As the 2022-2026 Olympic and Paralympic winter cycle comes to an end, the International Ski and Snowboard Federation is not only reflecting on medals, records and memorable performances on the slopes. Behind the spectacle delivered by the various World Cup events and the anticipation already surrounding Milano Cortina 2026, the organization is focusing on another equally important objective: ensuring access to sports development for future generations, regardless of the country they come from or the structural limitations they may face.
Over the last four years, FIS has turned its development programs into one of the key pillars for the growth of snow sports. International camps, technical support, coach education and new inclusion initiatives have allowed thousands of young athletes to find opportunities for learning and competition. The result has been sustained global participation growth, especially in regions where skiing and snowboarding historically had not established a strong presence.
A season marked by growth and inclusion
The numbers reflect the scale of the progress experienced by FIS during the latest cycle. Between 2022 and 2026, a total of 2,378 athletes and coaches participated in nearly 20,000 individual snow development days, while specific program activities increased by 208%. During the 2025/2026 season alone, the organization delivered 37 activities across Europe, South America and Asia, with nearly 800 participants directly involved in camps, seminars and development programs.
One of the most notable aspects was the strong female participation in disciplines such as snowboard, freeski and freestyle, where 52% of attendees were women. FIS also expanded its presence in Asia, securing more than 800 skiing days across the continent through strategic agreements and regional support. For Dimitrije Lazarovski, Director of FIS Development Programs, true success lies in building sustainable and accessible structures that allow more countries to become part of the international snow sports ecosystem.
The human impact behind FIS programs
Beyond the numbers, the human experience has emerged as one of the main driving forces behind these programs. Young athletes from different parts of the world found in the FIS camps a space to share experiences, learn new methodologies and build connections that often go beyond competition itself. Alpine skier Anur Mehić acknowledged that one of the most valuable aspects was precisely the opportunity to interact with people facing similar challenges and to discover different ways of understanding the sport.
That approach was also reflected in the transformation of the federation’s membership programs. With the creation of FIS Start and FIS Plus, the organization began providing equipment, financial support and educational resources to national federations seeking to build long-term competitive structures. The addition of new associate members such as Benin, Bhutan and Indonesia, alongside the full membership of Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia, demonstrates how the global expansion of snow sports is no longer limited to traditional countries and has started to build a truly international community.
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