WSF Technical Meeting 2025

WSF Technical Meeting 2025

Zurich, Switzerland | 20–22 September 2025

 

The World Snowboard Federation gathered in Zurich from 20 to 22 September for its annual Technical Meeting, bringing together board members, national federations and partners to set the course for the coming season. Over three days at Allegra Lodge, delegates discussed the development of youth competitions, grassroots initiatives, governance reforms and the challenges of climate change for the sport.

The President’s report opened with encouraging figures. Athlete numbers have grown by twelve percent compared to last season, reaching 2,645 registered snowboarders, with more than half competing solely under WSF events. Results have also increased by twenty percent, with 186 competitions included in the World Rookie Ranking. At the same time, the sport faces pressing realities: the global average of natural snow days has dropped to 92, and lift operating hours have declined by a quarter, underlining the urgent impact of climate change on snowboarding.

The President also presented internal updates. Ivan Furkov has taken over as Office Manager effective 1 September 2025; Shuttleberg GmbH & Co. KG, together with our Social Media Expert Huguette Fakhry, will lead communications from October onward; and Lorenz Baur continues to oversee registration and results. The federation expressed its gratitude to Vice President Dustin Heise, Secretary General Anna Negri, and Communications & PR Manager Birgit Gruber, who stepped back from their functions earlier this year after years of valuable service and commitment.

With these organisational transitions, the meeting proceeded through a structured three-day programme of workshops and working group sessions, each addressing specific areas of development, governance and operations for the 2025/26 season.

 

Working Group 1: Event Management System (EMS) and Event Submission

The first session focused on the WSF Event Management System (EMS) “Comma”, operated by Wyldata. The tool has become central to registration, result management, and data integration across all competition levels.

Feedback from organisers and federations highlighted a successful first season of operation, combined with areas for improvement. Key points agreed upon were:

• Simplified event registration process, making it faster for organisers to list competitions.

• Improved integration with WSPL and WRR databases, ensuring seamless ranking updates.

• Enhanced dashboard access for national federations to monitor their calendars.

The goal is to achieve full adoption of the EMS for all WSF-affiliated events during the 2025/26 season, with ongoing support from Wyldata.

Event Submission Process
A uniform timeline for event submissions was confirmed:

• 1★–2★ events: open submission throughout the season.

• 3★ events: recommended by 1 May of the same season.

• 4★ and 5★ events: recommended by 1 September (previous season), final confirmation by 1 May.

• FIS events submit through FIS; independent events through WSF.

The CLAG (Competition Level Advisory Group) will review all 4★–5★ applications, while national federations manage 1★–3★ approvals. Newly applying 5★ events will run as 4★ in their first year, while meeting all 5★ standards, including separate results for men and women.

 

Working Group 2: Competition, Ranking and Rules

The Competition Working Group reviewed the season’s operations and adopted several key decisions:

• Event Fees: remain unchanged for 2025/26. 5★ events may voluntarily contribute more; no late or athlete fees introduced.

• Marketing Guidelines: updated and approved; final pricing and layout pending Board confirmation.

• Rules Alignment: CLAG to finalise rule updates following new FIS materials to ensure consistency.

• Judge Education: the current programme will continue. One central online course will be offered this season, with a budget of €500. Future funding models will be reviewed in 2026.

• CLAG Membership: voting member Lourant P. was replaced by Tom W. for the remainder of the season.

Ranking Operations
Ranking transparency and data quality improved notably in 2024/25, with 186 events contributing results to the World Rookie Ranking. The Ranking Team received positive feedback for accuracy and the speed of updates.

 

Working Group 3: Grassroots Development

Grassroots programmes continue to grow in scale and impact, helping WSF reach new riders and communities.

Shred Queens & Kings (SQ&K)

• The tour expands to six winter and four summer events.

• A web interface will be developed to showcase challenges, results, and leaderboards.

• Focus will shift toward on-site activations rather than purely online participation.

• Each organiser will receive a promotional package with banners, templates, and digital assets.

Banked Slalom Tour (BSL)

• Around two-thirds of current BSL events are already part of the WSF Tour.

• Registration remains open and flexible, preserving the inclusive spirit of the series.

• The tour will aim to grow globally beyond Europe, using established networks in Asia and North America.

• A dedicated BSL Hub will list calendars and results.

• The event fee is confirmed at €50, including a €40 promotion kit (banners, stickers, communication support).

• A BSL Organiser Meeting will be scheduled for 2026 to consolidate format standards.

 

Working Group 4: Fair Play Initiative

One of the most inspiring moments of the Technical Meeting was the session dedicated to Fair Play, attended by Mr Gábor Deregan, representing the International Fair Play Committee (IFPC), and WSF Integrity Commissioner Norbert Rubicsek. This participation marked the beginning of an official cooperation between WSF and IFPC to strengthen ethical and educational aspects of snowboarding.

Main Outcomes:

• Agreement to establish a WSF Fair Play Award, designed to honour athletes, coaches, and organisers demonstrating outstanding sportsmanship.

• Creation of a joint WSF–IFPC Fair Play Committee, tasked with defining criteria, selecting awardees, and integrating Fair Play principles into federation guidelines.

• Commitment to include Fair Play education within the WSF Academy and to promote fair competition values across social media and event communications.

The initiative will be officially launched during the 2025/26 season, with the first Fair Play Award Ceremony planned for a major WSF event.

 

Working Group 5: Anti-Doping & Integrity

Led by WSF Anti-Doping Commissioner Michael Leyendecker, the Anti-Doping session presented a detailed roadmap for integrating WSF under the WADA Code. This marks a major step forward in aligning snowboarding with international anti-doping standards and ensuring athlete protection.

Key Deliverables and Decisions:

• Development of WSF Anti-Doping Rules, aligned with WADA requirements.

• Implementation of an annual Test Distribution Plan (TDP) and full ADAMS integration.

• Establishment of a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) Committee and procedures.

• Creation of a three-year education plan for athletes, coaches, and event officials.

• Establishment of a secure reporting channel for integrity and doping-related issues.

• Full compliance with ISPPPI data privacy standards.

• Formation of a permanent WSF Anti-Doping Working Group, responsible for compliance, governance and education delivery.

The WSF Board endorsed these actions and confirmed that anti-doping requirements will become a mandatory part of the WSF competition calendar and event organiser agreements starting from the 2025/26 season.

The working group’s long-term goal is to achieve full WADA signatory status and provide a model for other action sports to follow.

 

Summary and Closing

The WSF Technical Meeting 2025 in Zurich provided a clear operational and strategic framework for the coming season. Each working group defined tangible actions and timelines, ensuring progress in competition management, grassroots engagement, education and integrity.

The meeting closed with the official launch of the call for candidates to host the WSF General Assembly in 2026. Member federations are invited to submit applications by 31 December 2025, with the host nation to be selected and announced in January 2026.

In his closing remarks, the WSF President emphasised the federation’s role in building a clear pathway for athletes while safeguarding the grassroots foundations of snowboarding. With growing participation numbers and renewed projects on the horizon, the Zurich Technical Meeting was marked by both optimism and determination as the snowboard community prepares for the 2025/26 season.