FIS is considering major changes to alpine racing, including more frequent World Championships, a long-term World Cup calendar, standardized wild cards and a neutral pathway for Russian and Belarusian athletes.
Former overall World Cup champion Alexandra Meissnitzer has joined FIS President Alexander Ospelt’s senior team as director of strategy and public affairs.
The Chile Winter Series opened with four FIS giant slaloms at El Colorado, but the focus now shifts to La Parva and its World Cup-caliber speed racing.
Every international alpine race course must pass a detailed FIS inspection before competition can begin. Here is how homologation works, what inspectors evaluate and why the process plays a critical role in athlete safety.
Alexander Ospelt was elected FIS president by a single vote at the 57th FIS Congress in Belgrade, defeating incumbent Johan Eliasch 65-64. In his first press conference, Ospelt outlined plans to strengthen Alpine skiing through improved television presentation, greater athlete visibility, increased prize money, and expanded opportunities for smaller nations.
Cash reserves have declined, but the audited financial statements show a more complex picture. FIS remains solvent, continues to distribute millions to national ski associations and athletes, and received clean audit opinions.
Ahead of the FIS presidential election, Ski Racing Media compares Johan Eliasch and Alexander Ospelt on governance, commercial growth, media rights, athlete development, prize money and the future direction of international snow sports.
Alexander Ospelt says FIS does not need a new direction. The presidential candidate discusses governance, transparency, athlete support, National Ski Associations, commercial rights and why he believes greater unity is needed across the federation.
FIS equity declined sharply from its 2023 peak, but the audited financial statements tell a more nuanced story. More than CHF 53 million was distributed to National Ski Associations, prize money increased, athlete opportunities expanded and Olympic participation grew from 78 to 88 nations. This analysis examines where the money went and what it may mean for the future of skiing and snowboarding.
Johan Eliasch says the work at FIS is far from finished. In an exclusive interview with Ski Racing Media, the FIS president discusses media rights centralization, global growth, athlete involvement, technology, and why he is seeking another term leading international snow sports.
FIS says its development programs expanded significantly during the 2022-26 Olympic cycle, reporting a 141% increase in participants, nearly 20,000 on-snow development days, and major growth in global snow sports initiatives.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) and the Kelly Brush Foundation announced a new partnership focused on improving alpine ski racing safety standards while expanding access and opportunity in Para Snowsports worldwide.
FIS has confirmed five candidates for president and 24 for Council seats ahead of the 2026 Congress in Belgrade, where elections will take place.
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.
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