Race Director Anja Skutelj talks "amazing" Winter Paralympics

Ahead of the upcoming Paralympic Winter Games, we will be catching up with the Race Directors for the three FIS disciplines represented in Milano Cortina: Para Alpine, Para Cross-Country, and Para Snowboard.

Kicking us off is Anja Skutelj who has been Para Alpine Race Director since the summer of 2018.

How pleased were you with the World Cup season just gone?

Skutelj: The 2025/26 season was very exciting. We lost only one Super-G due to unfavorable weather conditions, while all other races were held according to plan. The Organizing Committees carried out their duties to a high and professional level, resulting in a stable and high-quality season. My thanks go to all national ski federations and local organizers for their commitment and contribution.

Was there anything you felt could be improved upon for the future?

Skutelj: If we could secure sponsors, certain aspects would change and consequently improve the overall level of specific competitions.

In 2024/25, the Downhill Crystal Globes could not be awarded due to too many cancelled races. How complex and how important is it, especially in a Paralympic year, to run all scheduled races as has been the case this season (except for one cancelled Super-G)?

Skutelj: In the 2024/25 season we were unfortunate with the weather. This season, we managed to establish a strong calendar for the speed disciplines - Santa Caterina (ITA), Saalbach (AUT), and Tignes (FRA) - with a sufficient number of races to ensure that we would not lose the Crystal Globe again.

This year is special, with Cortina the highlight, but the World Cup season and the awarding of the Crystal Globes also carry their own importance. We successfully concluded that before heading to Italy for the Winter Paralympics.

This season has again seen very few women competing in the speed disciplines. Why do you think this is, and what can you do about this for the future?

Skutelj: The small number of female athletes is primarily due to fear and a lack of training opportunities. We are working on organizing as many speed discipline camps as possible, with coaches experienced in these disciplines, in order to transfer further knowledge to both new and current athletes. At the same time, we aim to provide certain nations with good quality and safe training conditions for the speed disciplines.

As you say, Cortina is hosting Para Alpine at the Winter Paralympics. What do you think of the venue and how happy are you with preparations?

Skutelj: This will be my third Paralympic Games and I’m especially happy that they’re back in Europe. Cortina holds a special place in my heart. I love Cortina, and I love Italy.

We successfully delivered the test events and everything went very well. I am working with an outstanding team with many years of experience in organzing Alpine races. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be amazing.

Which athletes and storylines are you most excited about for the Winter Paralympics?

Skutelj: All the Para Alpine athletes are doing an outstanding job, putting in tremendous effort and training hard to achieve top results. I truly admire them for that.

My personal highlights will certainly be the Downhill and Super-G races on the Tofana course. I’m a fan of the speed disciplines, and the slope is really challenging with nice jumps and an interesting layout. And when you look at the guys sitting there, after three gates, they’ll be going over 100km/h.

What are you most excited for Winter Sports fans to discover about Para Alpine Skiing at the Paralympic Games?

Skutelj: When you watch our races at the Paralympic Winter Games, you realize that nothing is impossible. If you truly, truly want something, it can become a reality. Never give up on your dreams.