SB/FS/FK Committee Meetings Recap: A Week of Progress in Zurich

From 27th to 29th September 2023, Zurich was the epicenter of the snowsports community, as it played host to the annual autumn FIS Committee Meetings. These essential forums spanned various subcommittees, including as Freestyle Ski, Alpine Ski Cross, Freeski and Snowboard Park & Pipe, Snowboard Alpine, and Snowboard Cross. The week culminated with the Snowboard, Freestyle, and Freeski “Supercommittee" meeting on Friday.

While the sessions didn't witness groundbreaking shifts in the rulebook, the week was rich with noteworthy developments and announcements. The forthcoming World Cup calendars for the 2023/24 season were finalised, reflecting a close resemblance to the earlier drafts from the spring meetings in Dubrovnik. However, those with a keen eye will spot a few changes in those schedules since the spring.

Enthusiasts are encouraged to delve into these calendars for a deeper understanding, and you can find the Freestyle/Freeski calendar HERE, and the Snowboard calendar HERE.

Digital transformation was a reoccurring theme throughout the week. The FIS Media & Marketing division shed light on their recent forays into the digital realm, emphasizing content centralization. FIS.TV, a recent introduction, garnered significant attention. With such advancements, there's a brewing initiative to launch live-streaming also at the Continental Cup level, amplifying those competitions' value.

Freeride enthusiasts have reasons to celebrate as well, with endeavors afoot to integrate the Freeride World Tour into FIS's official charter. The aim there will be to recognise freeride as a sanctioned discipline, mirroring practices in nations like New Zealand and Spain. Furthermore, whispers around the venue hinted at ambitious plans to introduce freeride events at the Olympic Winter Games 2030.

The preparations for the World Championships Engadin 2025 also made waves. Attendees were informed about the pipeline of test events set to come in the 2023/24 season, including cross and slopestyle World Cup events, as well as European Cup competitions in snowboard alpine and halfpipe. In a strategic move to bolster training facilities, a new halfpipe will rise from the grounds of Engadin this summer.

With the 2027 World Championships also on the more distant horizon, the Montafon 2027 organisers took to the stage to chronicle their journey so far, offering insights and updates. The Youth Olympic Games 2023 team from Korea also took the stage to discuss their progress so far, with comprehensive presentations about the venue layouts and designs, stoking the flames of anticipation among the younger athletes.

Universiade aficionados received their share of updates too. The FISU reminisced about the previous Universiade in Lake Placid and kindled interest for the upcoming edition in Torino 2025.

As well, Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games discussions resonated with attendees, as the Organizing Committee unveiled the first course drafts, revealing an innovative dual-venue strategy that would segregate events based on their nature.

Furthermore notable developments were made in all subcommittee meetings, and we’ve collected the highlights here.

Snowboard Cross:

A Fresh Two-Person Format: A significant highlight from the session was the introduction of a new two-person format for SBX events. This development seeks to run events at a more sustainable level, aligning with the global push for more eco-conscious sports events. Notably, this format is not just about sustainability; it aims to infuse fresh energy into smaller events, especially at the FIS level. By making these events more dynamic, it's hoped that younger competitors will find them more appealing. Additionally, this new format could pave the way for innovative urban events, allowing the thrill of SBX to be brought directly to city audiences, further broadening the discipline's appeal.

Organisers-Seminar: An upcoming seminar, scheduled for October or November, promises to be an enriching experience for all SBX event organizers. The exact date is yet to be announced, but the excitement is palpable. This seminar's core objective is knowledge transfer between seasoned organizers, partners, and stakeholders. Topics will span a wide array, from creative solutions for event logistics and set-ups to discussing the critical elements that make an event stand out. With an estimated duration of two hours, the seminar promises to be a melting pot of ideas, and all interested parties are encouraged to mark their calendars.

TV Broadcaster Seminar: In the digital age, where content is king, the TV Broadcaster Seminar provided insights on enhancing cooperation with National Sports Associations (NSAs). The primary goal is to ensure a continuous flow of engaging content, especially to the newly revamped FIS-App. This application, lauded for its sleek design and user-friendliness, requires a consistent stream of updates, be it from national federations, social media content partners, or from team and athlete portraits. As the sport of snowboard cross seeks to bolster its image and appeal, this seminar highlighted the need for all stakeholders to contribute to this collective digital effort.

