A new initiative to promote winter sports in the Alps was launched in Innsbruck today. The aim of the cross-country campaign is to teach 50,000 children to ski or snowboard for free over the next three years. The program was initiated by industry veteran Mike Partel of Mountain-Management Consulting. In 2023/24 Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis and Saalfelden Leogang will start in Austria, the Aletsch Arena and Grindelwald in Switzerland and Alta Badia and Madonna di Campiglio in Italy.
The first six ski resorts will roll out the white carpet in the upcoming ski season for 200 small pisters, aged 3-5 years. The all-round carefree package includes 5 days of half-day ski lessons, rental equipment, lift ticket and even the overnight stay in the parents' room in the partner accommodation (in Saalfelden Leogang: Biohotel Rupertus, Hotel Salzburger Hof, Hotel Leonhard, Hotel Puradies, Hotel Krallerhof). The campaign is supported by the tourist associations, local ski schools, mountain railways, rental stations, accommodation as well as the generous support of Leitner, Doppelmayr, Pistenbully, TechnoAlpin, Sitour, Skidata, Sunkid as sponsors of the winter sports industry.
The offer is intended to help parents to get their children excited about skiing at an early stage. “To move around in the fresh air. To experience nature with a lot of fun – together with other children and with the family. These are good arguments for allowing children to ski and immerse themselves in the winter wonderland of the Alps. ” says Stefan Mangott, co-initiator and managing director at Seilbahn Komperdell GmbH in Serfaus.
Larger ski resorts increasingly see themselves in the responsibility of reaching out more to young people. Small and low-lying areas, which have hitherto been particularly suited to beginners, are increasingly under threat due to climate change and the associated snow problems. Some have already had to shut down operations. ” The initiators specify: “In addition to the existing funding offers, which are mostly addressed to children of school age, the Alpine regions see themselves as a “first move to snow”. The initiative is based on the understanding that the “promoters” of winter sports are first and foremost parents and grandparents. That they can pass on their enthusiasm for the sport at an early stage and should be supported to do so. "I don't think so," he said.
https://www.saalfelden-leogang.com/en/region-experience/ski-and-snowboard/kidsonski
