Conclusion of Swiss-Ski's most successful Olympic season celebrated

Swiss-Ski's 2025/26 financial year, the most successful in the association's history in terms of the number of Olympic medals won, officially concluded on Saturday in Schangnau, Canton of Bern. At the 122nd Delegates' Meeting, numerous successful athletes were honored. Swiss-Ski also appointed Urs Lehmann as its first honorary president.

At the 2026 Delegates' Meeting, Swiss-Ski was once again able to look back on an exceptionally successful year in sports. The highlight of the season was the Winter Olympics in Northern Italy, where Swiss-Ski athletes set a record with a total of 17 medals. Furthermore, Switzerland defended its title in the Alpine Skiing World Cup Nations Cup standings in the 2025/26 season – and celebrated 111 World Cup podium finishes across nine different sports, as well as six Crystal Globes.

Among the highlights of the 122nd Delegates' Meeting, organized by the Schangnau Ski Club, was the honoring of medal winners from the Winter Olympic Games as well as successful athletes from the World Cup and major youth events. Swiss-Ski also bid farewell to those snow sports athletes who had ended their careers in recent months.

Amidst enthusiastic applause from the delegates, Fabian Bösch (freeski), Ladina Caviezel (alpine snowboard), Andrea Ellenberger (alpine skiing), Nadine Fähndrich (cross-country skiing), Niels Hintermann (alpine skiing), and Julie Zogg (alpine snowboard) were appointed honorary members of Swiss-Ski. All of them ended their elite sports careers after last season, having celebrated significant successes at the Olympic Games, World Championships, or in the World Cup during their careers.

Urs Lehmann, first honorary president of Swiss-Ski

Among the guests present in the Emmental region was Urs Lehmann, the long-serving president of Swiss-Ski (2008 to 2025). He was given the special honor of being the first honorary president in the association's more than 120-year history. During his time on the board, Swiss-Ski athletes won 45 Olympic medals, achieved 205 World Championship podium finishes, and celebrated 173 World Cup crystal globes.

Swiss-Ski awarded the Golden Merit Badge to four individuals in Schangnau who have made outstanding contributions to Swiss snow sports: Robert Germann (most recently head of KWO cross-country skiing/biathlon for 14 years), Reto Kaeser (among other things, long-time organizer of cross-country skiing competitions at the local, regional and national level), Enrico Vetsch (long-time ski cross coach in the World Cup) and Denis Wicki (long-time World Cup coach in alpine skiing).

The voting members approved both the Executive Board's annual report and the 2025/26 financial statements. Thanks in no small part to the numerous sporting successes of recent years and strong, long-term partnerships, Swiss-Ski enjoys a solid financial foundation. The surplus for the 2025/26 financial year, for which Walter Reusser (Co-CEO Sport), Diego Züger (Co-CEO Commercial), and Claudia Lämmli (COO/CFO) were operationally responsible at the federation level, amounts to CHF 89,062.

Financially at a healthy, stable level

“We are in a healthy, stable financial position. This allows us to make necessary investments for the future – in elite and grassroots sports, in research and training, and especially in the area of ​​digitalization,” said Swiss-Ski President Peter Barandun. “From a sporting perspective, we are also at a very good level. The challenge now is to further strengthen our leading position in those sports where we are already number one and to consistently exploit the existing potential in the others. Next season holds another major highlight for Swiss-Ski and the snow sports nation of Switzerland with the Alpine Ski World Championships in Crans-Montana, which we are very much looking forward to.”

As in the previous year, delegates and members of snow sports clubs had the opportunity to attend presentations and panel discussions on Saturday morning. Didier Défago and Daniel Bollinger provided information on the final preparations for the 2027 Alpine Ski World Championships in Crans-Montana. The sports directors of Swiss-Ski offered insights into their work and current challenges, while Björn Bruhin presented the newly structured Research, Development & Training department. The morning program concluded with a panel discussion featuring local snowboard cross racer Sina Siegenthaler and two-time Olympic ski cross medalist Alex Fiva.

The next Swiss-Ski Delegates' Meeting will take place on July 3, 2027 in Valens/Pfäfers SG.