Training Camp Update: The upcoming season promises to be action-packed, and one can't overlook the importance of preparatory training camps. During the subcommittee meeting, there was an update regarding the much-anticipated camp in Les Deux Alpes. Though details were scarce, the mere mention of this iconic location stirred enthusiasm amongst attendees.

Ski Cross:

A Look Back and Ahead: The committee took a moment to review the triumphs and challenges of the past World Cup season. It then shifted focus to the 2023/24 calendar, packed with 19 races. The robust lineup indicates a steadfast commitment to advancing the discipline and providing athletes with ample opportunities to showcase their prowess on the world stage.

A Million-Franc Tour: The athletes' hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed. The Ski Cross tour is set to see a generous 10% increase in prize money, culminating in a grand total payout of CHF 1,140,000 for the upcoming season. This significant sum not only establishes the tour's status as a "million-franc" venture but also presents athletes with the enticing prospect of earning a livelihood from their passion. The hope is that this financial boost will not only reward existing competitors but also attract new talent to the Ski Cross World Cup tour.

Empowering Women in Ski Cross: An exciting announcement from the meeting was the women's development camp scheduled for the first week of December in Idre. With Andrea Limbacher championing the cause as an ambassador, this initiative underscores the commitment to fostering female talent in the realm of ski cross.

Junior World Championships Negotiations: The future of ski cross looks promising with negotiations underway concerning the FIS Junior World Championships, a pivotal event in the sport's calendar. Les Deux Alpes, a premier skiing destination, is being considered as the venue, promising a blend of challenging terrains and captivating landscapes.

Prioritizing Athlete Safety: Safety continues to be a paramount concern for the Ski Cross community. In collaboration with the Athlete Health Unit (AHU) Team, there's a push to mandate the airbag system as essential equipment at the World Cup level from the 2024/25 season onwards. A year later, the COC level is expected to adopt the same. Additionally, the committee is making strides in introducing cut-resistant underwear for athletes. These measures, among others, emphasize the sport's commitment to ensuring the well-being of its participants.

Snowboard Alpine:

A Robust Calendar Awaits: Anticipation is building for the upcoming Snowboard Alpine season, with a well-structured tour on the horizon. Participants and fans can look forward to traversing twelve diverse venues spread across seven countries, amounting to a packed slate of nineteen competitions. Notably, this season introduces the thrill of four Mixed Team events, further diversifying the competitive landscape. Excitement especially abounds for the new stops added to the tour, with locations like Davos in Switzerland, Pamporovo in Bulgaria, and Krynica in Poland, offering fresh terrains and challenges for the athletes.

Empowering Organizers with Knowledge: The upcoming Organisers-Seminar promises to be an enriching rendezvous for all involved in the sport. Scheduled for October or November (exact dates to be announced), this seminar is set to be a generating house of ideas and strategies. Facilitating the transfer of knowledge among event organizers, partners, and stakeholders, the session aims to discuss creative solutions for event organization and identify the vital elements that spell success for Snowboard Alpine events. Spanning approximately two hours, this collaborative platform welcomes all interested parties to dive deep into the nuances of hosting future parallel snowboard competitions.

Development Focus in Bulgaria: In a significant move to nurture emerging talent, the inaugural Snowboard Alpine Development-Nations-Camp is set to be launched in Bulgaria. This initiative underscores the commitment to building capacities at the grassroots level, ensuring a vibrant pipeline of talent for the sport.

Enhancing Broadcast Collaboration: The TV Broadcaster Seminar, in partnership with Infront, is another key event to watch out for in October or November. This collaboration aims to optimize the broadcast experience for fans worldwide, ensuring that the exciting exploits of Snowboard Alpine athletes are showcased in all their glory.

Moguls & Aerials:

A Historical Recap and a Glimpse into the Future: The committee beamed with pride reflecting on the historic inaugural FIS Aerials Summer Grand Prix 2023. The Aerials' FIS Summer Grand Prix series emerged as a refreshing innovation, using water jump competition formats across multiple international venues. The response from teams and spectators has been overwhelmingly positive. This series also fostered the "specialist judging initiative," a move to streamline the education of aerial judges. The successful execution of 2023 Grand Prix has paved the way for another edition in 2024, with China's expected participation adding more zest to the series.

