and Croatian skiing have shared warm relations for years, and Croatian success is genuinely celebrated by Slovak fans. Zrinka’s fan club is even led by a young Slovak woman, Nina, who attended the event with Billa Žampa Cup banners in hand.
Winning the small globe was a dream come true for Ljutić, who said she was deeply happy to share the moment with everyone at the Billa Žampa Cup.
Ljutić also appeared in the live finish-area studio of JOJ Šport TV, which broadcast the entire race with full graphics and expert commentary. That level of professionalism matters, accordingly to organizers and parents.
Feeling part of something bigger
One attending parent shared that both of their children raced and truly felt part of something big — just like what they see on TV. Even without podium results, the experience itself made the day special, capped off with hot chocolate and autograph sessions.
In addition to Ljutić, visitors and young racers also met Zabystřan, Martina Dubovská, and Finnish star Erika Pykäläinen.
Great Potential Ahead
The Billa Žampa Cup 2026 will introduce several new developments. For the first time, the series will expand to Austria, partnering with Ski Club Arlberg, the world’s oldest ski club. In Lech/Zürs, young racers will take part in a unique ski challenge designed to test overall skills while prioritizing fun with competition.
Each event has its own distinct character. In Pec pod Sněžkou, young skiers will compete in a combi race blending alpine skiing and ski cross. In Białka Tatrzańska, the program includes a children’s downhill — a discipline many young racers aspire to try. The season finale at Štrbské Pleso will feature a parallel slalom broadcast live on television, along with side events such as a speed challenge, skills run, and the Winter Youth Olympics of the High Tatras. Children will also have the opportunity to try snowboarding, cross-country skiing, and ski mountaineering at Teo Žampa.
Organizers promise a special atmosphere, a record number of World Cup guests, and a professional environment for all participants. The goal remains clear: to help young racers feel like stars, build friendships, and embrace the challenges of alpine skiing.
Registration for all Billa Žampa Cup events is free of charge. The initiative is not limited to future professionals. It also welcomes recreational skiers who want to try racing or simply enjoy the atmosphere.
Building community, not just champions
“One of our missions is to bring skiing closer to everyday people. This is not just about professionals, but about the entire community that shares winter, a love for snow sports, mountains, slopes, and nature. We simply want to strengthen that mountain spirit,” adds Andreas Žampa.
You can also find an interesting interview with the three Slovak brothers in the Skiing is Believing podcast, where they were guests a year ago. On behalf of Ski Racing Media, we wish them the best of luck in continuing to inspire future generations of skiers.
About the Author: Darka Sefcik Starnova
