FIS & FESA Speed Academy brings together Europe’s next generation of Speed Athletes

The Federation of European Ski & Snowboard Associations (FESA) and FIS are pleased to host the FESA Speed Academy in Sölden from April 7–12, 2026. The initiative has already generated strong interest across Europe, with more than 50 young athletes currently registered to take part.

The FESA Speed Academy is designed to provide a high-performance training environment for promising young skiers, with a clear focus on the alpine speed disciplines of Super-G and Downhill. To support this goal, a comprehensive and carefully structured program has been developed, combining intensive on-snow training sessions with technical skill development, tactical insights, and performance-oriented coaching.

Participants will train on a FIS-homologated course under professional conditions, allowing them to gain valuable experience and prepare for the demands of high-level competition. The program is tailored to support athlete progression, offering a balance between volume, quality, and individual feedback.

A Strong Collaboration

A key pillar of the academy is the close cooperation between FIS and FESA, ensuring that all activities are aligned with international standards in both performance development and athlete safety. This collaboration also reflects a strong joint commitment to the sport’s development: FIS is supporting the initiative by providing training materials such as gates and panels and by actively contributing to capacity building through the inclusion of developing National Ski Associations. In this context, four developing NSAs are supported with a total of 10 participants, further strengthening the reach and impact of this joint FIS–FESA activity.

Coach Education

In parallel to the athlete program, a dedicated coach education initiative — the FIS – FESA Alpine Speed Clinic — will take place in conjunction with the academy. This practice-oriented, on-snow program is designed to further professionalize coaching in alpine speed disciplines and to strengthen the capacity of National Ski Associations.

The clinic focuses on essential elements for safe and effective speed training, including safety installations, course preparation and maintenance, as well as course adaptation. Coaches will take part in a highly hands-on format, actively contributing to slope preparation, course setting, and safety setup alongside experienced experts responsible for World Cup-level events.

The program ensures high-quality learning and offers an intensive environment where coaches gain direct, practical experience and insights into elite-level course management. A dedicated seminar session will further address safety instruction updates, underlining the importance of continuous education in this critical area of the sport.

The academy will also benefit from the presence of Athlete Ambassador Alexandra Meissnitzer, former World Champion and Olympic medalist. She will actively engage with participants, sharing her experience and providing valuable insights into the pathway to elite-level performance.

With strong participation and a clearly defined development focus, the FESA Speed Academy represents an important platform for fostering young talent and strengthening the future of alpine speed skiing in Europe.