Kitzbühel Junior Race / GEPA pictures
As the 2022-26 Olympic and Paralympic cycle comes to a close, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) says its development programs have expanded significantly across snow sports, with more athletes, coaches, camps, and National Ski Associations participating than at any point in the organization’s recent history.
In a self-assessment published by FIS this week, the federation pointed to major increases in development activity over the last four years, framing the period as one of accelerated investment in athlete pathways, coaching education, and global participation growth.
According to figures released by FIS, 2,378 athletes and coaches participated in nearly 20,000 individual development days on snow between 2022 and 2026. The federation reported a 141% increase in participants during that span and a 208% rise in program-specific activities, with 97 activities delivered during the Olympic cycle.
FIS Development Programs Director Dimitrije Lazarovski described the last four years as a period of “significant progress” for the organization’s global development efforts.
“Through a clear strategic vision focused on inclusion, sustainability, and long-term capacity building, the program has evolved into one of the key drivers of global winter sport growth,” Lazarovski said in comments published by FIS.
What did FIS identify as the biggest gains this season?
FIS highlighted the 2025-26 season as a particularly active year for development programs across multiple continents.
The federation said 37 program-specific activities were either delivered or supported across Europe, South America, and Asia, involving nearly 800 athletes and coaches. FIS also reported securing more than 800 ski days across Asia through guaranteed access agreements designed to help expand winter sports participation in the region.
The organization also emphasized female participation numbers in freestyle disciplines. According to FIS, women accounted for 52% of athletes attending Snowboard, Freeski, and Freestyle camps during the season.
On the Alpine and Cross-Country side, FIS said development camps produced 5,755 individual training days on snow. The federation reported a 45% year-over-year increase in Alpine events and a 14% increase in Cross-Country camp participation.
FIS additionally pointed to new education and regional cooperation initiatives aimed at improving athlete safety and strengthening relationships with regional federations.
Athlete feedback remains central to development strategy
Bosnian Alpine skier Anur Mehić was among the athletes featured by FIS as part of the federation’s broader “SnowStories” initiative.
Mehić said one of the biggest benefits of attending FIS camps came from connecting with athletes and coaches from other nations and learning from different perspectives.
“The most important thing for me was meeting a lot of new people and making new friends,” Mehić said in comments published by FIS. “I love to hear from different people, different opinions. It helped to gain more knowledge and meet new people.”
The federation has increasingly used development camps not only as training opportunities but also as networking and educational environments for smaller and developing ski nations.
Membership expansion and new support programs
FIS also used the report to highlight changes to its membership support structure.
The federation said it reworked its membership programs last season into two categories: the FIS Start Program and the FIS Plus Program. According to FIS, the Start Program focuses on providing equipment and promotional support, while the Plus Program offers funding assistance for federation-led initiatives.
Among the examples cited by FIS were the donation of 100 pairs of roller skis, 35 promotional equipment packages, and support for 22 Plus projects.
FIS also announced that Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia joined as full members during the cycle, while Benin, Bhutan, and Indonesia entered as associate members.
During a recent development seminar in Portorož, Slovenia, federation representatives and member nations discussed ongoing challenges facing winter sports development globally, including funding limitations, infrastructure access, coach education, athlete retention, and equipment accessibility.
Lazarovski said those conversations reinforced the need for long-term cooperation and sustainable planning among National Ski Associations.
While the report serves largely as FIS’ own evaluation of progress made during the Olympic cycle, the numbers illustrate the federation’s growing emphasis on development infrastructure as winter sports continue expanding into emerging regions and smaller national programs.
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