“Kids On Ski” Is Growing: 14 Alpine Regions Are Already Relying On The Initiative For Young Skiers.
Since its launch in 2023, the "KIDS ON SKI" initiative, which offers free skiing to children aged 3 to 5, has become a true success story. The original pilot project to promote winter sports in the Alps now includes 14 top ski resorts in Austria, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany, which open their slopes to the youngest winter sports enthusiasts. This year, around 2,000 children are expected to learn to ski thanks to the initiative.
Currently, “KIDS ON SKI” is being implemented in the following ski regions:
- Austria: Silvretta-Montafon, Sölden, Obertauern, Leogang, Bad Kleinkirchheim
- Switzerland: Aletsch Arena, Leukerbad, Disentis/Andermatt
- Italy: Alta Badia, Kronplatz, Madonna di Campiglio, Pinzolo, Marilleva/Folgarida
- Germany: Winterberg
The cross-Alpine program supports parents with toddlers aged 3 to 5 with tailor-made winter holiday packages. The all-inclusive package includes five half-day ski lessons, equipment rental, lift tickets, and even accommodation for the child when accompanied by a full-paying adult. The goal is to teach as many children as possible to ski for free.
The destinations of Leogang (Austria), Aletsch Arena (Switzerland), Alta Badia (Italy), and Madonna di Campiglio (Italy) have been involved from the start. In the 2025/26 winter season, several new destinations will join "KIDS ON SKI"—including Bad Kleinkirchheim (Austria), Kronplatz, Pinzolo, and Marilleva/Folgarida (Italy), as well as Leukerbad and Disentis (Switzerland). "This means the initiative is now represented in 14 renowned ski resorts in the Alps, and we are constantly working to add more," emphasizes Mike Partel, Managing Director of Mountain Management Consulting and founder of the initiative. It is already foreseeable that 8 to 10 more top ski regions will join next year. This would mean that "KIDS ON SKI" would soon be active in almost 25 leading ski regions in the Alps. “Around 2,000 children aged 3 to 5 will be on skis for the first time this season as part of ‘KIDS ON SKI’ – and the trend is rising sharply. This is thanks to our strong network,” adds Partel.
Celebrity support
Partner companies Leitner, Doppelmayr, TechnoAlpin, Skidata, Feratel, and Sunkid ensure high visibility for the initiative in Europe's main winter sports markets through targeted communication measures. KIDS ON SKI also receives support from prominent brand ambassadors such as Norwegian-Brazilian ski star Lucas Pinheiro Braathen and former ski racers Alberto Tomba and Thomas Dreßen, who are committed to promoting young ski talent.
The aim of the initiative is "to make it easier for families to access skiing and to enable them to share the experience on the mountain," emphasizes brand ambassador Braathen, adding: "It would be wonderful if we could bring more and more children to the mountain together so that they can experience unforgettable days of skiing with their families."
About “KIDS ON SKI”
“KIDS ON SKI” is an international initiative launched in 2023 that introduces children aged three to five to skiing in a playful way. The aim is to offer families easy access to winter sports experiences and thus inspire young people to enjoy snow sports.
