International Ski and Snowboard Federation facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
International Ski and Snowboard Federation

Sport	Skiing and Snowboarding
Jurisdiction	International
Membership	132 members
Abbreviation	FIS
Founded	2 February 1924 (1924-02-02) in Chamonix, France
Affiliation	IOC
Headquarters	Marc Hodler House Blochstrasse 2 Oberhofen am Thunersee, Switzerland
President	Johan Eliasch
Vice president(s)	Roman Kumpost (2021) Dexter Paine (2021) Aki Murasato (2016) Peter Schroecksnadel (2021)
Secretary	Michel Vion
Operating income	CHF 14.6 million (2018)
Official website
Official languages: English, French, German and Russian

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation, often called FIS, is the main international group for skiing and snowboarding. It used to be known as the International Ski Federation. But on May 26, 2022, its name changed to include snowboarding.

FIS was started on February 2, 1924, in Chamonix, France. This happened during the first ever Winter Olympic Games. FIS is in charge of many Olympic skiing sports. These include Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, Nordic combined, freestyle skiing, and snowboarding.

The organization also creates the rules for international competitions. FIS has 132 national ski groups as members. Its main office is in Oberhofen am Thunersee, Switzerland.

Top World Cup Winners

Many amazing athletes have won World Cup events run by FIS. Here are some of the skiers and snowboarders with 50 or more World Cup wins. They compete in different sports like Alpine skiing and cross-country skiing.

Rank		Wins	Discipline	Code
1	Amélie Wenger-Reymond	164	Telemark skiing	TM
2	Marit Bjørgen	114	Cross-country skiing	CC
3	Conny Kissling	106	Freestyle skiing	FS
4	Mikaela Shiffrin	95	Alpine skiing	AL
5	Mikaël Kingsbury	87	Freestyle skiing	FS
6	Ingemar Stenmark	86	Alpine skiing	AL
7	Lindsey Vonn	82	Alpine skiing	AL
	Therese Johaug	82	Cross-country skiing	CC
9	Johannes Høsflot Klæbo	74	Cross-country skiing	CC
10	Karine Ruby	67	Snowboarding	SB
	Marcel Hirscher	67	Alpine skiing	AL
	Jarl Magnus Riiber	67	Nordic combined	NK
13	Sara Takanashi	63	Ski jumping	JP
14	Annemarie Moser-Pröll	62	Alpine skiing	AL
15	Phillipe Lau	58	Telemark skiing	TM
	Simone Origone	58	Speed skiing	SS
17	Jan Bucher	57	Freestyle skiing	FS
	Jan Němec	57	Grass skiing	GS
19	Vreni Schneider	55	Alpine skiing	AL
20	Hermann Maier	54	Alpine skiing	AL
21	Gregor Schlierenzauer	53	Ski jumping	JP
	Edoardo Frau	53	Grass skiing	GS
23	Alberto Tomba	50	Alpine skiing	AL
	Justyna Kowalczyk	50	Cross-country skiing	CC

Updated as of 3 February 2024

Ski and Snowboard Sports

FIS organizes many different ski and snowboard sports. For these sports, it runs World Cup competitions and World Championships.

Alpine Skiing

Alpine skiing involves racing down snowy mountains.

Nordic Skiing

Nordic skiing includes sports like cross-country skiing and ski jumping.

Freestyle Skiing

Freestyle skiing is all about tricks and jumps on skis.

Snowboarding

Snowboarding involves riding down slopes on a single board.

Para Sports

FIS also organizes competitions for athletes with disabilities.

Other Sports

Some other unique sports are also overseen by FIS.

How FIS Started

Before FIS, different ski clubs and national groups were formed in many countries. People wanted to create common rules for international ski competitions.

In 1910, a group called the International Ski Commission (CIS) was formed in Norway. This group worked to create standard rules for skiing. In 1911, the first international rules were approved.

On February 2, 1924, during the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, delegates from 14 countries decided to create FIS. This new group replaced the CIS.

At first, FIS only managed Nordic skiing. But in 1930, they decided to include Alpine skiing (downhill, slalom, and combined events). This was a big change for the sport. The first Alpine World Ski Championships were held in Switzerland in 1931. Ski flying, a type of ski jumping, was also recognized later.

FIS Leaders

The Crystal Globe trophy awarded by the FIS to the winner of the Alpine Ski World Cup. Similar trophies are awarded in all FIS world cups.

The president leads the International Ski and Snowboard Federation. Here are the people who have been president of FIS:

#	Name	Nationality	Term
1.	Ivar Holmquist	Sweden	1924–1934
2.	Nicolai Ramm Østgaard	Norway	1934–1951
3.	Marc Hodler	Switzerland	1951–1998
4.	Gian-Franco Kasper	Switzerland	1998–2021
5.	Johan Eliasch	Great Britain  Sweden	2021–present

FIS Ski Museums

Exhibit at the FIS Skimuseum Damüls in Vorarlberg (Austria)

As of 2017, there are 31 official FIS Ski Museums around the world. These museums are in 13 different countries. They show the history of skiing and how it has grown in different regions.

List of FIS Ski Museums

• FIS Skimuseum Damüls, Vorarlberg (Austria)
• FIS-Winter!Sport!Museum! Mürzzuschlag (Austria)
• FIS-Landes-Skimuseum Werfenweng (Austria)
• FIS-Ski-Museum Vaduz (Liechtenstein)

See also

In Spanish: Federación Internacional de Esquí para niños

• Alpine Skiing Europa Cup
• FIS Alpine Ski World Cup
• FIS Cross-Country World Cup
• FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup
• FIS Nordic Combined World Cup
• FIS Ski Jumping World Cup
• FIS Snowboard World Cup
• International Snowboard Federation