January 2027 will mark the 20th anniversary of the Welsh Alpine Ski Championships (FIS) in Champéry-Les Crosets, Switzerland. A partnership that has seen Swiss-Welsh/GB relationships go from strength to strength based on the common passion of ski racing!
After Champéry twinned with Llandudno in 2022, the past 5 years has witnessed an annual joint summer camp held between Snowsport Wales and the Ski Team Dents du Midi, ensuring that young Swiss skiers experience summer training in the UK and a full cross-cultural experience.
The young athletes experience an international sporting environment, shared daily life within the group far from their usual surroundings and can gauge their progress against tough competition. This experience allows them to grow—not only as skiers but also as individuals.
Much More Than Just a Training Camp
A camp of this nature offers young athletes benefits that are hard to replicate in a standard training setting. The combination of training sessions, travel, group living, and competition encourages them to become more independent, responsible, and considerate of others. They learn to prepare their gear, manage their energy, adapt to unexpected situations, and stay focused in a new environment, while preparing for potential future glory.
From a sporting perspective, facing different training methods and unfamiliar surfaces as well as new opponents stimulates technical, tactical, and psychological adaptations. Each young athlete can observe, experiment, reflect on their own performance, and better understand how they react to race-day pressure away from their usual environment. This attitude matters just as much as timed race results. It reflects the values instilled by coaches as well as peers and supports great team development. The coaches value the training on the dryslope surface hugely as it is less forgiving than on snow, and any small mistakes are quickly punished. The youngsters quickly adapt and get the hang of more precise skiing and an intensity that is greater than they are used to on snow.
Valuable Racing Experience and Podium Finishes
Competing in official national races at the Manchester Snow Centre gave the young athletes a valuable opportunity to test themselves against a high level of competition, in a new environment and against rivals they rarely encounter.
They had to adapt quickly, manage waiting times and pressure, stay focused, and give their best at the start gate. This also has them having to give a start intensity that they are not. Summer racing for these young athletes is a rare experience to find during the summer months in the Northern hemisphere.
Their efforts were rewarded with several podium finishes. Michael Salvesen excelled in the Adult and U21 categories, while Rosy Thevoz and Antoine St Louis reached the podium in the U14 category. These results deserve warm praise and are a testament to the hard work put in by the athletes and their coaches.
A symbolic moment marked this year's event: the presentation of a commemorative plaque before all participants and dignitaries, celebrating the fifth anniversary of the joint Welsh-Swiss training camp in Llandudno. This recognition highlights the progress made and adds special significance to the preparations for the 20th Welsh Alpine Ski Championships, scheduled for January 2027.
Achievements that go far beyond the results. The camp leaves behind a very positive legacy. While podium finishes will remain cherished memories, the most important aspects are measured elsewhere: in a young athlete daring to push their limits, another learning to handle disappointment, the encouragement shared at the start gate, the mutual support after a run and the collective pride and immersion in new cultures. The other key aspect of this link are the hidden ones that the kids see the passion for skiing by the British, this is something that they will take forward into their future careers, which could well be linked to the ski and tourist industry. These athletic, personal, and human gains will stay with the athletes long after the trip has ended.
As the 2027 Welsh Alpine Ski Championships approach, this momentum provides a solid foundation for the project's continued development. We extend our sincere thanks to the athletes, coaches, families, organizers, Snowsport Wales, our institutional partners, and all our sponsors and donors. Their trust and support make these experiences—vital for the young athletes' athletic and personal growth.
This close bond confirms the strength of the long-standing relationship between Wales, Champéry, and the Region Dents du Midi
Links:
RDDM.ch
skiteamdentsdumidi.ch
https://snowsportwales.com
https://www.jnlllandudno.co.uk
https://thesnowcentre.com/manchester/