FIS President Johan Eliasch / GEPA pictures
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has locked in the field for its next presidential election, confirming five candidates ahead of the 2026 Congress in Belgrade.
FIS requires each candidate to secure nomination from a National Ski Association at least 60 days before the Congress. That deadline has now passed, and the race for control of the sport’s governing body is officially underway.
Who will lead FIS next?
Five candidates will compete for the presidency, including incumbent Johan Eliasch, who took over the role in 2021 following the death of Gian Franco Kasper.
The confirmed candidates are:
- Johan Eliasch (GEO)
- Anna Harboe Falkenberg (DEN)
- Victoria Gosling (GBR)
- Alexander Ospelt (LIE)
- Dexter Paine (USA)
FIS also confirmed that Falkenberg, Gosling, Ospelt, and Paine will shift to the Council ballot if they do not win the presidency.
Eliasch enters the election seeking another term. It is notable that his nomination comes through the Georgian Ski Federation.
Battle for 18 seats on the FIS Council
While the presidency draws the spotlight, the Council race will shape the direction of the federation just as much. Twenty-four candidates will compete for 18 available seats.
The candidates include:
Deidra Dionne (CAN), Tove Moe Dyrhaug (NOR), Dean Gosper (AUS), Dr. Michael Huber (AUT), Nevena Ignjatovic (SRB), Magdalena Kast (ARG), Fredy Keirouz (LBN), Zurab Kostava (GEO), Roman Kumpost (CZE), Tomaž Kunstelj (SLO), Karin Mattsson (SWE), Tzeko Minev (BUL), Ken Odashima (JPN), Jana Palovičová (SVK), May Peus (ESP), Jean-Philippe Rochat (SUI), Flavio Roda (ITA), Fabien Saguez (FRA), Dr. Franz Steinle (GER), Fiona Stevens (NZL), Yuliia Syparenko (UKR), Patrick Toussaint Mas (AND), Martti Uusitalo (FIN), and Zhao Wang (CHN).
What happens next?
FIS will review all nominations through its Nomination and Remuneration Committee and publish the final list of eligible candidates by May 20, 2026.
From here, the campaign phase begins. Candidates can now promote their platforms ahead of the vote.
Delegates will elect the next FIS President and Council during the Congress on June 11, 2026, in Belgrade, Serbia.
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