FESA Grows And Strengthens Its Structures
The Federation of European Ski & Snowboard Associations (FESA) took further important steps in its structural and content-related development at its General Assembly. With the addition of Albania, the association now has 19 national ski and snowboard associations. A total of 36 delegates from across Europe participated in the assembly.
"The European ski family continues to grow together, and the professionalization of FESA initiated two years ago is beginning to bear fruit," explained FESA President Roswitha Stadlober . "With initiatives like the FESA Alpine Speed Academy and the planned FESA European Ski Jumping Championships, we are setting new standards in the promotion of elite sport. We look forward to an open dialogue with FIS and are ready for close cooperation on equal terms."
The focus of the meeting was the FESA Management Board's report for the 2024/25 season, which particularly highlighted the progress made in youth development and structural development. FESA has expanded its organizational structure and increased the number of members on the Management Board to handle the growing responsibilities more efficiently.
A key future project is the first Erasmus+ funding project, which supports European training initiatives for young athletes. A further application to the European Union is planned for March 2026, which envisages the expansion of the FESA Alpine Speed Academy – with the goal of strengthening the speed disciplines among junior athletes even more effectively across Europe.
Among the guests at the meeting was Urs Lehmann, the new CEO of the Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS). In his introduction, he outlined his vision for the future of FIS and emphasized the importance of the partnership with FESA. FESA, he stated, makes an important contribution to the development of junior Alpine and Nordic sports in Europe.
Another forward-looking project is the FESA European Ski Jumping Championships, which aims to create a continental platform for athletes. A working group led by Dr. Franz Steinle, Jakob Winkler (Secretary General), and Julia Huber (newly elected Chair of the Ski Jumping Commission), will further develop the concept in close consultation with experts from the member associations.
In addition to the confirmation of Julia Huber as the new Chair of the Ski Jumping Commission, Benjamin Prantner was also confirmed as the new Chair of the Alpine Skiing Commission by the General Assembly.
With the expansion to include Albania, the new funding projects and the increased European networking, FESA is consolidating its role as a central institution for the development of European skiing and snowboarding.
