Uruguay prepares for ‘historic milestone’ ahead of first-ever ski competition

Uruguay, a nation known for its footballing glory and sun-soaked coastlines, is preparing to write a new chapter in its sporting history. Next week (14 September), the country will host its first-ever ski competition in El Colorado, Chile.

Given its lack of mountains and natural snow, it is a goal that once felt unimaginable. For the Asociación de Ski y Snowboard del Uruguay (ASSU), whose ambition to carve out this new reality has never faltered, this event is an integral stage of a long-term project to build a sustainable snow sports culture from the ground up.

“This is so much more than simply holding a sporting event,” ASSU President, Joaquín Gallinal Carrau, told FIS. “It represents a statement about what is possible when geography is not allowed to define our ambitions.

“Uruguay has no mountains and no natural snow, but we do have passion, determination, and people willing to create opportunities where they did not previously exist. This competition is the beginning of something bigger: building a snow sports culture and creating a pathway for Uruguayan athletes to compete internationally.”

The timely manner of such a competition comes on the back of Uruguay’s return to the biggest stage in sport: the Winter Olympics. After 28 years without representation in the competition, Nicolás Pirozzi became just the second-ever athlete – following Gabriel Hottegindre in 1998 – to ski under these national colors.

His impressive recent form, along with February’s significant milestone, demonstrates a feasible pathway for young hopefuls who may have previously felt that their dream was out of reach.

For a country with strong ties to the sporting world, venturing onto the snow and opening up different avenues of progression will allow ASSU to expand on an existing infrastructure.

In doing so, Joaquín wants to make one thing clear: “Geography can make the journey more difficult, but it does not have to determine where you can go. If Uruguay can build a pathway into skiing and snowboarding, other countries can also find their own way into winter sports.”

The upcoming competition will serve as a celebration of this, with athletes from all over the world hitting the slopes. From fellow South American nations like Brazil and Chile, to neighboring North Americans and further afield Europeans, and even New Zealand-based skiers, there will be interest from all corners of the globe.  

It ties into Joaquín’s long-term vision for both athlete development and public engagement, both integral to creating a sustainable program that can grow from generation to generation.

“We want to develop more athletes, both men and women, and expand beyond Alpine Skiing into other snow disciplines,” he explained. “We are already seeing the beginning of a new generation; we now have the first woman to represent Uruguay in Alpine Skiing and the first Uruguayan athlete to compete in Ski Cross.

"Our ambition goes beyond elite competition [too]. We want more Uruguayans to discover snow sports, whether as athletes, supporters, families, or simply people who want to become passionate about skiing and snowboarding."

The upcoming competition marks the start of these aims being put in motion, serving as a symbolic and practical step toward a future where Uruguay’s presence on the snow is not an exception for smaller National Ski Associations (NSAs), but a standard of which others can follow.

FIS provides support to back Uruguay’s ambitions

For ASSU, the backing of FIS has been fundamental in turning their ambition into a reality. As a young NSA developing a sport without natural snow, Uruguay has relied on international expertise to build structure, credibility, and long-term planning.

“The support and recognition of FIS have been extremely important,” Joaquín said. “Being part of the international skiing family gives us structure, technical standards, rules, credibility, and perhaps most importantly, a connection with the global snow sports community.

“FIS has helped us understand how to develop the sport properly and how to create a sustainable pathway for our athletes. For ASSU, being recognized internationally gives us the responsibility and motivation to continue building the sport in Uruguay.”   

FIS Director for Development Programs, Dimitrije Lazarovski, who – alongside FIS Membership Manager Jelena Dojcinovic – has been a key point of contact throughout this process, welcomed this significant moment.

“Uruguay’s first-ever ski competition is a historic milestone and a wonderful achievement for the development of snow sports in the country and in the South American region,” he stated.

“It is inspiring to see the ambition and commitment of this young National Ski Association. The milestone shows that the passion for snow sports can reach far beyond traditional winter sports nations.”

It is a sentiment echoed by FIS Council Member, Magdalena Kast (ARG), who represents the South America region within her role.  

“Uruguay's first-ever ski competition is a significant milestone, not just for Uruguayan skiing, but for the growth of snow sports across South America. Every new federation that becomes active strengthens our region. 

“Through this collaboration between neighboring countries, we can continue to develop and grow winter sports, giving South America visibility and recognition on the snow. This one is especially close to my heart, as my mother is Uruguayan. I want to congratulate the Uruguayan Ski Association and wish every competitor the very best.”