Fans: The Heartbeat of Skiing’s Energy and Atmosphere

Fans are the lifeblood of the sports world. They carry the energy, create the atmosphere, and give meaning to every athlete’s effort. October 25th, the World Cup season officially began — not only for the racers, but for their fans as well. As always, Sölden delivered a spectacular start.
Known for opening the Alpine World Cup, the event celebrates fan clubs and their vibrant communities. Every year, Sölden shows why it’s the beating heart of early winter.

Loud and Proud

Visitors can’t miss the marching band in colorful costumes performing at the fan club grandstand on Saturday. The Guggamusik Kundl group comes to Sölden every year to get the crowd dancing, fill the air with positive energy, and have a great time.
“Yes, we come here every year for the World Cup. We always prepare a few songs just for this occasion. Personally, I love it — we’re kind of like cheerleaders. Every year it’s a wonderful atmosphere, no matter the weather,” one of the musicians told us.

They’re not the only source of noise and excitement in the fan zone. The Swiss make their presence known with the ringing of cowbells — their signature way of cheering racers toward top performances. And it seems to work. Marco Odermatt opened the season with another victory, while Lara Gut-Behrami claimed third to the joyful clang of the bells.

The Fan Club Parade

But the grandstand is only part of what Sölden offers its devoted fans. The most passionate and creative groups spend weeks preparing for the big parade through town, dressing in the colors of their country or favorite skier. Locals and visitors alike eagerly anticipate the annual event.

A Family Tradition

“We love it with the kids — they’re always curious about all the countries, they see something new every time, and often come home with stickers or sweets. We even recognize some of the people because Fabio Gstrein is from here, and his fan club joins too,” shared Julia, a mother of two from the Ötztal valley. Judging by the stickers covering their jackets, her children had come home with new interests in Croatia.

Behind the Scenes of Organization

We spoke with Heike Klotz, the team manager of Ötztal Tourism, who oversees the fan parade and the fan clubs, to learn about the organization behind these events.
“Before the race weekend, usually in September, we send information to all fan clubs about tickets and logistics — they need to book their places early so we can plan the capacity of the stands properly. Just before the races, we open the Fan Club Office here in Sölden, where club presidents pick up tickets and get final instructions for the parade.”

Fans Bring the Energy

Once the racing starts, the fan clubs manage their own cheering styles. Cameras from the live broadcast often capture their energy between the runs — that highly animated crowd you see on screen is them.

Competition and Celebration

But the real highlight for the organizers is Saturday evening — the Fan Club Parade.
“At the start of the parade, each registered club gets a number and final directions,” Klotz explains. “Since it’s a competition, we have five judges in the crowd who decide who wins the prizes for the top three places.”

Creativity Counts

The prizes are quite generous, so we asked what exactly the judges look for.
“Everything — creativity, costumes, club size, energy, behavior, and the overall message. It’s a mix of all that, and all five judges have to agree. The organizers never reveal who the judges are.”

Unforgettable Moments

Choosing a winner in such a subjective contest is not easy. Were there any unforgettable moments?
“Definitely the French! They’ve been coming every single year since Tessa Worley’s time. Around fifty of them, always in wild costumes, full of energy and ideas — we love seeing what they’ll do next. They just want to have fun, and now they’re cheering for Léo Anguenot.”

A Celebration, Safely Done

And what about safety during such a big event?
“Of course,” Klotz says, “safety is a priority. That’s why clubs receive detailed instructions in advance. We have security on site, but honestly, we’ve never had any problems. Fans travel from across Europe and the U.S. to support their athletes — never to cause trouble.”

She smiles, recalling the pandemic years: “During COVID, there were races, but no fans. It felt like ghost races. The energy of fans is irreplaceable — that’s why we put so much effort into celebrating them.”

Proud Parents and Passionate Supporters

During the opening weekend in Sölden, we met many fan clubs — some highly organized, others a bit spontaneous, but all full of passion. Meanwhile, perhaps the loudest — and happiest — group was Marco Schwarz’s devoted fan club. Dressed in matching green jackets, they cheered every turn of his run, waving flags and rooting.
“My parents love traveling to my races together with the fan club,” Marco told us. “It’s made up of close friends and familiar faces. I’m really glad to have them — after the races I always try to take a moment to grab a coffee with them.”

Feller’s Dual Nations of Fans

His teammate Manuel Feller enjoys the unique privilege of having not one, but two fan clubs — an Austrian and a Norwegian one.
“It’s always a great pleasure to meet my fans,” he said. “I think it’s quite rare to have such a big fan base outside your own country. Even here in Sölden, some of my Norwegian fans came to cheer for me. I’m really happy that my skiing can bring people joy — and I always make time to celebrate with my fan clubs. I’m very grateful for them.”

Holdener’s Loyal Swiss Crew

Among the women, Wendy Holdener stands out with her visibly united group — 27 members dressed in identical shirts and hats, proudly waving Swiss flags from the grandstand. Even though Wendy didn’t achieve her best result this time, her fan club remained cheerful and supportive throughout the race. They’re already planning to travel to Levi, where about ten of them will be cheering for her.

Ljutić’s Growing Fan Movement

Another strong fan movement is growing around the young Croatian star Zrinka Ljutić, who has been gaining remarkable support over the past year, both visible and emotional. Her fans from Croatia were joined in Sölden by Slovak supporters, who are still waiting for the comeback of their own champion, Petra Vlhová, who continues to recover from a serious injury.
The warm friendship between Slovak and Croatian fans keeps both communities active and inspired. A young Slovak fan named Nina even founded a fan club for Zrinka in Slovakia.

“I want to thank everyone for all the love and support I feel — it gives me such a boost! I can’t wait to feel your excitement again at the next races,” Zrinka recently shared with her fans.

More Than Racing

Of course, Sölden offered plenty of fun beyond the fan club activities — bands and DJs occupied two stages, there were public bib draws, and the award ceremony.
Still, it’s the focus on fans that truly sets Sölden apart — giving them the spark and energy to start the season strong and inspiring even more people to join this colorful, passionate community.