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FIS Moves to Mandate Airbags in Training as Alpine Skiing Launches Safety Overhaul

Two fatal training crashes prompted a survey-led review under new CEO Urs Lehmann.

Overview

  • FIS aims to require body-worn airbags in training with no exceptions, extending mandates beyond World Cup races and official sessions.
  • The review began with a survey of about 140 national federations to identify safety gaps and set standards, including coach-education modules.
  • Former champions say training pistes lack the nets and run-off used on race days and call for sanctioned hills, wider fall zones, and softer barriers.
  • Equipment changes under evaluation include smart bindings projected at three to four years from availability, thicker race suits, and boot redesigns.
  • Researchers are developing drone-based piste risk maps and Dainese, which supplies over 90% of World Cup airbags, cites reduced injury severity as focus intensifies ahead of Milano Cortina 2026 and Bormio’s Stelvio course.