Enhancing Judging with In-depth Analysis: The meeting witnessed an exhaustive presentation from a video controller specialist. Their insights primarily focused on refining the judging process, backed by data from the previous World Cup season. The aim? To bring more transparency and precision to the scoring system.

Southern Winter Review: Recent meetings in Zurich were the backdrop to a mixed bag for the Southern Winter season. Challenging snow conditions in Australia and New Zealand contrasted with favorable conditions in South America. Despite these adversities, Australia's Perisher managed to host a successful CoC event on its mogul course. It was heartening to see some national teams training moguls in New Zealand, a hopeful sign of intensified activities in the region.

Deciphering Television Viewership: The vast and complex world of sports viewership data presents a multifaceted challenge. The committee acknowledged the criticality of strategic scheduling and the impact of star athletes on television viewership. The substantial viewership drawn by the China team during Aerials events, especially from the vast audience of CCTV5, China's leading sports channel, underscored China's growing influence in the sport. Deliberate scheduling strategies, like the one employed for the Dual Moguls event, further validated the significance of strategic time slots in attracting viewers.

Developmental Strides: Last season's inaugural Development Camp for Moguls marked a pivotal achievement, further bolstered by the IOC's support and the inclusion of Dual Moguls in the Olympic Winter Games programme. Based on extensive feedback, the committee is set to reintroduce the camp with several improvements. One such progressive step is to open the camp to all National Ski Associations, acknowledging that a 'big' nation in one discipline might be 'small' in another. The committee also envisaged better collaboration among coaches and an extended training schedule. For the 2024 season, the camp will unfurl from March 23rd to March 30th in Valmalenco, culminating with the Junior World Championships.

Park & Pipe:

Judges' Education is a key focus for the Park & Pipe sub-committee. In Freeski, FIS has scheduled international clinics across several global locations such as Oslo, Innsbruck, and Seoul. For broader access and convenience, select clinics will be video recorded and made available on FIS-edu.com. The platform will also offer updated judges' education modules and debut materials specially designed for national-level judges. For Snowboarding, the approach is more hands-on with in-person clinics, yet there's an acknowledgment of the digital age, offering online participation through Zoom. An interesting development is the engagement in South America, underscored by a recent webinar tailored for Argentina and Chile, indicating an expansion of FIS's educational outreach.

The Competition Director's Report paints an optimistic picture of the Park & Pipe environment, emphasizing its recovery and stabilization. Many events that were once staples on the calendar are now regularly scheduled and locked in for several seasons into the future, and with China's return to the fold post-COVID restrictions, there's a renewed excitement about expansion of events and interest in Park & Pipe competitions in the country.

While there are some challenges like escalating costs and unpredictable winters- as for all FIS disciplines - Park & Pipe Local Organizing Committees and resorts are responding with creative and effective solutions. They're becoming adept at micro-managing aspects ranging from snow production to equipment hours, ensuring quality isn't compromised.

The FIS New Era marks a period of significant development. Under new leadership, there have been notable breakthroughs, especially in the judges' domain. These strides have led to more comprehensive stakeholder interactions, a refreshing look at graphic packages, and enhanced support for junior championships, with data and scoring tools being introduced.

Partnerships have been solidified, with brands like SWATCH coming onboard for Park & Pipe. A particularly exciting development is the initiation of the FIS Rail series. These events aim to offer non-traditional snow countries a chance to host events, as well as allowing athletes from non-traditional markets to participate in FIS competition and compete to become a part of the World Cup pipeline. For now, no points or rankings are awarded for Rail events, but future plans indicate the introduction of a ranking system by the 2025 season.

Development Camps have witnessed steady growth since their inception in 1996. The FIS Development Program aims to promote skiing among developing nations. It has evolved from its modest start to now hosting multiple camps annually, with a record participation of almost 100 coaches and athletes in the previous season. These camps aren't just about physical training. They provide a holistic approach, introducing athletes to various facets of professional sports, from recovery methods to marketing and even leveraging social media. The success of these camps is evident with many past participants now shining in world championships, junior events, and even the Olympics.