Passing of Ladislav Šandor

Ladislav Šandor (SVK), affectionately known as the father of Slovak Grass Skiing, passed away on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at the age of 78.

Born in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia, Ladislav Šandor began his work within the ski professional community in the early 1970s, serving as the alpine national technical delegate. In 1987, he became the chairman of the Grass Skiing section at the Ski Association of Slovakia and a voting member of the FIS Grass Ski Committee on behalf of Slovakia. Later, in 1991, he was appointed as the FIS technical delegate for Grass Skiing.

In 1992, he served as the Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the Junior World Grass Skiing Championship, and later for the European Grass Skiing Championship in 1994 and the World Grass Skiing Championship in 1995.

Since then, he frequently held positions as race director and FIS technical delegate at various Grass Skiing events. His extensive organizational and technical expertise was utilized as a FIS Technical Delegate in several European countries and in Far East developing countries, such as his role as TD at the Junior World Grass Skiing Championship in Dizin, Iran, in 2010.

Most recently, he served as FIS TD at the Junior World Championships in 2015 in Štítná, Czech Republic, and at various Grass Skiing World Cup events from 2016 to 2020.

In 2022, Ladislav Šandor was appointed by the FIS Council as an Honorary Member of the FIS Grass Skiing Committee. In recognition of his lifetime contributions, he was awarded the "Life Contribution Prize" by the Ski Association of Slovakia in 2023.

With the passing of Ladislav Šandor, Slovakian Grass Skiing has lost a foundational figure whose vision and technical insights will be dearly missed.

FIS extends its sincerest condolences to the friends and family of Ladislav Šandor during this difficult time.