Applications for the Free Training Days offered by the World Championship Organisers 2015 to National Ski Associations within the FIS Development Programme are now open.

As usual, the annual fall meetings of the International Ski Federation FIS were held in Zurich, Switzerland.

On the first full day of meetings at the Technical Committee meetings in Zurich (SUI), the nine future FIS World Championship Organisers came together for a dedicated Workshop.

The 12th FIS Youth and Children’s Seminar addressing the topic of “Long Term Athlete Development” has taken place with great success.

When journeyman wainwright Josef Fischer set up his own wagon-making business in a wooden barn in Ried im Innkreis in the year 1924 he never dreamt that 90 years on in the year 2014 his company would rank among the most successful family-owned businesses in Austria, employing some 460 people at the Ried headquarters alone.

In close cooperation between FIS, FIS Marketing AG and Helvetia, a new promotion concept for young skiers has been introduced. To increase awareness of U23 skiers, the Helvetia U23 Ranking will be put in place beginning with the 2014/15 season.

In less than one week, the international ski world will descend on Zurich (SUI) where the annual FIS Technical Committee Meetings will be held at the Hilton Airport Hotel.

At the FIS Congress in Barcelona in June, Park City (USA) was awarded the 2019 Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships. Three months later the FIS Race Directors visited for the first official Technical Inspection.

With Falun (SWE) gearing up for the FIS final inspection from 13th-14th October, the host of the 2015 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships recently finalised a major construction project. A brand new funicular will serve both as a means of transport for athletes at the Ski Jumping hills and as an important attraction for visitors to the Lugnet Stadium.

Canada Snowboard, Team Australia as well as some more other riders are currently in Argentina to benefit from perfect conditions in Ushuaia and prepare for their next season.