The powerful Swiss association boss has criticized the FIS. © AFP / FABRICE COFFRINI

FIS has a problem with the Swiss ski boss

After the bad series of injuries at the speed races in Wengen, Swiss ski boss Urs Lehmann criticized the World Ski Association. The schedule is too tight. The FIS disagrees.

16 January 2024

From: dpa

The World Ski and Snowboard Association FIS responded on Tuesday to the criticism of the Swiss association president and FIS member Urs Lehmann about the tight racing calendar in alpine skiing. “All calendars are decided by the FIS Council. The current 2023/24 calendar has been unanimously approved by the FIS Council, including Urs Lehmann,” the FIS announced.

After many downhill runs were canceled at the start of the season, it was the express wish of the athletes and their support teams to find new dates. “The decision to add a race in Wengen was made together with the head coaches of the national teams.” The FIS strongly condemns such “unethical behavior.” A council member has a duty to act with integrity and in the best interests of the FIS.

“We have seen a limit, we won’t experience it like that again.” Urs Lehmann about the racing calendar

The comments would damage the reputation of the FIS Council and were disrespectful to the race directors and the entire FIS team, which does hard work to create the best conditions. Lehmann stood for election as FIS President in June 2021, but was defeated by British businessman Johan Eliasch. Austria's ski association, together with the associations of Switzerland, Germany and Croatia, challenged the election before the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and after a hearing the associations withdrew their appeal against the election.

“We have seen a limit, we won't experience it like that again. We will now learn the lessons from it and the future will probably look slightly adapted,” said Lehmann on blue News about the races on the Lauberhorn. There were three speed races on the program in Wengen, one after the other the Swiss Marco Kohler, the Frenchman Alexis Pinturault and the Norwegian Aleksander Aamodt Kilde were seriously injured. The season is over for them.