As the Olympic season approaches, alpine skiing faces a stark reality: training courses, often less regulated than race days, pose extreme dangers, highlighted by recent fatalities and a growing demand from athletes for systemic safety reforms.
The exhilarating world of alpine skiing, where athletes push the boundaries of speed and skill, has been tragically reminded of its inherent dangers as the Milano-Cortina Olympics draw near. Fresh discussions about safety standards on training courses have flared, spurred by the heartbreaking death of World Cup racer Matteo Franzoso in September, less than five months before the prestigious games. This incident has reignited a crucial debate among athletes, coaches, and governing bodies, demanding urgent action to protect the sport’s stars.
For many, the distinction between race day safety and training camp conditions has become a critical point of concern. Top American skier Mikaela Shiffrin, a two-time Olympic champion and five-time overall World Cup winner, became acutely aware of these risks after her own terrifying crash last year. Her injuries, which included a puncture wound to her abdomen and severe damage to her abdominal muscles, occurred during a World Cup giant slalom race. However, Shiffrin recognized that training sessions could be equally, if not more, precarious, dealing with lingering post-traumatic stress disorder after getting back on skis, as reported by The Associated Press.
“When I came back from injury I was aware of the fencing on the side and a hole in the course and where the trees were,” Shiffrin revealed in an interview. She emphasized the challenge of training in conditions with too many variables to control, forcing athletes to discern between “unreasonably dangerous” and a “reasonable level of danger.” She argues against the complacency that “risk is part of the sport and you take it or leave it,” urging for constant mitigation efforts.
French skier Alexis Pinturault, the 2021 men’s overall World Cup champion, echoed Shiffrin’s sentiments, stating, “We are training in many places where it’s not really safe, yes, that’s 100% sure.” These sentiments underscore a systemic issue prevalent across the sport, where the push for performance often collides with practical safety concerns.
The Tragic Catalyst: Matteo Franzoso’s Death
The ongoing discussions gained somber gravity with the death of 25-year-old Italian racer Matteo Franzoso. During preseason training in Chile at La Parva, Franzoso crashed through two layers of safety fencing and collided with a wooden fence six to seven meters outside the course. He succumbed to cranial trauma and subsequent brain swelling two days later, as detailed by The Associated Press. Franzoso’s passing marked the third young Italian skier to die in under a year, alongside a talented French skier who died following an April training crash, highlighting a concerning trend.
The core problem lies in the stark contrast between training courses and official race courses. For financial reasons, training venues often lack the stringent safety measures applied to World Cup races. This includes:
- Fewer Course Workers: Smaller crews are available to maintain snow conditions.
- Insufficient Safety Netting: Less netting is installed to cushion falls.
- Limited Medical Resources: Reduced medical staff and equipment, such as helicopters for rapid transport to hospitals, are typically on standby.
Athlete Voices: Sofia Goggia on the Extreme Nature of Skiing
Sofia Goggia, the 2018 Olympic downhill champion, eloquently described ski racing as an “extreme sport.” She drew parallels to high-stakes motor sports like F1 or MotoGP, especially in downhill and Super-G events, but also in giant slalom where speeds can reach 80-90 kph (50-56 mph). Goggia noted that while race courses benefit from abundant nets, simply adding more nets isn’t a complete solution for training.
A specific challenge arises with overnight snowfall. Safety netting needs to be removed, the slope cleared, and nets reinstalled before early morning training runs. While this is standard for race days, the responsibility during preseason training camps often falls into a gray area. Goggia observed that on the day of Franzoso’s crash, three teams—Austria, Switzerland, and Italy—were training on the same slope. She questioned who should bear the financial burden of ensuring training slopes meet World Cup safety standards, asking, “Who wants to invest millions of euros?”
Industry Response and the Path Forward
In the wake of Franzoso’s tragedy, the Italian Winter Sports Federation urged the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) to establish dedicated training courses. These proposed courses, located in the Southern Hemisphere (Chile, Argentina, New Zealand) and in the U.S. and Europe, would boast safety netting comparable to World Cup race courses.
FIS President Johan Eliasch, speaking at the World Cup season-opening races in Austria, confirmed that the governing body is actively working to mitigate accidents. Their efforts include:
- Adjusting the race calendar to allow skiers more rest.
- Increasing medical staff presence on the ground.
- Implementing more safety netting.
- Improving the preparation of course snow surfaces.
Eliasch emphasized that “when you have training runs in speed that the safety standards are exactly the same as on the big race day.” However, some, like Austria women’s team coach Roland Assinger, believe this aspiration might be too ambitious. Assinger, a former World Cup downhiller, acknowledged that “a risk will always remain,” but coaches strive to minimize it. He cited Copper Mountain in Colorado as an example of a supremely safe training course, equipped with extensive A and B netting from top to bottom. In contrast, he noted that similar investments in South America are financially prohibitive for many.
Financial Barriers and the Call for Cooperation
The financial aspect remains a significant hurdle. Christian Scherer, secretary general of Ski Austria, confirmed that the Austrian federation had begun shipping additional safety netting to overseas training camps even before Franzoso’s death. While a “first step,” Scherer stressed the need for a “coordinated approach from the national federations,” asserting that the responsibility cannot be solely placed on local ski resorts.
When questioned about funding, Eliasch stated that FIS distributed “nearly 100 million” euros over the past four years to its member federations, providing them with resources. He suggested that wealthier nations like Austria and Switzerland possess the means to invest more in training course safety, while FIS steps in to assist smaller federations facing financial challenges.
Austrian speed specialist Vincent Kriechmayr, a former world champion in downhill and super-G, expressed hope for greater cooperation among federations in regions where multiple nations train. Assinger agreed that FIS supporting offseason training venues is a “good idea,” but remained skeptical, noting, “So far, it has only been talking.”
As the Olympic season unfolds, the spotlight remains firmly on athlete safety. The community understands that while inherent risks are part of alpine skiing, proactive measures and collaborative investment are critical to ensuring that the pursuit of glory does not come at the cost of lives.
