Outcry from ski stars: “Don’t wait until people die”

The risk debate has a firm grip on alpine skiing these days. Matteo Franzoso's fatal accident in September was not the only fatality in recent times. Athletes are unanimously calling for a rethink on the issue of training safety.

22 October 2025

From: apa/fop

The Italian Franzoso died after a fall during summer training in La Parva, Chile. In October 2024, promising young skier Matilde Lorenzi died after a training fall in the Schnalstal Valley, and Frenchman David Poisson died in November 2017 during training in Canada. All accidents occurred during downhill training.

One problem is that there are few permanent training courses that meet all requirements and also meet World Cup safety standards. There is a lack of equipment, such as adequate nets, rescue infrastructure, and grooming expertise. "We can't wait until people die before we do something," said the convalescent Norwegian. Aleksander Aamodt Kilde.

Murisier is training advantage “indifferent”

The world governing body FIS plans to tighten measures and, for example, launch a training program for local coaches and event organizers. "We are drafting stricter guidelines for the federations so they have much more information and clarity about what they need to do to ensure safety. This also includes training the people who organize the training sessions so they have the right equipment and the right nets," explained the FIS President. Johan Eliasch recently.

Justin Murisier offers harsh criticism. © APA / SEAN M. HAFFEY

“At some point the nations simply have to work together,” said the Swiss Justin Murisier The associations are responsible. The current approach is that certain nations, if they have exclusive use of a ski area, do so. The Swiss in Zermatt on the Theodul Glacier – for Murisier, that's the wrong approach. "I don't need the advantage of training better than the Austrians or the French. I don't care," said the veteran. "We have to be able to organize it so that we have security on three slopes in South America, three or four in Europe, and two in the USA, and only there is downhill training. That would probably be the only option."

Many loopholes for carbon inserts

But serious falls also happen in the World Cup, not just during training. There are numerous approaches to making the "package" of skis, bindings, boots, suit, and helmet safer. However, significant changes are difficult to implement in practice and require a long lead time. All of them run counter to the fundamental urge to become faster. Furthermore, this would also require regulating the work of ski companies.

The downhill skiers, like Florian Schieder here in 2025 in Kitzbühel, push themselves to the absolute limit. © APA/afp / JOE KLAMAR

Starting this season, the wearing of an airbag and cut-resistant underwear is mandatory in speed disciplines. The FIS has also already implemented a ban on rigid shin inserts, such as those made of carbon. However, an exception can be requested for medical reasons – and shin injuries are often the case for a professional. If the inserts are made of a slightly softer material or are firmly attached to the boot, they are permitted. Many athletes continue to use these additional elements.

Hope for change

For athletes and many observers, it's clear that the increased attention on safety at the moment must be taken advantage of. Murisier isn't certain this will succeed. "It's always been like this up until now, and it was like this after the David Poisson incident. It was always like this: everyone was loud, and then suddenly it died down again," the 33-year-old recalled the past. "I really hope we can work together on this."