Strategic partnership with FIS and Swiss-Ski until 2034

A new agreement between the Zermatt Bergbahnen and Swiss-Ski will enable World Cup teams from home and abroad to benefit from the excellent training opportunities on the Theodul Glacier from next summer until 2034. At the same time, the FIS and Swiss-Ski are setting the course for a long-term and promising future for Zermatt as a venue for World Cup races.

After a phase of challenges surrounding the Matterhorn Cervino Speed ​​Opening and a cancellation of training by Zermatt Bergbahnen for the ski world’s elite teams in preparation for the current 2024/25 season, the long-standing partners have used the pause for reflection to reorient themselves – and have now agreed on a long-term agreement that will set a new milestone for ski racing.

Zermatt and Swiss-Ski have agreed on a framework agreement for the use of the glacier ski area as a training facility in summer and autumn until 2034. The Zermatt Bergbahnen will prepare the training slopes on the Theodul Glacier and groom them daily. Swiss-Ski will now be fully responsible for operating the training infrastructure; the association will not only use the slopes for its own teams, but will also sublet them to other nations. As in summer and autumn 2024, young athletes of all ages will continue to train on the Theodul Glacier.

Zermatt and Cervinia are also confirming their high ambitions as a venue for World Cup races. The International Ski and Snowboard Federation FIS and Swiss-Ski have given assurances that two men’s speed races can be held on the new Gornergrat piste in the second half of March from 2028 to 2034 – provided that the piste is homologated by the FIS and Zermatt can also meet all other requirements of a World Cup organizer. The Gornergrat piste will be ready for tourist use by the end of 2027 anyway – the corresponding building permits have already been issued.

The global brand Zermatt is more committed than ever to ski racing – as a premium destination for glacier training for everyone from young skiers to the World Cup elite, but also with unbroken ambitions to become an iconic venue in the World Cup calendar.

The representatives of Swiss-Ski and Zermatt comment on the new partnership as follows.

Walter Reusser, Co-CEO of Swiss-Ski: “The new agreement between Swiss-Ski and Zermatt is ground-breaking. Zermatt is the highest glacier ski area with the best conditions for speed training in Europe. The fact that we can ensure its use in partnership and in the long term is of immense value, especially for global downhill racing and the training of young speed skiers. In addition, the World Cup nations can significantly reduce training stays in the southern hemisphere and thus make a substantial contribution to more sustainable ski racing.”

Martin Hug, CEO of Zermatt Bergbahnen: “The future of ski racing has always been of great importance to Zermatt Bergbahnen. That is why we have invested in the summer and autumn training of domestic and foreign ski teams for many years. Together with Swiss-Ski, we will give young talent the priority it deserves in this new form of cooperation and thus continue to help inspire young people to take up ski racing. Ski racing will be the big winner of this long-term partnership.”

Franz Julen, President of Zermatt Bergbahnen and the Matterhorn Cervina Speed ​​Opening: “The altitude and snow reliability make Zermatt/Cervinia ideal for high-quality glacier training in summer and autumn as well as for World Cup speed races. When the new Gornergrat piste is homologated by the FIS, Zermatt and Cervinia, together with the Gran Becca, will have two highly attractive World Cup speed race courses with very different levels of difficulty and perspectives of the Matterhorn. In addition, Zermatt and Cervinia are taking up the two-country idea again and are examining whether World Cup races in the technical disciplines can be held in Cervinia in conjunction with the Gornergrat races. The new partnership gives all partners involved the time to calmly develop the best training and racing solutions for ski racing and tourism. With a view to climate change, we are convinced that this joint long-term strategy represents the right vision for a future-proof ski racing sport.”

Diego Züger, co-CEO of Swiss-Ski: “We still see great potential in Zermatt as a venue for World Cup races that can enrich the calendar enormously. There is still a lot to do, but together we will do everything we can to make Zermatt a permanent fixture in the World Cup.”

Daniel Luggen, Zermatt Resort Director: “Zermatt has always relied on skiing and believes in its future. Zermatt’s performance partners have fundamentally spoken out in favour of hosting World Cup races in the future. As a destination, we will examine – and hopefully take advantage of – the great opportunity to host World Cup races from the 2027/28 season.”