FIS accelerates growth in key areas to strengthen snow sports across the globe

It has been a strong start to the 2025/26 season for FIS, continuing to work on delivering winter sports to several corners of the globe while following through on key goals set out at the start of 2025.

From increased numbers in key areas, such as female participation, to strengthening relations with nations in Asia and the Middle East, it marked a significant step forward for the organization.

The active engagement of 50 National Ski Associations (NSAs) only helps to strengthen partnerships across the board.

With an exciting second half of the season on the horizon, let’s take a look at some of the key development highlights on the snow so far…

2025 DEVELOPMENT CAMPS

The first half of the 2025/26 season has sustained momentum from last year, delivering almost 4,000 skiing and snowboarding days in the last six months.

It is an achievement that reflects the passion, commitment, and global reach of the FIS Development community.

Two Alpine Skiing camps were held between the end of October and December, split into two periods. The first of which featured a group of 20 athletes from 13 NSAs, held in Austria across three weeks. The intensive camp brought together a diverse community, while highlighting on-snow training, dryland, and team building activities, and video analysis.

The second period welcomed 20 athletes from 14 NSAs to train in Austria for seven days before another week of activities on Italian snow. It featured participants with solid technical skills and good racing experience. It was designed to be good preparation for upcoming FIS races, with the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics around the corner.

Throughout December, a clinic was also hosted at the Karakol resort in Kyrgyzstan, this time focusing on 14 coaches in attendance. Each one showed great enthusiasm and commitment, with sessions ranging from practical to theoretical.

Wrapping up this discipline are two Para Alpine camps held in Austria and Slovakia, respectively. The former brought together 14 athletes from nine NSAs, along with guides and coaches. Divided into differing ability groups, each one worked closely with a coach who instructed and accompanied them in perfect conditions. The latter welcomed nine athletes from six NSAs, again with guides and coaches present for the week-long camp. While races were unfortunately unable to go ahead at the end of the camp, attendees instead enjoyed more training time on the snow.

In the final month of the year, a Nordic Combined camp brought new experiences to many. In Bad Freienwalde, Germany, 12 athletes joined a larger cohort to participate in the final competitions. While challenging, attendees enjoyed the chance to challenge themselves in a new environment. It was a rewarding atmosphere for not only the FIS Development participants, but for all involved.

“I want to say that this camp has the advantage of also organizing a competition, which for me is something extraordinary,” said Gheorghe Baila (ROU).

“The athletes participate in this competition, it motivates them and I see them happy. That’s why I continue to come to these camps, because I like to see them happy.”

Seeing out the year was a camp in Storklinten (Sweden), and Oberstdorf (Germany). The first focused on Women’s Ski Cross, with the small resort committed to delivering world-class conditions for athletes. Challenging and unique, the Ski Cross track is as demanding as it is rewarding for athletes.

On attending, Dutch athlete Indy van Zijl said: “[This camp] will help me become a more complete athlete. By practicing on a track with heavy turns and technical features, I’ve learned to adapt quickly, which will be crucial in future competitions.

“This camp also showed me how different tracks can be – each one brings unique challenges, so being able to adjust and master various techniques is essential for success.”

The Obersdorf camp was all about Cross-Country, bringing 29 athletes and 16 coaches from 15 NSAs together for a week. It offered the opportunity for those in attendance to improve their techniques and physical levels alongside FIS experts with a range of practical and analysis sessions.

“This camp is a great opportunity for the athletes. They improved a lot, not only on skiing techniques but also socially, learning to communicate with their skiing friends from other NSAs,” said coach Taratip Chantawat (THA).

“They also learn to manage the program punctually and communicate with the staff coaches – these are some fundamental things that athletes need to learn for life.”

INCREASING FEMALE PARTICIPATION

In recent years, FIS has been particularly vocal about the organization’s desire to grow female participation across winter sports. Whether that is inspiring the next generation of athletes or developing a stronger cohort of coaches, there is a clear desire to drive those numbers up.

This season, we saw this come to fruition on the coaching front with female participation rising by 36% when compared to the first half of last season.

Such infectious enthusiasm for, not only snow sports in general, but equally in hosting such events has propelled participation as FIS continues to center it at the heart of development across the board. 

STRENGTHENING GCC AND MENA SKIING COMMUNITY

In Dubai, the UAE Ski Federation hosted a dynamic regional meeting focused on advancing development pathways across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Representatives from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan all attended. They were joined by Qatar and Oman as observer nations, signaling potential for further expansion across the region.

Ski Dubai, which serves as the primary hub for skiing and snowboarding across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), demonstrated leadership and dedication to helping snow sports succeed there.

With four indoor facilities across Egypt, the UAE, and Oman, supported by the FIS Development Department, the region is well-positioned to accelerate athlete development and strengthen the long-term growth of skiing and snowboarding across the GCC and North Africa.

ADVANCING ASIAN SKIING THROUGH REGIONAL COLLABORATION

The Asia Ski Federation conference, hosted by the Hong Kong Ski Federation, brought together regional leaders under the guidance of Mr. Aki Murassato, President of the Asia Ski Federation and FIS Council Member, and Mr. Edmond Yue, President of the Hong Kong Ski Federation.

The conference welcomed 12 in-person national representatives, in addition to many online attendees. What followed was a renewed vision for development cooperation, culminating in the announcement of the first Asian Indoor Championships which have been penciled in for March 2026 in Shenzhen, China.

Delegates also visited one of the world’s largest indoor ski facilities, courtesy of BONSKI, to get a first-hand insight into the region’s ever-expanding infrastructure. 

Signed Memoranda of Understandings (MoU) signifies the strengthening partnerships that are developing with Asian regions like Hong Kong.

Each of these areas are pivotal for the development of snow sports across the world.

“Through the implementation of specialized clinics and the engagement of new partners, FIS Development continues to broad its reach and provide NSAs across different regions with valuable training and education opportunities,” said Dimitrije Lazarovski, FIS Director for Development Programs.

“Looking ahead, the new plan for the 2026-2030 Olympic and Paralympic cycle will be presented during the upcoming Orientation Session and Development Seminar in April and May.”