Athlete Health Unit launches the Athlete Health Corner
May 01, 2026·Inside FIS:format(webp))
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) Athlete Health Unit (AHU) is a dedicated department that works to protect and improve athlete health across all snow sport disciplines.
Working together to put athlete wellbeing first across snow sports
The AHU represents a strategic focus in FIS's commitment to athlete health, keeping athletes healthy and safe. It serves as a hub for all health-related topics across FIS ski and snowboard disciplines. What began as a injury-prevention group in Alpine skiing has grown into a go-to resource developing health protection governance and offering practical guidance for athletes and National Ski and Snowboard Associations to support health and safety at every level of the sport.
The unit’s guiding motto recognizes the intricate balance between pushing performance boundaries and maintaining optimal health. This means exploring individual performance through careful, sport-specific risk management that reflects the unique demands of each discipline.
The unit works closely with a wide range of partners across the FIS ecosystem, including race directors, medical committees. coaches working groups, athletes’ representatives, scientists, industry, and technical experts. Through this collaboration, health protection measures are not just designed; they are made practical, relevant, and ready to be used in real competition environments.
What AHU brings: Three pillars for health protection
The AHU organizes its activities through three interconnected pillars, each addressing an important part of athlete health and safety:
1) Athlete Topics
Pillar #1: Athlete Topics focuses on delivering practical, science-based health guidance for athletes. It covers injury and illness tracking, managing training and competition load, preventing injuries, safe return to sport, concussion care, mental health support, female athlete health, and youth development. The goal is to give athletes the right support at every stage of their careers, from young athletes to elite competitors.
2) Equipment & Safety Topics
Pillar #2: Equipment and Safety Topics focuses on the technical and innovative aspects of athlete protection. It covers standards for personal protective equipment and the optimization of performance equipment. By working with industry partners and technical experts, this pillar bridges the gap between athlete protection and the performance demands of the sport.
3) Performance Framework Topics
Pillar #3: Performance Framework Topics focuses on the competition framework itself. This pillar covers how risks are managed, how courses are designed and prepared, how safety measures are put in place, and how environmental conditions affect athletes. It recognizes that athlete health is influenced not only by individual preparation, but also by the overall competition setting.
Launching new accessibility across all pillars
The AHU is now rolling out its first wave of communication under this framework. Athletes and stakeholders can expect several key updates in the upcoming months, with this present month focusing on:
Injury & Return
1) Overview of the latest FIS consensus statement on training and testing for competitive alpine and freestyle skiers and snowboarders
2) A practical example of effective injury-prevention training: ISPA Programme by Swiss Ski
3) Insights on how to design a safe jump in Downhill Alpine Skiing
4) A dedicated concussion overview, including resources and tools
Illness & Return
1) General recommendations to prevent illnesses in cold environments
2) Warm-up practices to prevent illnesses in cold environments
Mental Health
1) Maintaining a positive mental health, including a guide and tips
2) Toolkits
3) Specific mental health topics, including anxiety, mindfulness, sleep-related problems, and eating disorders
4) Transitioning out of the sport
Health Data
Includes the:
1) FIS Injury Surveillance System 2006-2019 report – Alpine Skiing, Freestyle Skiing, Snowboarding, and Ski Jumping
2) FIS Alpine Skiing Injury Surveillance 2017-2024 report.
3) Overall and discipline-specific findings of the FIS Survey on Injury and Illness Prevention Practices, Needs and Responsibilities
Building a more sustainable approach to athlete health and safety
The establishment of the AHU embodies how FIS think about athlete health in snow sports. By sharing knowledge, updating regulations, supporting technical innovation, and providing education, the unit ensures that health protection strategies continuously improve alongside the sports, guided by applied research.
As the AHU moves forward, it invites continued collaboration from National Ski Associations, medical experts, coaches, and athletes themselves. United, this coalition will shape and ensure athlete health and safety in snow sports.
Visit the new Athlete Health Corner.