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.
After surviving a near-fatal crash, Victor Wiacek turned his experience into purpose, founding VIX Protection to create cut-resistant gear that can save lives. His relentless innovation helped shape FIS safety standards and deliver life-saving protection now worn by top World Cup racers worldwide.
Atomic Media Day brought together some of the biggest names in ski racing — including Mikaela Shiffrin, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, and Sofia Goggia — for a celebration of passion, performance, and purpose. From mental resilience to Olympic dreams, the Redster team shared powerful stories ahead of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games.
Kelly Brush Foundation Calls on FIS to Strengthen Safety Measures Following the Death of Italian
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.
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.
FIS and Ski Austria have ended a years-long dispute over international broadcast rights, finalizing a deal that centralizes coverage of Austrian World Cup races starting in 2027. The agreement—reached after legal proceedings in Austria were postponed earlier this year, according to skinews.ch—ensures flagship events like Sölden, Kitzbühel, and Schladming will be showcased worldwide. For U.S. fans, it marks progress toward a long-awaited one-stop streaming solution, replacing today’s fragmented and inconsistent coverage.
SYNC Performance is thrilled to announce the 2025/2026 SYNC Team, a standout group of 15 top-tier ski racers from clubs and teams across the country.
Carrabassett Valley is hiring! Multiple job opportunities are now open. Join their team and work where adventure lives.
Urs Lehmann will step down as Swiss-Ski president after 17 years to become the first CEO of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation at the end of September. The 1993 downhill world champion and former FIS Council member brings decades of experience in sport and business to the new role, aiming to guide the federation through upcoming challenges.
U.S. Ski & Snowboard and FIS have announced key alpine ski racing rule changes for 2025–26. While not all updates apply to every athlete, they include changes to FIS start eligibility, competition formats, equipment rules, and official requirements. U18 athletes will no longer face a FIS start maximum, live timing will be restricted at U14 and younger races, and FIS will update point calculations and enforce cut-resistant gear requirements. Learn the details.
Federica Brignone underwent a successful follow-up knee surgery in Milan to improve joint mobility and accelerate her recovery. According to the Italian federation (FISI), she will resume rehabilitation immediately at JMedical in Turin as she continues her push toward a return for the 2026 Olympic season.
core goals: increasing prize money for athletes and delivering direct funding to all member nations. Through a centralized broadcast deal with Infront and expanded FIS-backed distributions, every National Governing Body now receives substantial support—regardless of size or hosting status. Smaller countries like New Zealand and Greece, long excluded from commercial revenue, are now receiving €400,000 each over three years. Eliasch calls it a transformational shift aimed at strengthening snow sports worldwide.
FIS has announced several new safety-focused equipment regulations for the 2025–26 alpine ski season. The changes include a ban on rigid shin pads inside ski boots, mandatory cut-resistant undergarments for Level 0 and 1 events, and required airbag back protectors in elite-level speed disciplines. Every FIS athlete—especially those competing on the Nor-Am, Europa Cup, or World Cup circuits—should review these updates and prepare accordingly.
The members of the Club5 Sport Association convened a two-day technical meeting by Lago Maggiore, focused on one of the sport’s most pressing issues: safety. Learn more.
After a devastating crash in Bormio, Cyprien Sarrazin faces a challenging road to recovery. With head injuries impacting his daily life, hope remains as he begins a long rehabilitation journey.
The 2024 Christmas season included a special event for Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. The World Cup speed specialist unveiled an honorary wall in the lodge at the Norwegian ski area where he and his family have enjoyed many weekends and holidays skiing together during most of his younger years.
French skier Cyprien Sarrazin is making encouraging progress after his severe crash during training on Bormio's Stelvio course. Following emergency surgery for a subdural hematoma, Sarrazin has left intensive care and is set to transfer to a hospital in Lyon. While his recovery offers hope, he is expected to miss the remainder of the 2024/25 season and aim for a return in 2025/26.
French World Cup skier Cyprien Sarrazin suffered a severe head injury during a dramatic crash on the Stelvio downhill course in Bormio, Italy, Friday. Known for its demanding terrain, the course claimed Sarrazin after he landed hard off a roll and crashed through safety nets, prompting an airlift rescue. Diagnosed with a subdural hematoma, the Frenchman underwent emergency surgery, as confirmed by the French Ski Federation. Sarrazin had recorded the fastest training time just a day earlier and was eager to repeat his success from last season’s Bormio downhill. His crash has sparked renewed concerns over the icy, inconsistent conditions of this year’s course, with several racers criticizing its preparation and safety measures.
The International Ski Federation (FIS) has rejected a €400 million offer from private equity giant CVC Capital Partners. The decision, made amidst significant internal and external pushback, has sparked debate about the future of snow sports and the FIS's commercial strategy.
FIS announced a collaboration under the ESA’s Business Applications and Space Solutions program (BASS) between FIS and the European Space Agency (ESA) to create and execute space-based solutions to aid in combating climate change, safeguarding biodiversity, and promoting the expansion of the circular economy.
Norwegian World Cup skier Atle Lie McGrath has partnered with BRASS Avalanche, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization, to advocate for avalanche safety and education worldwide. BRASS’s mission, inspired by the tragic deaths of U.S. Ski Team athletes Bryce Astle and Ronnie Berlack in a 2015 avalanche, aims to prevent future tragedies through accessible education programs.
The FIS Council announced that airbags will become mandatory this season for all athletes competing in Alpine speed events at the World Cup level. Meeting online on Friday, the Council confirmed that the rule will take effect in the 2024/25 season. However, each National Ski Association can grant exceptions if an airbag restricts an athlete’s movement, causing potential safety risks.
Johan Eliasch, president of the International Ski Federation (FIS), has officially announced his candidacy for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Since taking charge of FIS in June 2021, Eliasch has led the organization through a period of transformation. On July 24, 2024, he earned a place as a member of the IOC. In a letter to IOC members, Eliasch outlined his vision for the future of the organization and addressed the challenges ahead.
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