"Snow Crystal Of Skiing" Award Goes To Austrian Broadcaster ORF

The prestigious "Snow Crystal of Skiing" was awarded to the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) during a ceremony at the Innsbruck Congress Center.
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This award, presented every two years by the Austrian Ski Federation (ÖSV), honors individuals or institutions that have made significant contributions to the popularization of skiing. The award was presented during the gala evening of the Interalpin/Cable Car Fair by ÖSV Vice President Stefan Jochum , who presented the trophy to ORF Tirol Editor-in-Chief Georg Laich .

The laudatory speech for ORF was delivered by Klaus Leistner , former Secretary General of the Austrian Ski Association. In his moving speech, he emphasized the ORF's exceptional achievements in decades of reporting, which have contributed to the promotion of winter sports not only nationally but also internationally.

In particular, Dr. Leistner emphasized the innovative strength of ORF, which has repeatedly set new standards through groundbreaking approaches to broadcasting, such as the annual Hahnenkamm Races in Kitzbühel or the recent TV production of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships Saalbach 2025.

For decades, ORF has been a mainstay of ski sports coverage and has increased interest in winter sports worldwide through its diverse and expert broadcasts. The award of the "Snow Crystal of Skiing" to ORF thus recognizes not only past successes but also its ongoing commitment to making skiing accessible to a broader audience and increasing its appeal through innovative media formats.

The award was presented in a festive atmosphere in front of high-ranking representatives from sports, media, and politics, underscoring the importance and recognition of this event for Austrian skiing. Two former ski world champions , Manfred Pranger and Hannes Reichelt, represented the Austrian Ski Association at the gala evening in the Dogana. ORF proudly accepted the award and intends to continue to bring the passion and enthusiasm for skiing into the living rooms and hearts of viewers.

Previous winners of the “Snow Crystal of Skiing” award