Congress elects new Council members, approves Freeride as a FIS discipline

The 55^th International Ski Congress convened this Wednesday in Reykjavik, Iceland, where a busy agenda included landmark decisions such as the integration of Freeride as a FIS discipline, the election of 18 Council members, and the inclusion of two new FIS associate members: Guinea-Bissau and Qatar. 

With the Freeride World Tour and FIS having already joined forces since the 2023 season, the ground was set for the Congress to vote on the inclusion of Freeride Skiing and Snowboarding as a full-fledged FIS discipline. 

Council renewed

The Congress in Reykjavik was capped by the biennial election of 18 Council members, of whom eight were re-elected members and 10 are new joiners.  

The elected ones, in alphabetical order of the country they represent: 

• Michael Huber (AUT) – new member 

• Tzeko Minev (BUL) – re-elected 

• Deidra Dionne (CAN) – re-elected 

• Anna Harboe Falkenberg (DEN) – new member 

• Martti Uusitalo (FIN) – re-elected 

• Fabien Saguez (FRA) – new member 

• Franz Steinle (GER) – re-elected 

• Flavio Roda (ITA) – re-elected 

• Aki Murasato (JPN) - re-elected 

• Freddy Keirouz (LBN) – new member 

• Alexander Ospelt (LIE) – new member 

• Fiona Stevens (NZL) – re-elected 

• Tove Moe Dyrhaug (NOR) – new member 

• Enzo Smrekar (SLO) – re-elected 

• José María “May” Peus España (ESP) – new member 

• Karin Mattsson (SWE) – new member 

• Jean-Philippe Rochat (SUI) – new member 

• Dexter Paine (USA) – new member 

Following a last-minute proposal submitted by the FIS Council, which gathered the day before, the Congress approved the inclusion of two representatives of Para Snow Sports, and not only one, as athletes’ representatives in the Council – the same number allocated to able-bodied athletes. 

Adam Hall, from New Zealand, was confirmed as one of these two athletes, while the second representative, who will be a woman, is still to be appointed. 

The Congress also validated a resolution by the FIS Council to have two athlete representatives – one of whom representing Para Snow Sports – on the Executive Committee. 

The first meeting of the FIS Council with its new composition is scheduled for 4 July and will be held online. 

New members welcome to the family

On a day when it incorporated a new discipline and elected a new Council, the 74 nations present at the Congress also voted on the admission of two new FIS associated members: Guinea-Bissau and Qatar. 

Next year’s Congress is planned to be held online on 13 June 2025, while the 2026 edition will travel to Belgrade, Serbia, and is scheduled to take place between 10 and 11 June.