Žampa Cup Goes Global: Seven Countries, Two Continents and a New Partnership with Ski Racing Media

The 2026/27 BILLA Žampa Cup will bring free children’s ski racing events to seven countries, opening in Dubai and introducing a collaboration with Ski Racing Media.

Just weeks after Ski Racing Media shared the story behind the Žampa brothers and their family’s children’s race in Slovakia, the BILLA Žampa Cup has announced its biggest expansion yet.

The 2026/27 season will take the series to seven countries across two continents, with seven events scheduled between November and March. For the first time, the Žampa Cup will venture beyond Europe, opening its 12th season with an indoor giant slalom at Ski Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on November 14.

Ski Racing Media will be along for the journey.

Ski Racing Media and Žampa Cup Join Forces

For the upcoming season, Ski Racing Media and the Žampa Cup will collaborate to share stories from the series with an international skiing audience.

Throughout the winter, SRM will follow selected athletes, stories and moments as the series travels across Europe and into the Middle East.

The collaboration also includes five planned giveaways, connecting race coverage with opportunities for readers to win prizes throughout the season.

The proposed prize lineup features a Team Žampa Spyder jacket and Pedro, the Žampa Cup mascot, Oakley Flight Deck L Mikaela Shiffrin Signature goggles, a Salomon Gear Box Bag and a Salomon Go To Snow 50L bag. The giveaway series will build toward a grand finale featuring Salomon S/RACE GS PRO skis in a 175 cm length.

Giveaways will accompany key moments throughout the season, from the opening race in Ski Dubai to the finals at Štrbské Pleso. Entry details, confirmed dates and official rules will be shared with each giveaway.

The partnership follows SRM’s recent feature on Adam, Andreas and Teo Žampa and the family story behind an event that began with roughly 30 children at Štrbské Pleso.

From Štrbské Pleso to Dubai

The 2026/27 calendar introduces three destinations: Ski Dubai, Oberstdorf and Bansko.

The season opens November 14 with a giant slalom inside Ski Dubai, including a special U18 category. The series then returns to Europe, visiting six countries and offering several race formats before concluding with a finale spanning three days at Štrbské Pleso in Slovakia.

2026/27 BILLA Žampa Cup Calendar

For Andreas Žampa, the expansion reflects one of the project’s central goals: making skiing more accessible.

“For us, there are no borders,” Žampa said.

He explained that the aim is to welcome professionals, amateurs and skiers with disabilities while helping the sport reach new communities.

The Dubai stop began with a visit by Teo Žampa, who recognized the potential after seeing the enthusiasm within Ski Dubai’s local skiing community. He brought the idea to Andreas, and their conversations eventually developed into the first Middle Eastern event in Žampa Cup history.

The Mission Remains the Same

The series has grown considerably since its beginnings in 2014, but its purpose remains rooted in giving children an enjoyable introduction to ski racing.

The Žampa Cup welcomes both competitive young racers and recreational skiers in its Hobby categories, with participation remaining free of charge.

The goal is to give young skiers a taste of the atmosphere surrounding elite racing while making the experience more accessible to families.

“The Žampa Cup is special mainly because of its family atmosphere,” Teo Žampa said. “Together with my brothers, we want to give children the opportunity to experience the feeling elite athletes have at the highest level.”

Adam Žampa emphasizes that the experience extends beyond the racecourse. Attractions, an Olympic village and opportunities to try other sports help make the event a full day of activity, with something for children to enjoy regardless of their results.

Connecting Young Racers With the World Cup

The series also gives young skiers opportunities to experience the sport at its highest level.

Through the Žampa Cup’s continued cooperation with the Audi FIS Ski World Cup in Alta Badia, clubs bringing at least five children to three events will enter a draw at the end of the season.

Five clubs will receive prizes. The top prize will send six children and two coaches to experience the World Cup in Alta Badia.

The series also continues its connection with the Hahnenkamm races in Kitzbühel. Following the Štrbské Pleso finale, the top three Slovak girls and boys will earn places on the Slovak team for the Longines Future Hahnenkamm Champions.

The opportunity allows young racers to compete on the Ganslernhang and experience one of alpine skiing’s most famous World Cup venues.

For the Žampa brothers, those experiences carry value beyond the competition itself.

Teo recalled accompanying young skiers to Alta Badia and seeing their excitement as they encountered athletes and a racing environment they usually follow from afar.

“It is very important for children who do what they love to have role models,” he said. “I’m happy that together with my brothers we are creating a platform where kids can experience this and fulfill their dreams through the Žampa Cup as well.”

Seven Stops, One Idea

When roughly 30 children gathered for the early races at Štrbské Pleso, an international series stretching from the Tatra Mountains to Dubai was difficult to imagine.

Even the brothers did not anticipate how far the event would travel.

“We definitely didn’t think the Žampa Cup would one day be in so many countries,” Adam Žampa said. “But we grow every year, and every year we try to create something more unique, something better.”

As the Žampa Cup prepares for its biggest season yet, Teo’s advice to young racers remains simple: enjoy skiing, have fun and do not let results become a source of stress.

It is the same spirit that helped a small family event grow into an international series.