About the Author: SR Staff Report

One year after her passing, the Matilde Lorenzi Foundation launches a global charity auction for ski safety. Athletes from skiing, racing, and beyond have united to honor her legacy and fund prevention, education, and innovation for a safer future on snow.

It’s been ten years since Bryce Astle and Ronnie Berlack’s tragic accident in Sölden. BRASS Avalanche continues turning loss into impact—educating skiers worldwide, expanding into Europe, and urging everyone to think snow safety before chasing powder.

Fog briefly delayed the second run of the Sölden men’s giant slalom, but the clouds have lifted and racing is set to resume at 9:00 a.m. EDT / 6:00 a.m. PDT.

The 2025–26 women’s World Cup season begins Saturday in Sölden. Download the official Daily Program and first-run start list, featuring Thea Louise Stjernesund leading the field and four North American women in the top 15. Learn how to watch live across Peacock, CBC Sports, and Discovery+.

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) has ruled that Russian and Belarusian athletes will not be allowed to compete in qualifiers for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The decision, announced just days before the World Cup season begins, reinforces FIS’s ongoing ban tied to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ensures both nations remain sidelined from Olympic skiing and snowboarding events.

Italian skier Marta Bassino will miss the Sölden season opener after suffering a lateral tibial plateau fracture in training. Her recovery is critical ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina.

The Alpine World Cup returns this weekend as Sölden kicks off the 2025-26 Olympic season. The women race Saturday, the men Sunday, with stars from around the world — and a strong North American lineup — ready to light up the Rettenbach Glacier.

The University of Utah Ski Team has unveiled its 2026 RMISA schedule, featuring five home race days and a balanced mix of Nordic and Alpine competitions. The Utes, winners of four of the last five NCAA titles, will aim to defend their national championship when the season culminates in Bozeman, Montana.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard has named 49 athletes to the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team for the 2025-26 Olympic season, led by stars Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn. With the Milano Cortina Winter Games approaching and an action-packed World Cup schedule ahead, the team blends proven champions with a new generation of American talent ready to race for gold.

After months of recovery and two knee surgeries, Slovak ski star Petra Vlhová is back on snow. Training under new head coach Matej Gemza, she begins her comeback on Italy’s Stelvio Glacier—an important step toward returning to World Cup form.

Going skiing in Europe this winter? Italy now requires helmets for everyone, insurance is mandatory, and France is extending smoking bans to the slopes. Here’s what travelers need to know before hitting the mountains

Swiss World Champion Franjo von Allmen admits he’d have liked a longer summer, but after standout training in Chile and Zermatt, the 24-year-old is ready to launch his Olympic season with confidence and speed.

Marcel Hirscher’s ski brand, Van Deer, has reported a $19 million loss, but the setback stems from major investments tied to expansion. The Austrian star remains focused on growth while preparing his return to racing.

Austrian standout Marco Schwarz says he’s finally pain-free and ready to tackle the Olympic season with renewed focus on giant slalom, slalom, and super-G after battling through two major injuries. The 30-year-old told Kleine Zeitung that he hasn’t felt knee pain since June and plans a patient buildup after a mixed comeback season. Schwarz will skip early downhills but continue limited speed training as he works toward full form ahead of the World Cup opener Oct. 25–26 in Sölden. Information translated from German and provided by Kleine Zeitung (Austria), with reporting by Daniel Jerovsek.

The FIS Council, meeting in Zurich this week, approved a new eligibility policy for men’s and women’s competitions while emphasizing athlete safety and continued discussions on prize money. The policy, based on the presence or absence of the SRY gene, restricts women’s competition to SRY-negative athletes. Council members also reaffirmed that protecting athlete welfare is their top priority and will revisit prize money decisions at their October meeting.

Federica Brignone, the dominant force of the 2024–25 Alpine World Cup season, broke her leg at the Italian Nationals, leaving her Olympic return uncertain just months before the Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

The International Ski & Snowboard Federation (FIS) issued a statement on its website expressing deep sadness over the death of Italian skier Matteo Franzoso, who suffered fatal injuries during training in Chile. FIS stressed that the tragedy underscores the risks of alpine skiing while reaffirming its commitment to athlete wellbeing, safety innovation, and collective responsibility across the global ski community.

The Italian Winter Sports Federation has unveiled the FISI ski safety plan after Matteo Franzoso’s death, approving urgent measures to improve training and competition standards. The initiative includes mandatory use of certified training slopes worldwide, new safety protocols in Italy, and a nationwide day of mourning in his honor.